Michael Stipe thanks Bono and The Edge

At the start of the first of five rehearsal shows in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe mentions various people among which Bono and The Edge. He thanks the pair for ‘keeping him grounded’. U2′s singer and guitarist both attended the show.

R.E.M. is currently recording a new album in Dublin. The band is using these shows to try out the new songs they have been writing. Fans report the new songs have an old school – Fables/Document era – feel.

Reported working titles: Horse to Water, Living Well ‘s the Best Revenge, Tomorrow, Staring down the barrel of the middle Distance, On the Fly, Until the Day is Done, Mr. Richards.

Visit www.remdublin.com.
Photos at REMHQ.

U2 to record with Green Day ?

Well, that is what Bono told Michka Assayas, author of the book Bono on Bono, this afternoon over the phone. Bono sang an old Skids song to him, explaining that U2 will record it soon with Green Day.

Bono also told Michka that everything is going well with Rick Rubin, and that they are all still working in London for another three weeks. Apparently, most of the work is being done out of the studio for the moment: Rick Rubin is expecting U2 to hold “extraordinary songs” before actually recording them. This approach, which seems to be more “artistic” than “scientific,” may put The Edge in a brand new situation.

This phonecall follows a funny episode that happened yesterday evening, during the Zoo TV DVD launch event at the Olympia theater in Paris. As the special guest of the night, Michka was passionately answering fans’ questions on stage when he suddenly decided to call Bono on his cell phone. Was he inspired by the Zoo TV phonecalls Bono used to make at the time? Bono didn’t answer the call; however, the audience had an opportunity to leave a huge screaming message on his voicemail.

Bono kindly returned Michka’s phonecall today, assuring him that he would definitely have picked up the phone if he had been able to.

(Many thanks to Michka for this news.)

You Two Out on the Town

Last week Bono enjoyed a “tete-a-tete for a good hour or so” with Tom Jones at Lillies Bordello, reports the Sunday Mirror. Jones was in Dublin for a show at the Point Theatre and ran into Bono at the exclusive night club, where he was partying with Guggi and a few other friends. Whether Bono and the man known as “The Voice” and “The Tiger” exchanged tips for looking good in tight pants is unknown.

Elsewhere in Dublin, The Edge took in the Radiohead show with Bono at the Olympia Saturday night. In past interviews, Edge has said that Radiohead is one band that influences U2′s work.