Much Music
U2 DOES MUCH

(Music)

(Cheering and Applause)

George: WELCOME TO THE ChumCity FAMILY IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO. THIS IS THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF MuchMusic. YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING US ALL EVENING, AND LIKE ANY GOOD TELEVISION PROGRAM, YOU NEED A MONEY SHOT. BABIES, THIS, FOR ALL INTENTS
AND PURPOSES, IS THE BEST DAMN MONEY SHOT YOU CAN GET. THIS IS U2 DOES Much!

(Cheering and Applause)

SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE SPENT ALL EVENING FOLLOWING THE U2 PERFORMANCE AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO. IT WAS THEIR SECOND OF TWO DAYS IN THIS CITY. NOW, OF COURSE U2, THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD. THEY'VE NEVER NOT BEEN THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH AND GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO, AFTER THE SHOW, GET INTO THE CAR AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO BUILDING HERE. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GO AND GET THE BAND. THE BAND'S WORKING HARD FOR YOU. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND OUR GOOD FRIEND OF THE BAND U2. MAKE A LEFT HERE IN THE GREEN ROOM. HERE THEY ARE. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> GOOD, THANKS.

>> George: HOW DID THE SHOW GO?

>> PRETTY GOOD.

(Cheering)

>> George: LET'S TAKE A WALK AS THE CROWD AWAITS.

(Crowd chanting)

IN ABOUT THREE SECONDS, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO CRAZY. HERE IT COMES.

(Cheering and Applause)

INTO THE MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT, THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD, THIS IS U2.

(Continued cheering and applause)

>> George: SO... (Continued cheering and applause)

>> The Crowd: 2!

2!

2!

(Cheering and Applause)

GEORGE WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE DISPLAY AS U2 MAKES THEIR WAY TO THE ENVIRONMENT. GENTLEMEN, AGAIN IT'S AN HONOUR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING AFTER THE SHOW. IS EVERYBODY FEELING OKAY AFTER THE SHOW TODAY?

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: I DON'T KNOW WHO SAID IT BEST BUT I GUESS IT'S GOOD TO BE LOVED. AS YOU MAKE YOUR RETURN TO TORONTO THE SECOND OF TWO NIGHTS WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SOMETHING THAT HAMMED ONTARIO THURSDAY NIGHT SHOW THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. YOU REFERENCED A GIG THAT HAPPENED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, MARCH '81, THE MAPLE LEAF BALLROOM. YOU EVEN GOT THE NAME OF THE VENUE CORRECT. MOST BANDS HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE NAME OF THE VENUE THEY WERE IN THAT NIGHT. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCREENS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME FOOTAGE OF THE MAPLE LEAF BALLROOM. HERE IT IS.

(Applause)

(Singing)

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: THERE YOU GO. SOME CONCERT FOOTAGE FROM THE EVENT.

THOUGHTS?

>> DO YOU WANT TO STEP OUTSIDE?

>> George: AS A MATTER OF FACT, MAYBE WE WILL.

(Cheering and Applause)

>> AS EXTRAORDINARY AS THAT PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, THAT PARTICULAR HAIRDO IS.

(Laughter)

MUCH MORE EXTRAORDINARY WAS TO FOLLOW.

(Laughter)

WE HAD THE MULLET RIGHT ABOUT THE MID-'80s.

>> George: AND IT'S BACK IN STYLE AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH IRONY.

>> I'M FRESH OUT OF IRONY.

>> George: THE IRONIC THING ACTUALLY IS THE CAMERAMAN THAT NIGHT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BASEMENT HERE WORKING ON THIS SHOW AS WELL.

>> WE KNOW WHERE HE PARKS HIS CAR.

(Laughter)

>> George: AND YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING. AT A CERTAIN POINTS, DO SHOWS GAIN OR LOSE THEIR MEANING? THE INTENSITY TODAY, AND SOMETHING WE STARTED WITH, YOU CAME ON WITH THE HOUSE LIGHTS ON. SO UNLIKE PREVIOUS SHOWS WHERE THERE WAS THIS BIG ENTRANCE, IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE THE VELVET ROPE WAS GONE AND THIS WAS YOU GUYS JUST BEING EVERYBODY ELSE. IS THAT THE PLAN WHEN YOU WALTZED IN?

(Laughter)

>> TRIED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO START THE SHOW AND SORT OF DID THAT ONE BY ACCIDENT, AND IT JUST FELT RIGHT, YOU KNOW. FEELS GOOD, FEELS RIGHT. AND IT'S A LITTLE ODD SOMETIMES BECAUSE, AT THE FIRST—LIKE FIRST TWO MINUTES OF THE SONG, PEOPLE ARE RIGHT IN YOUR FACE AND THAT'S A LITTLE ODD.

>> George: GRAPHIC.

>> KIND OF LIKE DOING IT WITH THE LIGHTS ON. YOU WANT TO BE—YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE REALLY IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY.

>> George: YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY WITH WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> George: THE DARK MAKES THINGS SO LOVELY.

>> NO MATTER WHAT WAY YOU LOOK IT, WHEN YOU WALK ONTO A STAGE YOU'RE MAKING SOME KIND OF PERFORMANCE, AND A LOT OF GROUPS, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE'S A WAY AROUND THAT PROBLEM AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S PRETEND WE'RE NOT ON A STAGE. LET'S PRETEND THERE ISN'T PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE. LET'S PRETEND THEY AREN'T PAYING OUR BILLS. LET'S PRETEND THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN
US A GREAT LIFE AND BUILT OUR HOUSES AND OUR SWIMMING POOLS, AND OUR FEELING ABOUT THIS IS BE HONEST ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP AND TRY TO—TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THAT SHOW, THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST NIGHT OF ALL OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR—YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE EVER PLAYED.

>> George: INDOOR OR OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS?

(Laughter)

>> I'M OVER CHLORINE.

>> George: SO WHEN YOU WALK OUT ON TO THE STAGE AND YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND YOU'RE FORCED TO LOOK IN THEIR EYES, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SENSE OF DUTY AND U2's ALWAYS SEEMED LIKE THE BAND THAT DID. YOU ONCE WERE I THINK WERE ATTRIBUTED A QUOTE SAYING YOU PLAYED THESE BIG STADIUM SHOWS BECAUSE AT THIS POINT YOU HAD TO. IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BAND.

>> Bono: I LIKE STADIUM SHOWS.

>> I THINK THERE'S A CHALLENGE.

>> Bono: IF THEY GO OFF. I MEAN IT'S HARD TO GET 70,000 PEOPLE TO AGREE ON ANYTHING. SO IF THEY GO OFF AND THERE'S A
LOT OF FEELING IN THAT ROOM AND THOSE SONGS GO OFF, IT'S THE BELLS NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE.

(Cheering)

IF IT DOESN'T GO OFF, LIKE THE MAN FROM FORT LAUDERDALE ACTUALLY HAD A BAD ONE.

(Applause and Cheering)

THAT REALLY SUCKS, AS YOU NORTH AMERICANS SAY.

>> George: THERE'S ONE THING THAT IT'S REALLY TO GET 70,000 PEOPLE TO AGREE ON AND THAT'S TO APPEAR IN A VIDEO WITH ANGELINA JOLIE. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> DIRTY, DIRTY, DIRTY DEVIL.

>> WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, ANGELINA COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO HAVE BONO BUT, NOEL, SHE CHOSE ME. HAVE YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: SHE ALWAYS SAID SHE LIKED BILLY BOB THORNTON. U2 DOES Much. WHY DON'T WE PLAY THE VIDEO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? THE SONG THEY OPENED THE SHOWS WITH, THIS IS "ELEVATION" AND THIS IS U2 ON MuchMusic.

(Cheering)

(Applause)

(Cell phone ringing)

>> HELLO?

>> YOU WANT THE KEY. YOU ARE SURROUNDED AND NOT EVEN LARA CROFT CAN HELP YOU.

>> IF YOU CAN GET ME OUT OF HERE, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR KEY BACK.

>> THIS IS WHERE I START TO HAVE FUN.

{Elevation Music Video aired)

>> George: YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DEVOTED FANS FOR THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BAND, THIS IS U2 DOES Much! MORE CONVERSATION, MORE VIDEOS. ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS: STICK AROUND. IT'S U2.

(Cheering and Applause)

(Music)

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: THIS IS ABOUT AS LOUD AS IT GETS AS U2 DOES Much, AFTER PLAYING THE SECOND I GUESS OF TWO SHOWS IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO, U2 HAVE JOINED US HERE IN THE MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT. IN THE BREAK SOMEONE MADE A MENTION, CONGRATULATIONS, ABOUT THE BABY. ZEPPELIN LIKE LED ZEPPELIN. IS IT STILL THE UNTITLED FOURTH? HAVE WE GOT A NAME FOR THE KID YET, ANY OF THAT?

>> NO. IT STILL IS UNTITLED. BUT WHAT'S TRACK ONE, SIDE ONE, LED ZEPPELIN FOR?

>> George: TRACK ONE, SIDE ONE, ROCK 'N' ROLL.

>> Bono: THAT WON'T WORK. TRACK 2?

(Laughter)

HOW ABOUT LEVY HEWSON.

>> George: WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS. YOU SANG A BOB DYLAN LINE: "WHOEVER IS NOT BUSY BEING BORN IS BUSY DYING."

IT MAY SOUND BIZARRE TO YOU GUYS, BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING U2 FOR SO MANY YEARS, DOES IT GET ANY HIGHER? DOES IT GET ANY BETTER PROFESSIONALLY FOR YOU GUYS? DO YOU HAVE NEW GOALS THAT YOU REACH AND THINK, WHAT THE HELL? WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

>> WELL, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MAKE THE PERFECT RECORD, AND THAT'S WHY WE KEEP MAKING THEM IS BECAUSE WE NEVER FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE IT, SO—THAT'S STILL A GOAL FOR US.

>> WORK.

>> George: THERE WAS A COOL CONTRIBUTOR JUST BEFORE AUTUMN BABY. YOU HAD TO GO AWAY AND I GUESS COME UP WITH THE NEXT DREAM. A SIMILAR QUOTE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE BAND. YOU WANTED TO MAKE THE ROCK 'N' ROLL ALBUM. WAS IT AT CHALLENGE TO BACK AND MAKE THE ROCK 'N' ROLL ALBUM YOU WANTED?

>> THERE'S A THING IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD ALWAYS WHEN YOU'RE IN A BAND. IF YOU GREW UP AT THE TIME OF PUNK ROCK, WHICH HAPPENED IN THE LATE '70s WHEN WE WERE KIDS, THERE WAS THIS—THERE WAS JUST THIS UGLY, UGLY SENSE THAT ROCK BANDS CAN TURN INTO MONSTERS AND LOSE AND FORGET, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY STARTED PLAYING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THEM, YOU KNOW WHO THEY WERE. AND OUT OF THAT FEELING, PUNK ROCK CAME. AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE TRANSPORTED IN A MIRRORED LEMON SPACESHIP ON THEIR LAST TOUR CAME OUT OF PUNK ROCK, IN OUR HEADS THAT WAS THE PUNK ROCK THING TO DO, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE—EVERYTHING THAT WE DO COMES FROM THIS NOTION OF NOT FORGETTING WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHO WE ARE AND THAT WE HAVE TO PROVE OURSELF EVERY RECORD. THAT'S A PUNK ROCK NOTION, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: I GUESS THEY DO AGREE. NOW, TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO COME INTO A LEMON AND THEN TO STRIP IT DOWN THE WAY YOU DID THIS TIME, WITHIN THE FOUR OF THE BAND AND THE FIVE IN THE CORPORATION, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE PAUL, DO YOU GUYS, LIKE, ARE THE DISAGREEMENTS WITHIN THE BAND DIFFERENT THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAY BEFORE YOU PLAYED THE EL MOCAMBO JUST AFTER LENNON HAD DIED? WERE THE DISAGREEMENTS DIFFERENT AT THIS POINT?

>> Bono: STILL OVER THE DELI TRAY MOSTLY.

>> George: YOU JUST KEEP FOLDING AND FOLDING.

>> ROUGH. WE FIGHT ALL THE TIME. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAKING A RECORD WITH U2 IS REALLY MESSY, MESSY SITUATION, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT FOUR PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, JUST FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, AND I THINK THE THING THAT SEPARATES PERHAPS U2 FROM OTHER GROUPS THAT I'VE MET IS THAT WE HAVE A GIANT EGO, BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE SHARE RATHER THAN FOUR INDIVIDUAL EGOS.

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: IS THAT HARDER SOMETIMES TO DO? BECAUSE THE BAND GETS SO MUCH PRESS, AND AT CERTAIN STAGES OF YOUR CAREER, THE PRESS IS SO HARSH ON THE BAND TO THE POINT WHERE PERSONAL ATTACKS GO AT EVERYBODY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MUSIC, SO THE GIANT LEMON, THE MIRRORED LEMON, COMPLETELY WASHES AWAY THE FACT THAT YOU'RE PLAYING A SHOW.

>> Bono: YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? IT'S REALLY KIND OF—I DON'T KNOW, SORT OF RETARDED ATTITUDE ABOUT WHITE ROCK MUSIC AND WHAT IT HAS TO BE. AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING GOT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE, YOU KNOW, PEARL JAM, GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF BANDS THAT CAME OUT OF GRUNGE AND SMASHING PUMPKINS AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT, I KNOW THAT THEY THEMSELVES FELT, YOU KNOW, THE LIMITED AT TIMES BY THE REALLY KIND OF CONSERVATIVE EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, SHORT PANTS, YOU KNOW, SNEAKERS, T-SHIRT, MUSTN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME. AND WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT MOVEMENT, WHEN THE GRUNGE THING WAS HAPPENING. WE WERE SAILING OUR SHIP THE WRONG WAY UP TIDE, YOU KNOW, IN PLASTIC PANTS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH VIDEO. ZOO TV THING WAS JUST—THAT WAS THE PUNK ROCK THING TO DO AT THE TIME. NOT TO PUT ON A PAIR OF DUNGAREES. RIGHT WHEN ROCK 'N' ROLL WAS GETTING REALLY BROWN AND DULL AND WAS GETTING ALL PROGRESSIVE ROCK AND BORING AND LONG AGAIN, WE WENT DAY-GLOW ON POP AND WE STARTED WORKING WITH DEEJAYS AND WE STARTED PUTTING ON A SHOW THAT WAS MORE LIKE BLACK MUSIC, MORE LIKE GEORGE CLINTON, PARLIAMENT, FUNKADELIC, YOU KNOW, THE MOTHER SHIP, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

(Applause)

TEAR THE ROOF OFF. AND NONE OF THE BROTHERS HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHITE MIDDLE-CLASS KIDS WHOSE DADDIES HAD BOUGHT THEM A LES PAUL WERE GOING: THAT'S NOT ROCK 'N' ROLL, NO.

>> George: INTELLIGENT MUSIC GOT GOING GOT SO DEEP, YOU HAD ANOTHER WAVE WITH BRIT POP IN ENGLAND. YOU HAD BANDS LIKE OASIS WHO WENT AFTER THEIR PERCEPTION OF ROCK 'N' ROLL. WE HAD NOEL GALLAGHER IN TOWN ON MONDAY. HE SPENT A GOOD PORTION OF THE INTERVIEW JUST TAKING APART BAND AFTER BAND AFTER BAND, EVERYBODY WHO'S POPULAR RIGHT NOW. WHEN IT CAME TO YOU GUYS, HE HAD A DIFFERENT TUNE TO SING. WE HAVE A LITTLE MESSAGE FROM NOEL GALLAGHER. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT NOEL GALLAGHER WITH U2 HERE.

(Music)

>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE AS BIG AS U2. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE THAT CATALOGUE OF, YOU KNOW, GREAT ALBUMS BEHIND THEM. NOW WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT IS, YOU KNOW—WHETHER YOU LIKE THE MUSIC OR NOT, THAT'S BY THE BAND, DOESN'T MEAN. IF YOU'RE A FAN, GREAT. YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THEM FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR MUSIC, YOU HAVE TO. IT'S THE BIGGEST ROCK 'N' ROLL SHOW IN THE WORLD, AND THEY PULL IT OFF, YOU KNOW, AND THEY MEAN IT. I KNOW THEY MEAN IT.

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: SIMILAR WORDS. BY THE WAY, NOEL DID SAY GIVE HIM A CALL ON THE ROAD. HE'S ON HIS MOBILE.

(Laughter)

HE DOES WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. YOU REACH A POINT WHERE YOU TOUCH AN AUDIENCE AND THERE'S A LOYALTY FACTOR. WITHIN YOUR OWN CREW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FROM WAY BACK WHEN. LOYALTY IS I IMAGINE WHAT'S KEEPING YOU TOGETHER BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN STAY TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE THEY APPARENTLY LOVE FOR LONGER THAN FOUR YEARS.

>> NOTHING TO DO WITH LOYALTY. WE'VE GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

(Laughter)

>> George: I JUST COULDN'T SAY THAT.

>> UNEMPLOYABLE.

>> George: IS THERE SOMETHING BETWEEN THE FOUR OF YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE MISSING? BECAUSE IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE SURPRISE.

>> Bono: WE'RE ALL GAY.

(Laughter)

>> George: I'VE BEEN REPORTING THAT FOR THREE MONTHS.

>> Bono: DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

>> George: IT'S AWESOME. GOOD FOR YOU. WHY DO YOU THINK WE CALL IT U2 DOES Much?

(Applause and Cheering)

SO YOU MENTION LIMITED YOUR BABY EARLIER. WE SHOULD GIVE YOU THIS. THIS IS JUST SOME GEAR FOR THE KID AND ANYBODY WHO'S HAVING A NEW KID, WE'LL START GIVING YOU GEAR AS WELL.

>> The Crowd: AW!

>> George: WHICH KIND OF GOES WITH THE LOGO SO WE HAVE A WHOLE BAG OF MuchMusic STUFF HERE.

>> Bono: SPONSOR A CHILD.

>> George: THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE WILL TALK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES AS WELL. NO PROBLEM. THERE IS FOUR. I MEAN FAMILY IS SUCH A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU DO. YOU CAN TELL THAT ON STAGE.

>> Bono: FAMILY, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.

(Laughter)

>> George: COULD THAT BE SLY'S FAMILY?

>> Bono: BEING IN A BAND IS A BIT LIKE BEING IN THE MOB OR THE PRIEST HOOD. YOU WON'T GET OUT OF IT WHILE YOU'RE ALIVE.

>> George: YOU DID SING WITH FRANK.

>> Bono: YES, I DID SING WITH FRANK.

>> George: IT WOULD MAKE SOME SENSE.

>> Bono: FRANK IS THE MAN.

>> George: IT'S FUNNY HOW WE IDOLIZE SOME PEOPLE. JOEY RAMONE IS ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IN JUST A BIT.

(Applause)

IN ONE OF THE SONGS, WE GOT A MONSTROUS OVATION WAS "BEAUTIFUL DAY." A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE TO SAY U2 HAS GOT A COMEBACK. U2 IS COMING BACK. DID YOU GO SOMEWHERE THAT WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT?

>> Bono: WE GOT ALL ARTY ON PEOPLE. ISN'T THAT IT, LARRY?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE IT INTERESTING FOR OURSELVES AND, YOU KNOW, WE CHALLENGED OUR AUDIENCE AND WE DEFINITELY TOOK THEM UP MOUNTAINS AND DOWN RAVINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO. YOU'VE GOT TO DO THOSE THINGS TO GET TO MAKE THE RECORD THAT WE'VE JUST MADE. WE'RE NOT EMBARRASSED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE GOT A LICENCE WITH OUR AUDIENCE, AND THAT'S WHY OUR AUDIENCE IS SO IMPORTANT. WE'VE GOT A LICENCE TO DO THOSE THINGS, AND WE'VE NEVER—WE'VE NEVER REPEATED OURSELVES, AND PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT'S SOME SORT OF TECHNIQUE. THE REALITY IS THAT WE WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO, YOU KNOW. WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT QUALIFIED TO DO THAT. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO OTHER THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO EDGE EARLIER ON ABOUT IS THIS THE PINNACLE? IS THIS WHERE IT'S AT? IT'S LIKE THERE'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR U2. THERE ARE STILL THINGS LEFT FOR US TO DO, AND WHO KNOWS WHEN WE'LL DO THAT AND MAKING GREAT RECORDS AND HAVING GREAT SONGS OUT THERE AND AGAIN ON THE RADIO AND CHALLENGING ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S OUT THERE. THAT'S OUR JOB.

>> George: WHEN YOU CHALLENGE THE AUDIENCE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF RECORDS AND THE PAST COUPLE OF TOURS AT TIMES THE RESPONSE, WAS IT WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? DID YOU GET DISCOURAGED BY— BECAUSE WITH U2 IT'S AWESOME. EVERY TIME A RECORD COMES OUT, THAT'S WHEN THEY LOST ME OR THAT'S WHEN THEY WON ME. EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS.

>> I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TO KIND OF FOLLOW THOSE CHANGES. I THINK THEY LIKE THAT KIND OF, WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD. WE'RE GOING TO TRUST THIS AND GO WITH IT. YOU KNOW, A U2 RECORD TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET INTO. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT A LOT AND THEN IT KIND OF GRABS YOU. SO I THINK—I THINK IT WORKS OUT FINE.

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: U2 HERE IN THE MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO. STICK AROUND. MORE CONVERSATION WITH U2 AFTER THIS.

(Cheering and Applause)

(Music)

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: WELCOME BACK TO THE MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT. ALL THE BAND MEMBERS ARE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME. A LOT OF ARTISTS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BADLY DRAWN BOY. HE APOLOGIZED FOR BUYING THE BOOTLEGS WHEN HE MET BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE TOTALLY FORGIVING. I HAD A FRIEND STEAL A TOWEL FROM YOUR HOTEL.

(Laughter)

A LONG TIME AGO. I'M NOT OFFERING TO RETURN IT BY THE WAY. THAT IS THE HOTEL FROM THE CLARENCE.

>> Bono: EDGE DOES HOUSEKEEPING,

>> I REMEMBER THAT TOWEL.

>> George: IT'S NOW GONE. I WANT TO BRING IT DOWN TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL. YOU MENTIONED JOEY RAMONE ON STAGE. WHEN JOEY RAMONE PASSED AWAY, HE MADE THE COVERS OF THE PAPERS AND THE STORIES WERE DELIVERED ABOUT THE LIFE AND PEOPLE STARTED TO EULOGIZE. BY THE WAY, I REALLY WISHED THAT THE PERSON WHO DELIVERED THE EULOGY STARTED IT WITH "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR" BUT THEY DIDN'T SO IT WAS A LITTLE SAD. BUT YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS LISTENING TO YOUR ALBUM AND YOU KNOW THE SONG HAS BEEN RECORDED THAT HE PASSED AWAY TO. IT MADE ME THINK OF HEROES AND HOW YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MANY REALLY ANY MORE, AND WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING LIKE JOEY RAMONE IN THAT CONTEXT, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> Bono: WELL, ACTUALLY, I DO HAVE A LOT OF HEROES, BUT JOEY RAMONE WAS EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE HE'S MORE OF AN ANTIHERO REALLY, YOU KNOW. AND THE THING I WAS TELLING YOU EARLIER ABOUT PUNK ROCK, THAT IT'S A SPIRIT MORE THAN IT IS ANYTHING ELSE. ONCE IT BECOMES A UNIFORM OR, YOU KNOW, A SET OF RECORDS, IT'S NOT AS INTERESTING. BUT WHAT JOEY RAMONE DID FOR US WAS HE TOLD US WHEN WE WERE 15 AND 16 THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE IN A ROCK 'N' ROLL BAND AND TAKE IT ALL THE WAY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE RAM MONEYS MEANT TO US. AND IN FACT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOWED SOME CLIPPINGS OF US EARLY ON WHEN WE WERE KIDS, BUT WAY BEFORE THAT, WHEN WE WERE STILL AT SCHOOL, WE WERE TRYING TO GET ON A LOCAL TV SHOW, AND A BIG-SHOT PRODUCER WAS COMING DOWN TO SEE US IN OUR REHEARSAL ROOM AND WE WERE FIGHTING AND KICKING THE SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER, TRYING TO END SONGS, TRYING TO START SONGS, WHAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE. WE COULDN'T AGREE WITH ANYTHING. SO WHEN HE CAME THROUGH THE DOOR, WE COULDN'T AGREE ON PLAYING TWO OF OUR OWN SONGS SO WE PLAYED HIM TWO RAM MONEY SONGS BACK TO BACK AND HE SAID, DID YOU REALLY WRITE THOSE YOURSELF?

(Laughter)

AND WE SAID YEAH, YEAH.

(Laughter)

AND HE PUT US ON THE TV SHOW.

(Applause)

WE PLAYED OUR OWN SONGS ONTARIO TV SHOW.

(Cheering and Applause)

BUT I GOT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JOEY RAMONE FOR THE PURPOSE, YOU KNOW, FOR GETTING US STARTED. THAT WAS COOL.

>> George: THEIR ENTIRE CAREER BASED ON A SCAM. THIS INTERVIEW'S OVER.

(Laughing)

HEROES. EDGE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOT TO YOU IN A WAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY. NOT THE HEROES ON TELEVISION. SOMEBODY WHO'S TOUCHED YOU AND WILL STILL TOUCH YOU TODAY.

>> JOHN HUME WHO'S A POLITICIAN IN NORTHERN IRELAND WHO'S SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER FIGHTING FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN THE NORTH. HE REPRESENTS THE NATIONALIST COMMUNITY BUT AS OPPOSED VIOLENCE HIS WHOLE CAREER HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF MANY ATTEMPTS TO ASSASSINATE HIM. HE'S JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO YOU CAN'T IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF DETERMINATION THAT IT MUST HAVE TAKEN TO GO THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS AND STILL HOLD TO THAT PRINCIPLE. SO HE'S A HERO OF MINE.

>> George: READING THE BOOK "BEFORE THE DAWN, THE GERRY ADAMS STORY" AWHILE BACK. YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SHAKING HIS HAND.
TRYING TO GET A SENSE. STORY OUTSIDE OF WHAT I GOT ON TELEVISION. THE IMPACT OF SHAKING HIS HANDLED, AFTER DRAWING THAT LINE IN THE SAND. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE REPUBLICAN, THE DIFFERENT KIND. YOU'VE GOT THE UNIONIST. YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU AT THIS POINT? BECAUSE YOU ALMOST GET THE SENSE THE REAL STORY IS SORT OF LOST IN ALL THAT.

>> Bono: IN IRELAND, THEY SAID THE SOLUTION TO THE TROUBLES IN IRELAND WAS, YOU KNOW, 100,000 ROCK BANDS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UP IN THE NORTH, IT WAS THE MUSIC THAT BROUGHT EVERYONE TOGETHER AND IT WAS THE MUSIC THAT KIND OF SHOWED PEOPLE A DIFFERENT WAY, AND—BUT WITH REGARDS LETTING GO OF OLD, YOU KNOW, OLD KIND OF CONVICTIONS, AND I THOUGHT I HAD THE MOST OPEN MIND. YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT—BUT I WAS ALWAYS REALLY ANGRY WHEN A BOMB WOULD GO OFF IN LIVERPOOL OR A BOMB WOULD GO OFF SOMEWHERE, AND I JUST—I JUST—I JUST CAN'T REALLY COPE WITH THE IDEA THAT AN IDEA CAN BE WORTH MORE THAN A HUMAN LIFE. AND SOLE FOR ME TO MEET PEOPLE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT KIND OF—THOSE KIND OF ATROCITIES IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME. BUT I HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THIS IS THE TIME IN IRELAND TO THINK FOR THE FUTURE AND LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING GERRY ADAMS, HAVE MADE GREAT COMPROMISES TO MAKE A PEACE IN IRELAND, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE UNIONIST SIDE HAVE MADE A LOT OF COMPROMISES AND WE'VE MADE NO COMPROMISES. WE'RE LIVING IN THE SOUTH. WE HAVE IT GREAT, AND WE SHOULD SOMETIMES JUST SHUT UP, BUT THAT'S HARD FOR ME.

>> George: YOU DRAW THOSE LINES. YOU HAVE THOSE CONVICTIONS AND THEN YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE TO. AT A CERTAIN POINT, IF YOU DON'T CHANGE, THEN YOU'RE JUST BLOWING OFF AT THE MOUTH AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANYTHING BETTER. IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HAVE A LINE IN THE SAND AND THINK FIVE YEARS LATER, OH, IT'S NOT SO SCARY ON THAT SIDE. PERHAPS I CAN DO THIS.

>> NO.

(Laughter)

>> George: WE KNOW WHO MAKES ALL THE BUSINESS DEALS IN THE BAND. (Laughter)

>> LINES IN THE SAND. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT SHIT.

(Laughter)

>> George: SHALL WE PICK UP THE BONE HERE?

(Applause)

THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE. IT WORKS.

>> ARE YOU MAKING REFERENCE TO ONE PARTICULAR THING OR ANY SITUATION?

>> George: BECAUSE YOUR BAND HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS MORE THAN MUSIC; YOU'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THE REAL WORLD THAT YOU—YOU KNOW, THE MOMENT YOU STAND UP FOR SOMETHING, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, YEARS LATER YOU CAN
THINK, HEY, THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT THIS, WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER -- YOU KNOW, BOB DYLAN IN MY BACK PAGES, I WAS SO MUCH OLDER THEN. I'M YOUNGER THAN NOW. HAVE YOU HAD A LOT OF THOSE REALIZATIONS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, COMPROMISE IS PROBABLY, FOR ME, IS THE HARDEST THING TO SWALLOW. BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IT'S THE ONLY—IT'S THE ONLY WAY FORWARD, AND THAT GOES WITH EVERYTHING. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THINGS, YOU'VE GOT TO STAND BY THEM. WE'VE GONE INTO COUNTRIES AND CHALLENGED POLITICIANS. WE'VE TAKEN HITS FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE JOB OF ROCK 'N' ROLL. I MEAN, IT'S TO CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAYBE HOLD SACRED. IT'S HARD SOMETIMES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST MAKE MUSIC AND, YOU KNOW, JUST GET BACK IN YOUR BOX? BUT THE GREATEST ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC THAT WAS MADE ALWAYS HAD SOME KIND OF POLITICAL MESSAGE NO MATTER WHAT THAT WAS. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME KIND OF REBELLION THERE.

>> Bono: IT'S LIKE AS IF, IF POP MUSIC, IF THE IDEA THAT SEEMS TO BE AROUND POP MUSIC IS THAT EVERYTHING'S OKAY, CHILL OUT, RELAX, YOU KNOW. IT'S NOT SO BAD. DON'T ROCK THE BOAT. ROCK MUSIC WAS ALWAYS A DIFFERENT THING FOR US. ROCK MUSIC WAS ALWAYS ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD, BELIEVING THAT YOU COULD CHANGE THE WORLD, AT LEAST THE WORLD INSIDE YOUR HEAD OR THE WORLD INSIDE YOUR BEDROOM, YOU KNOW. BUT IT JUST WASN'T JUST LAYING ACK AND TAKING IT AND, YOU KNOW, THAT SEEMS TO ME, AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSPIRED US LIKE BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS AND THE CLASH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY WERE ALWAYS STICKING THEIR NOSES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.

>> George: IT STARTS OFF IN YOUR HEAD, THEN ENDS UP IN YOUR MIDDLE FINGER AND YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STORY AND YOU CARRY IT ON.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> George: DO YOU FEEL LIKE BANDS TODAY ARE SHIRKING THE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE—

>> Bono: MORE SENSE THAN TO TAKE IT ON. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW—

>> George: IS THAT REGRET?

>> Bono: I JUST SOMETIMES WOULD PREFER THAT WE WERE JUST A POP GROUP. I MEAN, I JUST CAN'T GET OVER THAT DESTINY'S CHILD RECORD. I'M THINKING I WANT TO BE IN AN R&B BAND AND GET THOSE DANCE MOVES DOWN, YOU KNOW.

>> George: JUNE 7th, IN THIS VERY ENVIRONMENT, DESTINY'S CHILD COME IN AS WELL FOR A BIG-TIME EVENT.

>> Bono: DO THEY SIT ON THESE SEATS?

(Laughter)

(Applause)

>> George: WE'LL ASK THEM FOR YOU. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE AT THE WINDOW WHO HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU. WE'LL WALK OVER TO THE WINDOW IF YOU WANT. IF WE TAKE A WALK.

(Applause and Cheering)

TO THIS WINDOW HERE. ON ONE SIDE....

(Cheering and Applause)

PLEASE SAY HELLO TO U2.

(Continued applause and cheering)

>> George: U2 LIVE IN Much. AT A CERTAIN POINT, DOES THIS EVER BECOME WEIRD TO YOU? CAN YOU BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I'D WANT TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IT. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.

(Cheering)

>> George: OKAY. SO EVERYBODY HERE, NOW YOU DO HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR THE GUYS IN U2, RIGHT? SO ON THE COUNT OF THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE:

>> The Crowd: \M Oh, oh \M

>> George: NOW THE NEXT ONE, ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> \M Sunday, bloody Sunday \M

>> George: AND ONE MORE. (Singing)

>> GEORGE? THIS IS SOMEBODY I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET.

>> George: RAFISTO.

>> Bono: I JUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU. ONE DAY, ALL OF THIS COULD BE YOURS.

>> George: (Laughing) U2 DOES Much! STICK AROUND. MORE AFTER THIS.

(Music)

(Cheering)

>> George: MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT. RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AMERICA, U2 IS HERE AFTER PLAYING A COUPLE OF SHOWS IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO.

(Applause and Cheering)

THE TOUR... I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE TOUR AND TO PLAY AS MANY SHOWS AS YOU'VE PLAYED IN YOUR LIFE AND TO TRY TO GO THROUGH THE SET LIST, I MEAN INVARIABLY SOMEONE WILL BE PISSED IF YOU DON'T PLAY SOMETHING. SOMEONE WILL BE ECSTATIC BECAUSE YOU PLAY A SONG YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED IN YEARS. IS IT A DEBATE WITHIN THE BAND WHERE YOU SAY, OH, WE'RE PLAYING THIS SONG AND THREE GUYS GO "THE HELL WE ARE".

(Laughter)

>> IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT FINDING SOMETHING WE CAN PLAY, YOU KNOW.

(Laughter)

>> George: WHAT YOU REMEMBER?

>> THAT'S THE THING IS REMEMBERING SOME OF THE OLD SONGS. YOU GET THE ALBUMS OUT AND LISTEN IN THE DRESSING ROOM AND THERE'S THE DEBATE OF, LIKE, IS THAT AN "A" OR AN "F" SHARP, ALL THAT STUFF. BUT WE DID "OUT OF CONTROL" TONIGHT WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T DONE FOR A LONG TIME. (Applause and Cheering)

>> Bono: I THINK WE'VE ONLY PLAYED IT TWICE IN ABOUT 15 YEARS.

>> George: SO YOU, LIKE, RARELY -- WERE YOU SCARED ON STAGE GETTING INTO IT THINKING OH, MAN, THIS IS GOING TO SUCK. THEY'RE GOING TO START CHANGING TO THE ROLLING STONES IF WE GET THE WORDS RIGHT OR THE WRONG CHORD.

>> Bono: IT KIND OF SUCKED ACTUALLY BUT IN A....

(Laughter)

IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY.

(Cheering)

IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING TO PLAY SOME OF THOSE TUNES. YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA GO BACK TO WHERE YOU STARTED SOMETIMES TO REMEMBER WHY YOU DID THIS. FOR US, YOU KNOW, MAKING THIS ALBUM WAS EITHER GOING TO BE OUR LAST ALBUM OR THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING.

>> The Crowd: OH!

>> George: WHAT ARE WE ON?

>> Bono: I THINK HE'S GONE HOME. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR THING. YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T GET TWO CRAP ALBUMS IN A ROW FROM US.
(Cheering)

BECAUSE WE'LL BE THE FIRST TO PUT THE BULLET IN THE HEAD OF THE BAND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST A LOT OF—IT'S ABOUT SELF-RESPECT AT A CERTAIN POINT. IT'S A BIT OF A GRUDGE MATCH ACTUALLY.

>> George: FOR YOURSELVES.

>> Bono: YEAH, A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE YOU JUST FEEL THAT THE OBVIOUS CONCERT—IF YOU'RE A PHOTOGRAPHER OR IF YOU WERE A NOVELIST OR A POET OR A PAINTER OR FILMMAKER, YOU'D JUST BE GETTING THE HANG OF THINGS IN YOUR 30s. BUT MOST ROCK 'N' ROLL BANDS ARE BURNT OUT BY THEIR 30s. I LIKE TO THINK WE'RE BURNING UP. (Applause and Cheering)

>> George: REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, IT'S THE JESUS LESSON. GO AWAY AT 30, COME BACK AT 33, GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER AND BE READY TO TACKLE THE WORLD. YOU SAID YOU'D NEVER GIVE TWO CRAP ALBUMS IN A ROW. HAVE YOU GUYS SAT TOGETHER AND SAID: THAT WAS ONE CRAP RECORD. WE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHER ONE?

>> Bono: NO.

>> George: DO YOU AGREE?

>> Bono: IT'S USUALLY LARRY, YEAH.

>> NO. I WASN'T SURE WHICH ONE.

>> Bono: SEE, DEPENDING ON WHICH MEMBER OF THE BAND YOU TALK TO, YOU'LL GET A VERY DIFFERENT READ ON WHAT'S THE CRAP ALBUM. AND, IN FACT, DEPENDING WHATEVER COUNTRY YOU GO TO, THAT'S THE REALLY EXTRAORDINARY THING. LIKE, IF WE GO TO, YOU KNOW, EUROPE AND STUFF, ACTUALLY CANADA, IT'S LIKE POP WAS REALLY COOL CROSSOVER AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY PROUD OF OUR SONGS.
(Applause and Cheering)

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY—AND— BUT YOU JUST CROSS THE BORDER AND PEOPLE GO, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BIT SORRY ABOUT THAT ONE, WERE YOU? AND YOU SAY, WELL, THEY JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, DJs ARE, I DON'T KNOW, ARE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF A DIFFERENT SHADE. I MEAN IT'S A STRANGE THING. THAT MUSIC IS NOW BREAKING ACROSS THE BORDER, BUT IT'S BEEN BREAKING HERE FOR YEARS. IT'S BEEN BREAKING WHERE WE— YOU KNOW, IN THE U.K. AND IN IRELAND FOR YEARS, AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW—IT'S ALL ABOUT EUROPE, THE CULTURAL CONTEXT SOMETIMES.

>> George: SO THE BAND WAS THE CRAP ALBUM TO YOU?

>> IT'S ALL RELATIVE, YOU UNDERSTAND. I DON'T THINK WE'VE MADE A CRAP RECORD.

(Applause and Cheering)

I THINK MAYBE OUR SECOND RECORD.

>> Bono: HE WOULD REMIX IF YOU LET HIM EVERY SINGLE TRACK THAT WE EVER RECORDED.

>> THIS IS TRUE. I THINK MAYBE OUR SECOND RECORD WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT TO MAKE BECAUSE WE HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME AND HAD THE LEAST NUMBER OF SONGS GOING IN, SO THAT'S THE ONE THAT PROBABLY I'D LIKE TO DO THE MOST TO. BUT EVEN THE LATEST RECORD, YOU KNOW THE STUFF ON THERE I'D LOVE TO CHANGE, PARTICULARLY THE SONGS WE'VE BEEN PLAYING LIVE.

>> Bono: WATCH HIM.

(Laughter)

>> THE SONGS REALLY TAKE ON A LIFE OF THEIR OWN WHEN THEY PLAY THEM LIVE, AND A COUPLE OF THE TUNES FROM "WHAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND" HAVE REALLY GONE SOMEWHERE.

>> George: A VIDEO FOR A SONG THAT CHALLENGED YOUR VIEWERS WHEN THEY FIRST SAW IT. SHALL WE DO THAT? THIS IS "LEMON" AND U2 ON Much.

(Cheering)

(Applause)

(Lemon Video aired)

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: U2 ON Much. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOME THROUGH OUR PHOTO ALBUMS AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOKS, WE HAVE THE REAL BENEFIT OF LAUGHING AT OURSELVES BUT IT'S ONLY IN OUR LIVING ROOM. WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT A VIDEO AND YOU LAUGH WHEN YOU SEE A CERTAIN SCENE AND YOU LAUGH AND YOU GO WAIT, EVERYBODY'S HERE. DO YOU LOOK BACK AT YOURSELVES? I DON'T MEAN SO MUCH THE HAIR.

>> WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT THAT?

>> George: I WAS LAUGHING AT YOUR REACTION TO THAT.

>> Bono: YOU KNOW THAT CHARACTER, MACPHISTO, WE DISCOVERED HIM IN BARCELONA IN A CLUB IN BARCELONA. IT WAS LIKE A MONDAY NIGHT AND WE WERE OUT AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE—ACTUALLY IT WAS MADRID IN SPAIN, AND PEOPLE GO OUT VERY, VERY LATE AND THEY EAT VERY LATE AND THEY—I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WORK THE NEXT DAY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IN MADRID IS LIKE OUT AT NIGHT. ANYWAY, THERE WAS HE, THIS CHARACTER, WAS IN THE CLUB WITH A PLASTIC BAG OF HIS BELONGINGS, A GOLD SUIT AND KIND OF MAKEUP, AND I THINK HE WORKED IN THE THEATRE THERE. HE WAS SOME PANTOMIME CHARACTER. AND MYSELF AND EDGE KIND OF FOLLOWED HIM AROUND THE WHOLE NIGHT AND SORT OF TOOK HIM HOME AND BECAME HIM.

>> George: HOW TERRIFIED IS THE POOR GUY WHEN U2 FOLLOWS HIM HOME?

(Laughter)

HE'S LIKE "GET AWAY. I'M HANGING OUT." YOU LEARN FROM PEOPLE, OFTEN PEOPLE YOU'LL NEVER MEET. MAYBE THIS GUY YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE YOU NEVER MEET. DO YOU HAVE DEFINITE IMAGES OF PEOPLE AND YOU SAY, OH, I LOVE THOSE PANTS. OH, LORD, I'LL NEVER WEAR THOSE PANEL. ORAL THAT GUY OR THAT WOMAN WILL MEAN SOMETHING TO ME? WAS IT A LOOK IN THE EYE? DO YOU EVER GET THAT CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE EMOTIONALLY WITHOUT THEM KNOWING IT?

>> DO YOU HAVE A CHAIR WITH A STRAIGHT BACK IN HERE?

(Laughter)

THESE ARE REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> George: THEY ARE BUT WE WERE GOING FOR THE EROGENOUS ZONE THING.

>> WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? IT SOUNDED INTERESTING.

>> George: THAT'S A TV LINE.

(Applause and Cheering)

I WILL REPEAT. YOU DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU NEVER MEET. IN SOME WAYS, IT COULD BE VERY PURE.

>> AND THEN YOU LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING.

>> George: YEAH. DO YOU AT LEAST LEAVE THEM CAB FARE I GUESS? YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THAT WAY. BUT DO YOU EVER TAKE THINGS FROM PEOPLE IN THAT RESPECT AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT, HEY, THAT IS AN INSPIRATION?

>> I'M A BASS PLAYER. I DON'T WORRY ABOUT STUFF LIKE THAT.

(Laughter)

THAT'S A SINGER QUESTION.

>> George: WE'LL GO TOTS SINGER AFTER THE BREAK. MORE WITH U2 IN JUST A MINUTE.

(Applause and Cheering)

(Music)

(Continued cheering)

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: THE MuchMusic ENVIRONMENT IS ALIVE. U2 ARE HERE. PLAYING SOME SHOWS AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE. CLEARLY THE CROWD IS READY FOR IT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELVES AND YOU HEAR PEOPLE REFER TO YOU AS THE BIGGEST BAND IN THE WORLD AND THEN THERE'S THE REAPPLYING FOR THE JOB THING, DID YOU GUYS SMACK THEM, DON'T SAY THAT AGAIN! REAPPLYING FOR THE JOB.

>> Bono: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REALLY CRAP ROCK BANDS AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS. WHEN WE SAY THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD, THAT DOESN'T MEAN, LIKE, YOU WILL BE NEXT WEEK OR YOU WERE THE WEEK BEFORE, BUT ON A GIVEN NIGHT, IF THE SPIRIT IS WITH YOU, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE THE BEST BAND ON THE PLANET.

(Cheering and Applause)

TONIGHT, WE WERE THE BEST BAND ON THE PLANET.

(Cheering and Applause)

NEXT WEEK, IT COULD BE RADIOHEAD, YOU KNOW. NEXT WEEK, IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. IT COULD BE OASIS. BUT AT THE MOMENT, WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A LOT—WE'RE HAVING IT OUR WAY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR THAT MANTLE. AND IT IS A KIND OF BOLLOX THING TO SAY, BUT I SAY IT BECAUSE IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD IN THE MORNING NEWSPAPERS, ANNOYS PEOPLE AND I FEEL THAT'S PART OF MY JOB AS SINGER OF U2.

>> George: YOU'VE GIVEN THE REPORTERS SUCH GREAT FODDER OVER THE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO JUST THE BOLLOX AND TO BE COCKY. THE QUESTION I GUESS PEOPLE WONDER: ARE YOU AN INSECURE BAND AT TIMES? DO YOU EVER ASK...

>> Bono: MAN.

>> George: YOU'RE AN INSECURE MAN. GENTLEMEN? THEY'RE NOT INSECURE.

>> Bono: IF YOU'RE SECURE, YOU DON'T BECOME A SINGER, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IF YOU NEED 20,000 PEOPLE A NIGHT SCREAMING "I LOVE YOU," TO FEEL NORMAL, YOU'RE A SINGER.

(Applause)

>> George: HE JUST PLAYS BASS. HE DOESN'T NEED THE 20,000 PEOPLE. COULD YOU PLAY CLUB GIGS GENERALLY AND GETS OFF THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD IN FRONT OF 20,000 PEOPLE?

>> ACTUALLY WE DID A FEW CLUB GIGS NOT SO LONG AGO, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY AND SORT OF TRY OUT SOME OF THE SONGS LIVE BEFORE WE DID THE TOUR, AND IT WAS SO SCARY. IT WAS LIKE REALLY INTIMIDATING FOR US. WE CAME ON STAGE LIKE, OOH, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE.

(Laughter)

IT'S LIKE OW.

>> BODY ODOUR.

(Laughter)

>> George: YOURS OR THEIRS? OH, HIS.

(Laughter)

>> IT TOOK ABOUT THREE SHOWS TO CLICK BACK IN. BUT IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. I THINK WE COULD DO IT AGAIN. I THINK BY THE END OF, LIKE, THREE CLUB SHOWS, WE ACTUALLY REDISCOVERED HOW TO BE A CLUB BAND AGAIN.

>> I DON'T WANT TO PLAY IN THE CLUBS. I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CLUBS. WE'VE WORKED—WHENEVER YOU HEAR BANDS GOING, YEAH, MAN, I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET BACK IN THE CLUBS. YOU KNOW THEY WERE NEVER THERE. YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GREAT WHEN WE PLAY STADIUMS, WE PLAY THESE ARENAS. WE TURN THEM INTO CLUBS. THAT'S A MUCH GREATER TRICK.

(Applause and Cheering)

>> George: TO BE AN ARENA ROCK BAND IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS VERY DIFFICULT IN THAT MOST OF THE ARENA ROCK BANDS TODAY HAVE DIFFERENT SENSITIVITIES, YOU KNOW, AND BY THAT I MEAN—

>> Bono: SENSITIVELY PUT.

>> George: TRYING TO. THE WHOLE "SHOW ME YOUR" SEEMS TO—AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND THERE WAS A BALANCE. DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE TOO MUCH OF A BALANCE. WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING THE AIR CANADA CENTRE OR THE MOLSON CENTRE AS YOU WILL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS IN MONTREAL, YOU'RE WALKING INTO A MIND SETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST USED TO (Sniffing) THAT SMELLS LIKE SUMMER. OH, LOOK WHAT SHE'S SHOWING. ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED WITH BIG BANDS, BEST BANDS AND THE WAY THEY TREAT PEOPLE?

>> Bono: I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST—WHEN, YOU KNOW— I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THOSE SHOWS AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND I THINK WHAT IT IS FOR US IS OUR BAND HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER, IT'S BUILT AND THE SONGS ARE CONSTRUCTED SO THAT YOU CAN'T SING THEM, YOU CAN'T PERFORM THEM AND PLAY THEM UNLESS YOU STEP INSIDE OF THEM. SO, I MEAN, I HAVE—ACTUALLY WOULD LOVE IN SOME WAYS TO BE ABLE TO FAKE IT, IF YOU WANT TO -- YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME NIGHTS WHEN YOU GO OUT, IF YOU'RE FEELING SHIT OR YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A COLD OR YOU MISS YOUR FAMILY, AND THE IDEA THAT TONIGHT HAS TO BE EXTRAORDINARY CAN WEAR A BIT THIN, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT AND SOMETIMES BE ABLE TO JUST, YOU KNOW, DO WHATEVER THEY DO. BUT YOU TRY SINGING "PRIDE IN
THE NAME OF LOVE" AND NOT BE COMMITTED TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT SONG. TRY PERFORMING A LOT OF OUR SONGS. THEY'RE JUST KIND OF DESIGNED THAT WAY, THAT YOU CAN'T FUCK WITH THEM, YOU KNOW.

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: SPEAKING OF THAT SONG, I CAUGHT THE ELEVATION TOUR IN ATLANTA. IN ATLANTA, YOU MADE A COMMENTS ABOUT HOW, THROUGH YOUR TWENTIES YOUR HAIR WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING. THROUGH YOUR TEENS AND TWENTIES IT WAS GRETA SCOTT KING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> George: I NOTICED IN ATLANTA AND IT WAS KIND OF BIZARRE, THERE WAS A LINEUP BEYOND BELIEF TO GET INTO A MUSEUM OF A SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURER. JUST DOWN THE ROAD WAS THE EBENEZER CHURCH, THE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND I REMEMBER THINKING: BOY, U2 WOULD PROBABLY TAKE SOMETHING FROM THIS.

>> Bono: YES. I DO TRY TO GET OUT. ON THAT LEVEL, I'M KIND OF MIXED UP. I'VE GOT A CATHOLIC FATHER. I'VE GOT A PROTESTANT MOTHER, AND I FEEL EQUALLY AS UNCOMFORTABLE OR COMFORTABLE IN MOST CHURCHES. BUT I HAVE—I DO CHECK OUT A LOT OF GOSPEL CHURCHES WHEN I'M ESPECIALLY IN THE U.S., BECAUSE THOSE WHITE FOLK, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME A LOT OF THE TIME. BUT WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, LIKE IN THOSE GOSPEL CHURCHES THE WAY THEY SING, THEN I CAN FEEL GOD IS IN THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW. AND I'M ATTRACTED TO THAT. AND I WANT TO BE—I'D HAVE CHECKED THAT OUT.

>> George: AS CAB CALLOWAY SAID TO THE BLUES BROTHERS, YOU BOYS NEED SOME CHURCHING, WHICH SEEM TO APPEAR. SOME MORE U2.

"BEAUTIFUL DAY" ON Much.

(Applause and Cheering)

(Beautiful Day Video aired)

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY AS U2 DOES Much. THE ALBUM IS A VERY HOPEFUL ALBUM. YOU GO TO THE SHOW AND YOU'VE GOT THE BIG HEART, THE CONCEPTS OF LOVE AND TO BE LOVED. IS IT SOMETHING—DOES IT MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO YOU? HAVE YOU LEARNED IT, THE HEART? GIVE US THE GO ON THAT.

>> Bono: MUSIC IS LOVE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, AT A CERTAIN POINT, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FROM IT. WE DRESS IT UP AS DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT MUSIC FOR ME IS MAGIC AND LOVE. IT'S—MUSIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE SPIRIT. IT'S HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US, AND THAT IS WHY IT IS SO OFTEN TRAMPLED ON AND WHY IT'S TURNED INTO, YOU KNOW, A PIECE OF SHIT. BUT WHAT IT CAN BE IS SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY THAT REMINDS YOU OF WHAT YOU CAN BE. AND IT'S A BLESSING, I SUPPOSE.

>> George: AS YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD, WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE AS A HUMAN BEING FOR PEOPLE AND FOR THE WORLD? ASSUMING YOU HAVE HOPE.

>> (Laughing) I'M NOT SURE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF REASON TO HAVE HOPE OF THE WAY THE WORLD IS, BUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW. WHEN I LOOK AT IT FROM STAGE AT THE U2 AUDIENCE, IT'S LIKE EVERY NIGHT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING OFF THERE AND THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF HOPE.

>> George: WHAT IS U2's GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THEN WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS A MAN?

(Laughter)

HEY, THE BASS PLAYER'S HAPPY I DIDN'T ASK HIM THIS ONE.

(Laughter)

>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK, AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME, TO STILL LOVE DOING IT AND STILL DO IT BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN IT, THAT'S KIND OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD ANSWER THE SECOND ONE, UHMM, TRUTHFULLY.

>> George: NICE. WELL DONE. I'LL ASK YOU.

>> SAME FOR ME.

>> George: AS A HUMAN BEING, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL PUT SO MUCH INTO WHAT YOU'VE DONE AS A BAND. HEY, THANK YOU. YOU MADE MUSIC THAT I LOVED AND IT'S TOUCHED ME AT CERTAIN LEVELS OF MY LIFE BUT, AS A HUMAN BEING, WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT PERHAPS IS LOST ON PEOPLE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF U2? DON'T GIVE ME THE BASS PLAYER ANSWER. I WANT A REAL ANSWER THIS TIME.

>> I'D SAY YOU TRY CARRYING THAT THING FOR TWO HOURS.

(Laughter)

I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BEING A PART OF THIS BAND AND ABLE TO MAKE THE RECORDS THAT WE MAKE AND ABLE TO DO THE SHOWS THAT WE DO, AND THAT KIND OF—THAT KIND OF DOES MOST OF IT FOR ME. THERE'S NOT MUCH ELSE LEFT OVER AFTER THOSE THINGS ARE DONE.

>> George: IT SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT WAY TO ENDS THIS INTERVIEW AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.

(Applause and Cheering)

PEOPLE HERE AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE, SHALL WE GO SAY GOOD-BYE? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OUT THERE, HERE COME U2.

(Applause and Cheering)

TWENTY YEARS, ALMOST 100 MILLION RECORDS SOLD.

(Cheering and Applause)

HERE COMES U2. LET THEM KNOW.

(Cheering and Applause)

A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OUT THERE.

(Cheering and Applause)

>> George: EVERYBODY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT. ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY AT MuchMusic AND ON BEHALF OF U2. EDGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> George: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS. APPRECIATE IT.

>> George: NO PROBLEM. DO YOU HAVE A FINAL MESSAGE FOR THE CROWD TODAY? SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE HOME WITH THEM, AS IF THIS WASN'T ENOUGH?

>> I'M NOT TAKING OFF MY CLOTHES.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> George: A WONDERFUL TIME HAD BY ALL AS U2 HAVE SHOWED UP HERE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. YOU GO TO MONTREAL, DO YOU ALREADY SAY TO YOURSELF, I HAVE A RECORD READY TO GO? DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THE NEXT ALBUM READY FOR YOU?

>> WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE NEXT RECORD. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START THREE.

>> George: PERFECT. BYE-BYE FROM Much AND U2.