U2's 'Edge' Discloses Further Details About His Las Vegas Residency
U2's guitarist Dave "Edge" Evans dished out fresh details about the band's Las Vegas residency in recent chats with Rolling Stone and The Telegraph. "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere," announced during a quick Super Bowl ad, is slated to debut the $2.2B MSG Sphere in fall, but Edge didn't confirm a specific launch date yet.
"The timeline is still up in the air since the construction of the building is ongoing," Edge told Rolling Stone. "It's definitely in the fall, and it won't be any earlier than September. But it could be later. We're waiting to hear when we'll get the building."
Interestingly, Edge referred to U2's Las Vegas gig as a "venue launch" instead of a residency, which hints that it might be shorter than the previously reported 12 dates. This could be because, despite the venue's uncertain opening date, the band has a fixed end date in mind.
"What we're aiming for is that the run will wrap up before Christmas," Edge told Rolling Stone. "That's crucial," he added, mentioning, "Don't think of it as a typical Vegas residency. It's not like that. It's a short stint."
Achtung Baby Shuffle
Originally, Edge told The Telegraph, U2's shows were planned — though never announced — for 2021. This explains the focus on the band's seventh album, which turned 30 that year. Edge confirmed that the concerts will still feature every single song from 1991's "Achtung Baby," though they may not be in order or consecutive.
"Definitely, that's the main attraction," he told Rolling Stone. "We will play them all."
Edge shared that U2 never considered backing out of their commitment during the pandemic shutdown, even after it became clear that founder drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. would spend most of 2023 recovering from neck and elbow surgery. Filling in for U2 will be Bram van den Berg, a relatively unknown Dutch musician.
"Of course, we'll miss our buddy Larry terribly," Edge told Rolling Stone. "We're so disappointed that he won't be able to be there on the drum seat. Everyone has the right to take a sick leave. Forty years of working together, this is the first time it's happened. I think it's kind of amazing that we haven't ever hit this hurdle in the past."
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