fly

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.

Holey moley, U2 in ‘worst lyrics ever’ chart

U2’s ‘mole’ has made it into the BBC 6 worst lyrics chart after a public vote. Sitting uncomfortably at #10 in this dubious list, among clunkers by Snap, Black Sabbath and Toto, are the following lines from Elevation:

“I’ve got no self control, Been living like a mole now, Going down, excavation, High and high in the sky, You make me feel like I can fly, So high, Elevation”

I can’t say I object. What are your worst-U2-lyrics-ever picks?

It’s a musical journey: Edge and Bono team up for Spider-Man

Move over Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. While we were away (celebrating a birthday among other things), the first bit of real news in a while popped up on the newswires. It appears The Bono and The Edge are keen to conquer Broadway. They are writing music and lyrics for a Spider-Man musical, Marvel Studios announced on Friday.

The show will be directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King, Titus). Auditions are already taking place, and a reading is scheduled for July.

It’ll be interesting to see how Team The Fly tackles this one!

U2 treat Toronto to a Pop-selection

Boom. Cha. While we await full reports from our troops on the ground, we’re going to tease you with this short and simple statement: They played Discotheque!

Set: City of Blinding Lights / Vertigo / Elevation / Electric Co. / The Ocean / Beautiful Day / Miracle Drug / Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own / Love and Peace or Else / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Bullet the Blue Sky / Miss Sarajevo / Pride / Where the Streets Have No Name / One / Discotheque / The Fly / With or Without You / All Because of You / Fast Cars / Yahweh / 40

Daniel Lanois plays guitar on One, Eddie Vedder joins them near the end for a few bars of Ol’ man river. The ‘Pop Muzik’ intro starts the encore and the screen shows PopMart imagery.