Is U2 Member Quitting For Good?

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U2 recently provided an update on the health of their drummer Larry Mullen Jr.

Back in 2022, Mullen Jr revealed damage to his “elbows, knees [and] necks”, which he “got a chance to have a look at” during the pandemic. He said that he was unsure whether he’d be able to tour with U2 for the foreseeable future.

Due to these drumming-related injuries, which he described as “damage along the way”, Mullen said he’d “like to take some time… to get myself healed”. It was reported that he has had surgery to address the injuries.

While recovering from his neck surgery, Mullen Jr. decided to pull out of playing at U2’s Las Vegas Sphere residency. At the time, U2 bassist Adam Clayton said: “The whole band and I’m sure the audience are going to be very sad and miss Larry. He wants to come back, he wants to be able to have a long career and continue his drumming so he’s taking care of those injuries.”

Now, U2 have provided an update on the drummer’s health and recovery. Clayton and U2 guitarist The Edge appeared as guests on Zane Lowe‘s Apple Music 1 show.

After being asked about what they thought Mullen’s experience was like after the drummer attended the penultimate show of U2’s Las Vegas residency, watching his bandmates take over the MSG Sphere, The Edge shared: “I’d say he probably loved it on many levels and also probably was like, “I can’t wait to get back there. Oops, sorry.”

The guitarist added: “The great news is Larry is getting better every week and we’ll be making a racket with him in no time. So we’re very excited about that.”

Reflecting on Mullen Jr laying down ‘Atomic City’, Bono said: “It’s really tricky for him. And he came in the night before we recorded it in Sound City. So many stories in that studio. And Edge wanted us to go there. And Larry went the night before to just make sure. He didn’t know if he could play for an hour or… he didn’t know if he could play for 15 minutes. And he just played up the storm.”

The Edge added: “John [Mullen Jr’s drum technician] was saying that he loved the sound of the room so much, he ended up playing for like three hours.”

In 2013, Larry Mullen Jr. had said: “I can’t see myself in Las Vegas at 65.” But it’s quite ironic as U2 later did the Las Vegas residency without him and announced Bram Van Den Berg as a replacement.

Earlier this year, U2 sort of reunited in the same arena for the first time in five years. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. had attended the band’s penultimate U2 show at Las Vegas’ Sphere, where he watched from a box seat in the audience. Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton were once again joined by Krezip drummer Bram van den Berg — who was filling in for Mullen during the Sphere shows. During the show, Bono introduced Mullen in the stands. He said: “The rumors that Larry will be playing with us tonight are not true sadly. But he is here with us!”

As the crowd started chanting “Larry,” Bono continued: “That is the man who pinned the note on the notice board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School all those years ago. And we are very grateful that he did and that he’s here with us tonight. We wish him a speedy, speedy, speedy recovery. We love you, Larry Mullen Jr. “

Later, on social media, Mullen returned the thanks. “What an incredible night at the Sphere,” he said on U2’s account. “So grateful to Bono, Edge and Adam and of course Bram for an amazing job. Very emotional night for me personally.”

U2 recently released a song called ‘Happiness’ that was originally recorded in 2004. The song came together during the sessions for the Irish rockers’ 2004 album ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ and is set to feature on the shadow album ‘How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb’ alongside the previously released songs ‘Country Mile’ and ‘Picture Of You (X + W)’.

The record will include new, unreleased songs dug up from the archive of the original album’s sessions and it will be released on November 22nd alongside a remastered version of ‘How To Disassemble An Atomic Bomb’.