Larry Mullen Jr. is back behind his drum kit, and for U2, that simple shift changes the entire tenor of their upcoming stadium run. When the band launched their multi-billion dollar residency at the Las Vegas Sphere in September 2023, Mullen was absent, sidelined by surgery on his neck and back. Now, the original quartet of Mullen, Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton is working together in a room again, hammering out songs for a major tour and testing their live endurance.
Rebuilding that momentum has required some adjustments from Mullen. During initial rehearsals, the drummer found himself rethinking his approach to older catalog pieces, altering his rhythms in contrast to the original studio cuts. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that the material did not feel dated under the new treatment. Even so, the physical reality of a full tour remains an open question. Mullen has acknowledged that he is not yet certain whether his body can manage the rigors of consecutive shows without complication. His view on the matter remains pragmatic, explaining that if two and a half hours proves impossible, playing for an hour would be enough to accept. Bono has voiced similar care, noting that his chief prayer is the general health of the band, with particular attention to Mullen keeping up his physical fitness.
That working rhythm has already received a brief public test. In Dublin, the band recently staged unannounced appearances at their former high school and on the balcony of a local cafe. Those short sets marked Mullen's first public performances alongside his bandmates since his 2023 operations. U2 also previewed four tracks from their upcoming record to an audience at McGonagles, the Dublin club where they played formative gigs in the late 1970s.
The upcoming tour will lean heavily into a productive stretch of writing. On November 13, the group will release Carnaval De Luz, a twelve-song collection produced by Jacknife Lee. The band has framed the record around ideas of spirituality, friendship, freedom, and endurance, describing the results as messy, provocative, and sacred. It arrives on the heels of two separate six-track EPs issued earlier this year, Days Of Ash and Easter Lily. The material stems from a broader batch of twenty-five songs Bono spoke about composing last year, written with an aim to move past previous eras and build a new sound.
Audiences have already heard an initial preview of that material through the track Silencio. The wider tracklist also includes Torn, notable for featuring the final recorded vocal performance from Dolly Parton, alongside another song influenced by Spanish singer Rosalía. In 2024, The Edge stated that Carnaval De Luz would not be a straight-ahead rock release, and the rehearsal room reflects that creative turn. According to the guitarist, roughly eleven tracks drawn from the new LP and the two companion EPs are currently in regular rotation during rehearsals.
While the schedule is anchored by massive stadiums, the group is considering an alternative setup for certain stops. Bono revealed that the band is weighing the possibility of booking more intimate performances alongside the large outdoor dates, giving them space to play the fresh material in tighter quarters. For a group that spent late 2023 separated on stage, the immediate priority is finding their collective footing again, wherever the tour takes them.
