U2 has officially returned to the studio to create new music after an eight-year hiatus, prompted by drummer Larry Mullen Jr.'s recovery from neck surgery. Mullen Jr. expressed his joy at being back in a creative environment, even while still healing from years of onstage injuries. He had previously been unable to record new material (with the exception of "Atomic City" in 2023) and was replaced by Dutch musician Bram van den Berg for last year's Las Vegas residency.
The band shared this news backstage at the Ivor Novello Awards, where they made history as the first Irish group to receive fellowship of the Ivors' songwriting academy, the body's highest honor. Bono highlighted the "chemistry" they rediscovered in the studio, emphasizing the unique experience of the four members creating music together, a process he feels is becoming increasingly rare in modern music production.
U2 has spent the last half-decade in a reflective phase, including a 2019 "Joshua Tree" tour, Bono's memoir "Surrender" which led to re-recorded acoustic versions of hits, and the "Achtung Baby" themed Vegas shows. Bono stated that this reflection on their past helps them understand their creative drive, but their true interest lies in creating "the sound of the future," which they see as yet to be made.
