Mike Scott (Waterboys) about U2

Correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t think we’ve discussed this…

Mike Scott did this interview :

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mike-scott-i-think-u2-learnt-a-lot-from-the-waterboys-c8psp0dm3

I can’t access it since I’m not a suscriber but at the time I saw a quote somewhere (can’t find it) that said MS heard a lot of Waterboys influence on The Joshua Tree.

And rightly so, if you pay attention to MS’s mannerism on This is the Sea, you can definitely hear Bono mimicking it on Trip Through your Wires.

I remember Edge once said his best concert ever was the Waterboys in 1986 so it just makes sense some of it would end up on U2’s subsequent album, right ? That’s what influences are for.

I always thought MS borrowed a lot from Bob Dylan himself, so I don’t see what’s wrong with it. Influence isn’t plagiarism.

I love the Waterboys. This is the Sea is a freekin brilliant record and this version of the Pan Within is the greatest live performance I’ve ever heard

I like the Waterboys. True Story....Fishermans Blues is one of my most fave albums ever. Equally true, without a doubt, The Waterboys live, when i saw them, was easily the quietest ever concert i ever been to. I left early, as people talking in the crowd, was louder than the band. Was a huge anti climax

I like the Waterboys. True Story....Fishermans Blues is one of my most fave albums ever. Equally true, without a doubt, The Waterboys live, when i saw them, was easily the quietest ever concert i ever been to. I left early, as people talking in the crowd, was louder than the band. Was a huge anti climax

Never saw them live but definitely a great artist. Of course Fisherman’s blues, this is the sea, and whole of the moon are great, but bang on the ear, don’t bang the drum, the big music are also worth checking out.

It’s a bit disingenuous for Mike Scott to talk about U2 learning from the Waterboys - their debut album clearly apes U2 - it even has a song called “I will not follow”

If you want a good laugh, check out a more recent track “The girl who slept for Scotland”


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Another piece of rivalry feeling from Mike Scott, who bout that time they toured with U2 (1984). Liner notes from the new release, 1985 (a 6 CD making of « This is the Sea »).
Funny he would mention superior songwriting with This is the Sea which has basically the same 2 chords structure that Bad has, and that he could hear every night on this tour. It’s not too far fetched to deduct MS was inspired by U2 too.
Also worth mentioning is that in those times, U2 didn’t focus on songwriting at all. Times have changed. Not for the better.

Their album ‘Rock in the Weary Land’ is underrated, one of the best releases from the early 2000s.