Who Needs ‘Em Anyway?
I had a weird sensation come over me as I watched Edge perform “Where the Streets Have No Name” with Muse at the Glastonbury Festival this weekend. I had never realized just how much that song’s strength is Edge. Being a Mullen fan myself, I had always embraced the drums in the song. However, it wasn’t until I saw a different band performing it *with* Edge doing the signature guitar parts that I realized that as much as I adore Larry and have the utmost respect for Adam, instrumentally “Where the Streets Have No Name” is truly Edge’s song. Had it not been for Matthew Bellamy’s vocals, I would have had a difficult time believing that Larry and Adam weren’t also on stage based on just the audio of the performance.
The guest performance by Edge also sparked the conversation in my house about if a band member leaves U2, should the band continue on? This is a question that has been on the @U2 fan survey over the years, so it is an ongoing debate between my husband and myself. Surprisingly, fans felt more strongly in 2005 than they did in 2010 about U2 not continuing as a band should one of them leave. Here’s the stats according to the survey results:
(band member to leave / percentage who said “no - U2 should not continue”)
Bono: 96.1% (2005) / 95.27% (2010)
Edge: 96.81% (2005) / 96.02% (2010)
Adam: 90.67% (2005) / 88.14% (2010)
Larry: 92.67% (2005) / 90.48% (2010)
I don’t know if it’s because everyone’s gotten older and we’re less picky as to if U2 was to continue or not. What does stand out is that fans feel Edge is the most valuable member of U2. After seeing the Glastonbury performance with Muse, U2 just wouldn’t be U2 if it wasn’t for Edge and his gift of playing the guitar. I’ve heard countless others try to mimic Edge, but as Dallas Schoo pointed out, even he can’t make it sound like Edge. This is why, I believe, Edge can join forces with anyone else to recreate the magic of U2…as long as the tune stays instrumental. As soon as you put in someone else’s voice, well, then it just doesn’t feel right.
So, going back to that sensation I felt: I was wrestling with how insanely awesome it was to have Edge doing what he does best and how odd it was to not see the rest of the band up there with him as the song sounded so signature U2. Could I really be happy knowing that it wasn’t the full band peforming? No, not really. Could I embrace a future where they could continue on without one (or three) of the legs in the four-legged-table? Hard to tell. Had Muse and Edge not done a U2 song, the challenge wouldn’t be so tough. All I know is that Bono better listen to what Dr. Tonn told him because I don’t want to picture U2′s music being performed by less than all 4 members any longer than I need to!
Last 4 posts by U2isABLE
- Blackwell Describes U2 As "Rinky-dink" - December 21st, 2010
- Grammy Nom for Pride (In the Name of Love) - December 12th, 2010
- Conan O'Brien's Spider-Man "Exclusive" - December 1st, 2010
- Spider-Man Hangover - Monday Morning Thoughts - November 29th, 2010
For some reason I was thinking about this the other day and came to the conclusion that U2 could get by without Adam & Larry.
I think Edge and Bono could perform the old stuff fine with another drummer and bassist without losing anything musically, but Adam & Larry couldn’t do it without Bono and the Edge.
I just watched the Muse/Edge video. To me that could have passed for U2 right up until the vocals. I just don’t see how you replace Edge’s guitar style or Bono’s voice.
The big question for me is with new music. How would losing Adam and/or Larry change that dynamic? (I do hope it never comes to that!)
One last thing. When righting about him is it Edge or The Edge?
On the surface it would seem that Bono & The Edge could continue the U2 sound without Larry and Adam, but that’s where it stops. I have read numerous U2 interviews and biographies and what stands out most is the friendship. Bono & The Edge couldn’t carry on without Larry and Adam because they tend to add what is necessary to each other. Larry keeps the band firmly grounded which keeps Bono a little reeled. Where as Adam is constantly looking to stretch the band in different directions, which a minimalist like The Edge needs. People also thought the Beatles would’ve been fine if it were just John and Paul (That’s right people I’m comparing U2 to the Beatles, get over it), but George and Ringo added to the Fab 4 what Larry and Adam add to U2. They create musical and emotional balance.
U2 is U2 and it just wouldn’t be U2 without them all; however your comments on the Edge’s brillance is well known to me. Larry and Adam are swell musicans and Bono most certaintly has a better voice than whoever that guy fron Muse was (no offense Muse fans I didn’t dig his singing AT ALL) but the Edge is the talent of U2. He wrote Sunday Bloody Sunday - for the most part- and he’s truly the evolutionary of the group. That said I couldn’t live if ANY of the band members left so rest up Bono!
The Muse/Edge collab for Glasto was great, Muse are very talented and all, but U2 is MAGIC and that Glasto version of “Streets” just didn’t match the magic of the original. Edge is amazing but U2 is U2 and there are 4 guys in this band. They are best when they’re playing together. Muse music is very conceptional and the difference between their songs and the direct emotional appeal of U2′s songs just became very clear when they performed on Saturday. It was very nice to see Edge coming out and Muse paying tribute to U2, but it made me also very sad and it made me realise how much Bono is MISSING. I hope he recovers well and is on his feet very, very soon. U2 needs him as much as he needs U2.
It must have been a little painful for Edge to perform this song without his friends. Hopefully this whole thing will make the band realize how much they really need each other and will make the band stronger. It was a great performance, but it was a little disturbing to me; it’s like a small glimpse of “what if” the band broke up and I didn’t like that aspect at all. Maybe everyone will appreciate them a little more when they do come back.
100% agreement with this blog post.
They won’t break up. They went to school together you know: if the didn’t break up then they’ll be good forever. They’re all friends and they get to do what they love to do together. I’m not worried.
U2′s music is not difficult for other bands to play and cover. The four band members have an X factor together that few bands match…
Here’s my take: Could Edge & Bono go out on the road with two shmucks in the rhythm section and remain a U2 juke box cranking out old hits? Sure thing, bass and drums aren’t rocket science - since the parts are already written and plenty of performances are recorded for review. But if we’re talking about continuous evolution as a band with new songs and albums, there’s no way. Edge is definitely a mad scientist, no doubt, but the band only sits so high because it’s foundation (Adam and Larry) is so thick that no other structure could compare.
I really enjoyed the Muse/Edge performance for what it was - a one-shot. But it was so evident how Edge was superimposed on top of a band he didn’t mesh with. That was Muse with a hint of U2. If they had played an entire show rather than just one song, I feel like we’d all be left with an empty feeling rather than excitement. This was a nice tease though, something different! Makes me grateful Edge didn’t do any major solo projects.
Major props to Adam and Larry! The backbone and the heartbeat of the band.
Funny, it sounded nothing like U2 at all to me, from the moment the drums came in. Larry has a very unique drum sound that is just hard to replicate. And btw, as talented as the Muse rhythm section is, their timekeeping was a tad sloppier than Adam and Larry .
Well, I mean of course Muse’s rhythm section was a bit sloppier than Adam and Larry. Adam and Larry have played the songs about 1000 more times- i think i can give them a pass
I thought the performance was great. On first listen or 2 I agree it sounded pretty dead on- though Bellamy obviously has a different sound. However, I downloaded an MP3 and listened a bit more- the opening drums during the instrumental build are actually much different. Less driving and without Larry’s milaraistic snare feel.
I used to agree they would probably be alright without Larry and Adam, but over the years, I’ve come to the opinion that nobody drums quite like Larry. And with Adam I just think, without his bass we don’t have New Years Day or With Or Without You.
It is NOT and I repeat NOT U2 without all 4 members! They are there for each other not only on a musical level buton an emotional level as well. TONS of differences between MUSE and U2, the first and most important being that U2 are an emotional band who write and perform emotional songs. MUSE just write and perform songs like the rest of the bands out there. U2 have created a sound that many bands have tried to replicate and bands until the end of time will be trying to replicate that big, sweeping sound….but without Larry’s crisp drumming, Adam’s underlying sound, Edge taking us to the clouds and Bono singing like creamy velvet all other bands are just pretenders.
U2 could most decidedly not get by without Adam and Larry. They ground the entire group, especially when the band is formulating a new album. Edge and Bono reach the skies with their gifts on vocals and guitar. Technically, they are both geniuses at their crafts. However, without Larry and Adam, that sonic storm that Bono and Edge create would be all treble, no bass. Very tinny and angelic without any gravity and seriousness. Are Larry and Adam the best at their instruments at least technically speaking? Probably not. Is it easy for other to copy them? Yeah. Could any other people ground U2 in the way that they do and hold the dreams of Bono and Edge in reality? No way.
I agree with crossinggo: performing and writing are 2 vastly different areas. Others can replicate the sound of a given band quite well- as anyone who has sang karaoke knows. Vocals I think are harder, but not impossible. However, no one could replace any one of those guys in the studio and have the finished product be like U2. The collaborative environment is what makes them special. That being said, I thought the video was brilliant, and props to Muse for using the red lighting and in so doing paying homage to the legacy of that song.
U2 is an entity as a whole. When you take something and try to replace it with something half full you end up with less. Its not politics, its sanctity through salvation. Why condem something pure? Borderline blasphame…
So…Here’s to all four of them! It’s U2 people not rocket science! This means nothing! Edge can preform alone every now and then: it’s an escape. Imagine the same people day after day; you can’t stay with friends forever, sometimes you need a break. I don’t mean to sound rude, but give it a rest. *smiles.* You’re thinking a bit too deep.
I listened to the Glastonburry performance of streets and there is NO way that this was like U2. The rythm section is totally different, slopier and to loud.
No, U2 could not perform without Larry and Adam…Larry has such an amazingly typical way of drumming that I’ve never heard anyone else do.
He’s very subtle and gentle.
U2 is only this succesfull because it’s THESE four guys. Had there been 1 other person in there, they would never have reached this level.
I have to share with everyone something not U2 related. My swimteam freestyle relay (200m) B DQ’d Tuesday and today we dropped 12 seconds!!! Woohoo!
That’s all fine and good, Shade, but…. how well would your swimteam have done if Adam and Larry weren’t on it??? ;^)
I’m a girl so nothing would count if guys swam in our events. They can swim after me though. :p
So funny…
I wonder if my team could beat U2 in a 200m freestyle relay 0.o
Weird thoughts…I might have swallowed too much pool water at practice this morning lol
I have to say, it’s not like those figures are greatly changed in 5 years, so I don’t think the phrase “less picky” is really correct. It’s not like only half of the people surveyed are saying U2 shouldn’t continue, it’s the overwhelming majority. Anyway, in my opinion, take out any one of the four and you change the dynamic and one of the incredible things about U2 is the way they know each other and the way they work together after so many years.