U2 credits Fontaines D.C. for inspiring new album and world tour

U2 sat down with NME in a London hotel on Guy Fawkes Night, November 5, 2024, to talk about their new album ‘Carnaval de Luz’ and the band’s 50‑year journey. The interview came just days after they performed an intimate launch show for the BBC at the Tate Modern’s South Tank, where a 360‑degree backdrop of Brian Eno’s ‘77 Million Paintings’ wrapped the stage. Bono and The Edge used the occasion to explain the “defiant joy” that drives the record and to name‑check the younger acts that keep them sharp, from Fontaines D.C. to Rosalía and the Lambrini Girls.

The timing reflects a period of reflection and renewal for the Irish rock giants. Their 50th‑anniversary homecoming gigs in Dublin have reminded fans of a career that spans four decades of political protest and stadium anthems. The Edge recalled how Eno first pushed them to “deconstruct the band” while making 1984’s ‘The Unforgettable Fire’, urging them to see limits as creative fuel. That same experimental spirit lives on in ‘Carnaval de Luz’, which Eno helped shape alongside producer Jacknife Lee. During the chat, Bono ordered a nip of Bushmills Black Bush and played “The Slave” by Mighty Sparrow, a track he discovered through bassist Adam Clayton. He also reminisced about carnival‑filled trips to Nice, Gran Canaria and Bahia, describing how those escapist moments have always mixed with political edge in U2’s music.

The band says the new record is a celebration of freedom, a soundtrack for those who feel the pressure of authority. The lead single, “The Greatest Show On Earth”, captures that carnival energy with bright horns and a driving beat. Bono and The Edge argue that carnival has always been a way to mock the powerful, and that its suppression is a sign of authoritarian fear. With the album out now, U2 plans a world tour that will bring the same “defiant joy” to live audiences, reinforcing their reputation as musicians who blend party spirit with social commentary. The release signals that, after half a century, the band still feels the need to up their game and stay relevant in a changing musical landscape.