U2 frontman Bono addressed concerns about drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s health and future with the band in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
The singer delivered an optimistic update about Mullen Jr.’s recovery and the band’s current creative process.
“We’ve been playing in the room together, the four of us. And I can tell you [Larry Mullen Jr.] is completely through whatever storm of injury he’s been through,” Bono said. “His playing is at its most innovative. He’s just all about the band. He doesn’t want to talk about anything else, which is kind of amazing.”
Bono elaborated on U2’s upcoming music and recording approach: “Being a band in a room where each individual musician has a role that’s singular and collective is so rare because music is assembled these days. Even some of our music we have assembled, and we’ll do that again. To try and capture a moment of a rock ‘n’ roll band in full flight is at the heart of this record that we’re making that we’ve recorded, but we are not finished.”
The band is currently working on new material. Recording sessions are already underway.
This positive update follows a challenging period for the legendary drummer who faced several health-related obstacles in recent years.
A report from People revealed Mullen Jr.’s recent diagnosis of dyscalculia. This learning disability affects his ability to understand numbers and perform arithmetic tasks. The condition has created unique challenges in his drumming career, particularly with counting and timing aspects of performance.
Health issues significantly impacted the band’s activities, as documented by Clutch Points. Mullen Jr. had to miss U2’s highly anticipated Sphere residency in Las Vegas. He still demonstrated his commitment to the band by recording “Atomic City” to promote the shows.
Mullen Jr.’s recovery now shows strong progress. His return to active recording sessions marks a significant milestone for both the drummer and the band. His innovative playing, highlighted in Bono’s recent comments, points to a promising future for U2’s upcoming musical projects.
The drummer’s resilience through these health challenges demonstrates his dedication to the band. This commitment exemplifies the strong bond that has kept U2 together for over four decades. New material is currently in development.
