Bill Bailey demonstrates ‘catastrophic technical failure at U2 gig’

British comedian Bill Bailey lampoons The Edge’s guitar style in his stand up show ‘Bailey Part Troll’. Scroll to 2’30” to watch the bit about U2. (via MB)

28 thoughts on “Bill Bailey demonstrates ‘catastrophic technical failure at U2 gig’”

  1. He’s right… sadly. I’m a massive U2 fan but, and I hate to say this, I think they’ve gotten a little lazy. Or just grossly conservative. I remember Bono spouting off about the new sound they were crafting for No Line On The Horizon. That Edge was playing “molten guitar” or something like that.

    So, I download Boots, expecting to hear something revolutionary… well, I don’t think I have to finish that story.

    So then I hear that Boots is the worst track on the album. So, I get the rest. I fire it up, expecting to hear something revolutionary.

    Where’s the molten guitar? Where’s the Fez influenced tunes? The trance fusion? Where’s ANYTHING that doesn’t sound EXACTLY like the band’s already done? Magnificent? Good tune but it really is just another U2 song. Stand Up Comedy? The boys don’t do funk so well.

    Sigh. Really wish the’d said F### You to the audiences of the world after POP, and rather than try to climb back to the top of the heap (“reapplying for the best band in the world”) they’d just continued what they were doing with POP… trying to do something different.

    Anyways… yeah. The guy’s right. I’m sure Edge knows how to play quite well… he just chooses to stay in the safe range of the U2 song sound.

  2. He’s right… sadly. I’m a massive U2 fan but, and I hate to say this, I think they’ve gotten a little lazy. Or just grossly conservative. I remember Bono spouting off about the new sound they were crafting for No Line On The Horizon. That Edge was playing “molten guitar” or something like that.

    So, I download Boots, expecting to hear something revolutionary… well, I don’t think I have to finish that story.

    So then I hear that Boots is the worst track on the album. So, I get the rest. I fire it up, expecting to hear something revolutionary.

    Where’s the molten guitar? Where’s the Fez influenced tunes? The trance fusion? Where’s ANYTHING that doesn’t sound EXACTLY like the band’s already done? Magnificent? Good tune but it really is just another U2 song. Stand Up Comedy? The boys don’t do funk so well.

    Sigh. Really wish the’d said F### You to the audiences of the world after POP, and rather than try to climb back to the top of the heap (“reapplying for the best band in the world”) they’d just continued what they were doing with POP… trying to do something different.

    Anyways… yeah. The guy’s right. I’m sure Edge knows how to play quite well… he just chooses to stay in the safe range of the U2 song sound.

  5. A guitarist is nothing without his f/x pedals. It’s the the lead singer’s fear of of walking out on stage with no clothes.

    (Some lead singers anyway)

  6. A guitarist is nothing without his f/x pedals. It’s the the lead singer’s fear of of walking out on stage with no clothes.

    (Some lead singers anyway)

  7. I love how he pretends to be iffy on the Edge’s name… as if he hasn’t practiced this routine a dozen times in front of the mirror.

    But it is funny.

  8. I love how he pretends to be iffy on the Edge’s name… as if he hasn’t practiced this routine a dozen times in front of the mirror.

    But it is funny.

  11. Edge create the song and play it. How many songs create “Geoff Says: April 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm”… this comment is a real junk, Go to hear Jonas Brother, Avril Lavigne, Madonna, Sevastien Tellier, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Coldplay, keane and others, that are doing something revolutionary and original!!!!
    the “bufon”, don’t know how to play with delay…! and ignorants only make more ignorants like “Geoff Says: April 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm”…

  12. Edge create the song and play it. How many songs create “Geoff Says: April 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm”… this comment is a real junk, Go to hear Jonas Brother, Avril Lavigne, Madonna, Sevastien Tellier, Depeche Mode, Radiohead, Coldplay, keane and others, that are doing something revolutionary and original!!!!
    the “bufon”, don’t know how to play with delay…! and ignorants only make more ignorants like “Geoff Says: April 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm”…

  13. I can live with whatever the band’s putting out. I’ve got just about everything they’ve released (all the proper CDs… I just don’t have the little nuggets that slip past like obscure B-sides and whatnot)… and I really think the band peaked (for the second time) in 1991 with Achtung Baby. That’s not to say that what’s followed hasn’t been any good, it’s just that, for me, was the last time they were well and truly vital and pushing the envelope.

    It’s a shame that individuals like “Elijah” have to turn a perfectly valid comment by myself into some insult. Oh well. I really don’t care. I might have been more insulted if I’d been insulted using some form of proper english.

  14. I can live with whatever the band’s putting out. I’ve got just about everything they’ve released (all the proper CDs… I just don’t have the little nuggets that slip past like obscure B-sides and whatnot)… and I really think the band peaked (for the second time) in 1991 with Achtung Baby. That’s not to say that what’s followed hasn’t been any good, it’s just that, for me, was the last time they were well and truly vital and pushing the envelope.

    It’s a shame that individuals like “Elijah” have to turn a perfectly valid comment by myself into some insult. Oh well. I really don’t care. I might have been more insulted if I’d been insulted using some form of proper english.

  17. I’m a bit worried, I actually agree with Geoff! Half of No Line is Atomic Bomb Part II, I feel they compromised. Yeah, compromise is not a dirty word, but they still did it. The first track, No Line, I love (I love the Buzzcockier b-side version more though), and thought that this album was going to be a surprise package like Achtung. Magnificent blew me away, and my excitement for this album grew exponentially. Then Moment of Surrender — am I the only one who doesn’t think much of it? Unknown Caller starts great, but they should have extended the first 30 seconds, just the noise of the swallows with Edge’s sparse guitar flying over and under it, with a bit of hand-drumming from Larry and a few Eno beeps. And the rest of the album stutters for me, I just can’t get interested in it. I actually believe ATYCLB is a much stronger half of a record (second half stuttered) than No Line. And I can’t believe No Line is getting 5-star reviews — compare it to Joshua Tree, Achtung, it’s nowhere near as innovative, fresh and exciting.

    But Bill Bailey… I would cross an eight-lane highway to punch him. The Edge is better than that, and I’m sick to death of these self-proclaimed guitar experts like Bailey and their audience of sheeple sneering at Edge. But at least he didn’t have a predictable go at Bono’s charity work. And hey, I bet the Edge is laughing.

  18. I’m a bit worried, I actually agree with Geoff! Half of No Line is Atomic Bomb Part II, I feel they compromised. Yeah, compromise is not a dirty word, but they still did it. The first track, No Line, I love (I love the Buzzcockier b-side version more though), and thought that this album was going to be a surprise package like Achtung. Magnificent blew me away, and my excitement for this album grew exponentially. Then Moment of Surrender — am I the only one who doesn’t think much of it? Unknown Caller starts great, but they should have extended the first 30 seconds, just the noise of the swallows with Edge’s sparse guitar flying over and under it, with a bit of hand-drumming from Larry and a few Eno beeps. And the rest of the album stutters for me, I just can’t get interested in it. I actually believe ATYCLB is a much stronger half of a record (second half stuttered) than No Line. And I can’t believe No Line is getting 5-star reviews — compare it to Joshua Tree, Achtung, it’s nowhere near as innovative, fresh and exciting.

    But Bill Bailey… I would cross an eight-lane highway to punch him. The Edge is better than that, and I’m sick to death of these self-proclaimed guitar experts like Bailey and their audience of sheeple sneering at Edge. But at least he didn’t have a predictable go at Bono’s charity work. And hey, I bet the Edge is laughing.

  19. For Goodness Sake…..

    If we arent going to poke a little fun at the folks at the top, whats the use of going to the show? LOL

    I thought the parody was kind of funny.

    Murph’ – St. Louis

  20. For Goodness Sake…..

    If we arent going to poke a little fun at the folks at the top, whats the use of going to the show? LOL

    I thought the parody was kind of funny.

    Murph’ – St. Louis

  21. U2-fans are a funny lot. Always criticizing the band and their music, telling which new songs they think are shite, taking the mickey out of Bono or Larry, mostly. But if somebody else starts doing it, somebody outside the ‘community’, whoa… they become these over-protective ‘don’t you touch them, I know where you live’-kinda people. It’s really very sweet in a way. But, as the great John Cleese said: ‘Nobody has the right not to be made fun of’. Not even the Gandalf amongst guitar-wizards, The Edge. Who, I have no doubt, will find this sketch very amusing.

  22. U2-fans are a funny lot. Always criticizing the band and their music, telling which new songs they think are shite, taking the mickey out of Bono or Larry, mostly. But if somebody else starts doing it, somebody outside the ‘community’, whoa… they become these over-protective ‘don’t you touch them, I know where you live’-kinda people. It’s really very sweet in a way. But, as the great John Cleese said: ‘Nobody has the right not to be made fun of’. Not even the Gandalf amongst guitar-wizards, The Edge. Who, I have no doubt, will find this sketch very amusing.

  27. Well, I apologize to you Geoff, sorry for the words that have come to insult.

    I think your comment was out of context. Maybe mine, too.
    The fool seems to know what is good and what’s not to the ears of all people. What is play well and what is bad touch. If you play your guitar with effects you are nothing, but if you play guitar without effects you’re a virtuoso.

    Well, you say, Achtung Baby is the pinnacle after POP, they laugh at people. Stop, They do whatever they want, they are the group, they decide to do, you do not. They discarded many good songs without fear. If they want to make noise. Then let them make noise. You buy the CD, all the time, I advise you, if they let you down 10 years ago, do not buy more!

    I saw that comment and react because it was within this video mediocre buffoon.
    U2, They always say anything before the sale of a CD, read the statements of members in each promotion. If you think that “molten guitar” is the reason to buy the CD, that’s your problem. I think they do it on purpose.
    I believe that each CD is a new adventure, without comparison, without the need to be compared. Each CD is unique and belongs to an era. For some it is better, worse for others, who am I to judge.
    Your attitude is like the Bufon, thinking that “NLOTH” without “Achtung Baby’s Karma” is a waste.
    I would not bet that The Edge is laughing. I bet it will only do things in creative ways.

  28. Well, I apologize to you Geoff, sorry for the words that have come to insult.

    I think your comment was out of context. Maybe mine, too.
    The fool seems to know what is good and what’s not to the ears of all people. What is play well and what is bad touch. If you play your guitar with effects you are nothing, but if you play guitar without effects you’re a virtuoso.

    Well, you say, Achtung Baby is the pinnacle after POP, they laugh at people. Stop, They do whatever they want, they are the group, they decide to do, you do not. They discarded many good songs without fear. If they want to make noise. Then let them make noise. You buy the CD, all the time, I advise you, if they let you down 10 years ago, do not buy more!

    I saw that comment and react because it was within this video mediocre buffoon.
    U2, They always say anything before the sale of a CD, read the statements of members in each promotion. If you think that “molten guitar” is the reason to buy the CD, that’s your problem. I think they do it on purpose.
    I believe that each CD is a new adventure, without comparison, without the need to be compared. Each CD is unique and belongs to an era. For some it is better, worse for others, who am I to judge.
    Your attitude is like the Bufon, thinking that “NLOTH” without “Achtung Baby’s Karma” is a waste.
    I would not bet that The Edge is laughing. I bet it will only do things in creative ways.

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