U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr

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jick

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U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« on: October 09, 2024, 10:03:28 AM »
With Steve Lilywhite confirming that in boardroom discussions that U2 will not tour in the same year as Oasis, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that they will take 2026 as a 50th anniversary tour with all 4 original members.  This would be something unprecedented in rock music.

It can also qualify as a cash grab "reunion tour" like Oasis and every other band because in reality - founder Larry Mullen Jr hasn't played live with them since 2019 tour of Asia-Pacific.  But if you are talking the major market Europe and America - that would be 2018 - so U2 will have been 8 years removed from the original four members in a world tour (not a residency).

Nostalgia has been a selling point of late - check out Taylor Swift's Eras Tour that catered to the mid-2000's crowd who now have money to afford overpriced concerts.  Check out the success of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney Tours.  Check out the reactions of the Oasis announcement.  There are also been other smaller scale nostalgia cash grabs - Sammy Hagar touring Van Halen songs, or Smashing Pumpkins back on tour.  Even Avril Lavigne has a greatest hits tour, and Alanis just came off a successful Jagged Little Pill anniversary tour.  The Killers did a brief homestand residency in Las Vegas with the original members to celebrate 20 years of their debut album Hot Fuss.

Meanwhile, check the flip side which is Bon Jovi.  They had a docuseries on their career which did pretty well.  But it was meant to springboard their new album and hint at a possible tour after frontman Jon Bon Jovi's vocal chord surgery.  Their new album earned a record of sorts - debuted top 10 in week one, then disappeared from top 200 in week two.  All recent surveys for old bands/musicians are consistent in that the public does not care about new music anymore - just for them to play their old hits.  Bon Jovi missed the mark there.  Also, Bon Jovi never stopped touring - so the band  as they are now is overexposed and news of vocal chord surgery will not add any urgency to the tour.  The only thing that will make them relevant in touring again is if estranged lead guitarist and songwriter Richie Sambora rejoins the band.

So the next U2 move is very very predictable.  They will celebrate 50 years as a band with a greatest hits world tour and celebrate the return of Larry Mullen Jr.  The star of the tour will be their career, and not some new music or new technological concept.  And this will happen in 2026 when they celebrate a round 50 years since that rehearsal in Larry Mullen Jr's kitchen.  They will tour stadiums, they will tour the world, and they will aim to reclaim all their previous touring records that have since been broken.  And I think they can very much do it.

In the meantime for 2024 to 2026, they will just do a little here and there to keep them in the public eye - another anniversary album release, or maybe a low key new album or single, or some appearance here and there.  Maybe they might finally release that video of the Joshua Tree Tour that has been long rumored - which includes a new version of Heartland.  But you heard it here first - U2 will be out to reclaim 2026.

Cheers,

J


 

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Larry's Lovebucket

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2024, 10:22:07 AM »
Yup, Oasis are now the bigger band, hence U2 postponing their tour until a year later.
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Tumbling Dice

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2024, 10:30:26 AM »
A 50th anniversary tour would give the band the opportunity to perform the Pop album in its entirety.

The future is bright at Everton FC  8)

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MPare1966

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2024, 10:57:28 AM »
Hi jick.

Long time no see.
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SlyDanner

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2024, 11:29:18 AM »


'another anniversary album release, or maybe a low key new album or single' - that's funny.

U2 do not know the meaning of 'low key' anything.  You'll get a blast in the face because that's all they know how to do.

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Shank

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2024, 01:23:55 PM »
They need a new album IMO to tour.

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Larry's Lovebucket

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2024, 01:28:12 PM »
They need a new album IMO to tour.

That’s the last thing they should be putting their energy into.
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So Cruel

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2024, 01:51:17 PM »
They need a new album IMO to tour.

Not in the current climate. They do better now showcasing classic material than a new album. Joshua Tree 2017 wax their biggest tour in the last 12 years
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The Exile

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2024, 02:30:59 PM »
A 50th anniversary tour would give the band the opportunity to perform the Pop album in its entirety poorly.

Fixed it for you.

Kidding aside, I don't understand why anyone would want this. But they will, and they will pay for it regardless of the price.
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Guggison

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2024, 03:23:26 PM »
No to this idea.

There will be a tour to promote a re-issue of SOI / SOE , a 10 disc deluxe version.

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Soloyan

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2024, 03:34:38 PM »
Good post, Jick.

You’re certainly right about U2 drooling over the success of nostalgia acts. One thing is for sure : they will not tour low profile.

50th anniversary for an original line up band is indeed unique. But they could do even better : ask Dick Evans to join and do The Hype’s 50th anniversary !

I’m pretty certain they’re not in a position to top Taylor Swift or even Coldplay, these days, though. They’ll be big. Just not that big.
A dangerous idea that almost makes sense...

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Shank

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2024, 03:51:27 PM »
So it looks like they're a nostalgia act now.  Just feels like they haven't really gone away to do another tour without new material.

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Tumbling Dice

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2024, 03:53:35 PM »
So it looks like they're a nostalgia act now.  Just feels like they haven't really gone away to do another tour without new material.

JT 2.0 tour & AB Vega$.

The future is bright at Everton FC  8)

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Shank

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2024, 05:51:11 PM »
So it looks like they're a nostalgia act now.  Just feels like they haven't really gone away to do another tour without new material.

JT 2.0 tour & AB Vega$.
Exactly. Tough to miss them if they don't give me a chance.

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Amor fati

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Re: U250 World Tour in 2026: The Return of Larry Mullen Jr
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2024, 07:02:21 PM »
Does Larry Mullen Jnr remember how to play the drums?