U2 Finds ‘Defiant Joy’ on Carnaval de Luz — SkimNews
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- U2 released Days of Ash and Easter Lily without advance notice at the start of 2026; the first addressed the shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Good by an ICE officer and the alleged settler killing of Odeh Hathaleenm, while the second asked whether faith and friendship are enough in challenging times.
- Bono framed Carnaval de Luz as a counterweight to the two EPs, choosing “defiant joy” over anxiety; the album then received a traditional rollout of box sets, vinyl variants, a BBC Two concert film and interviews.
- Dolly Parton recorded her parts for Torn in June, less than three months before her death, making the U2 duet her final recording; U2, with help from Snow Patrol’s Jonny McDaid, rewrote her original lyric around political divisions tearing families apart.
- The Mirror Maker was dedicated to Rosalía after Bono saw her Lux tour, but producer Jacknife Lee said it took U2 196 different takes for the band to be satisfied.
- U2 retained the same lineup for 50 years since forming at Dublin’s Mount Temple Comprehensive School; after doctors advised drummer Larry Mullen Jr to retire, a risky operation returned him to the kit with a new playing style.
- The Edge said U2 supported Macklemore’s right to make pro-Palestinian comments after some venue owners pressured Ed Sheeran to drop him, called what was happening in Gaza “unconscionable,” and acknowledged disagreement with parts of the pro-Palestine movement.
- U2 scheduled a massive international stadium tour for next year, including two London dates at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June and U.S. dates at venues also used by Ed Sheeran.
Why it matters: For U2 and longtime fans, the contrast is concrete: two surprise EPs at the start of 2026, 196 takes on “The Mirror Maker,” and an unchanged lineup for 50 years. Carnaval de Luz pairs a low-hype release with exacting studio habits, putting the music rather than promotion at the center of next year’s stadium run.
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