U2 performed four of their new songs from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London last Saturday evening (Oct. 16), for a future broadcast of the British music show CD:UK. Their set was “Vertigo,” “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own,” “City of Blinding Lights,” and “Miracle Drug.”

U2log.com reader Simon was one of the lucky 200 U2.com competition winners who were invited to watch the taping of the show. He tells us that before performing “Miracle Drug,” Bono spoke at length about the song being about a parapalegic boy who attended Mount Temple and how the boy gained the ability to make slight head movements because of a “miracle drug.” Also before “City of Blinding Lights,” Bono provided the same explanation about the song being about London and New York City after 9/11 as he did during the Top of the Pops performance.

Simon reports that all the music was pre-recorded and only Bono’s vocals were live. “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” was performed twice because Bono was unhappy with the first performance. Apparently, he did not like the audience waving their hands slowly in the air while he sang. Oh, Bono…