U2 surprised their fans with a new song, "Atomic City", which they released on Friday to mark the start of their ‘U2UV: Achtung Baby’ residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The song is their first new material since "Your Song Saved My Life" in 2021, and it hints at the direction they are taking for their next album.
The Edge, the band's guitarist, says that "Atomic City" is a "foreshadowing of where we're heading", but admits that they haven't recorded anything else yet. He adds that the song is inspired by the "energy and excitement" of Las Vegas, as well as the "darkness and danger" that lurks beneath the surface.
The video for "Atomic City" was shot on Fremont Street in Las Vegas on September 16th, and features the band performing in front of a crowd of fans and neon lights. However, one member of the band was missing from the live show: drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is recovering from back surgery. He did play on the record and the video, but he won't be part of the residency until he is fully healed. Bram van den Berg, a Dutch drummer, will fill in for him on all dates through December 16th.
Bono, the band's singer, praises Mullen's performance on the new song, but says that it was a tough challenge for him. In an audio clip, he says: "He killed it but it nearly killed him. So, if you see him on a stretcher, you'll know he died for rock and roll. No, he's feeling good and I think he can see a way back to fitness, but it's gonna take time."
U2UV: Achtung Baby is a 25-date residency that celebrates the 30th anniversary of U2's landmark album Achtung Baby. The band will perform the album in its entirety, as well as other songs from their catalog, in a specially designed venue that features a 360-degree immersive sound system and a giant LED screen. The residency runs from September 29th to December 16th, with tickets available at U2.com.
We'll have the premiere of "Atomic City" on iHeartRadio's Classic Rock Channel all day today.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]