New U2 Songs Swiped

A disc containing new U2 material has been swiped in the South of France, where the group has been doing post-production for its next record.

Guitarist Edge told the band's official Web site that it was his CD that was taken. "A large slice of two years work lifted via a piece of round plastic," he said. "It doesn't seem credible, but that's what's just happened to us."

The band recorded the follow-up to 2001's All That You Can't Leave Behind in Dublin and has been putting the finishing touches on the record in France. Edge believes the disc was taken while the group was off doing a photo shoot.

According to U2.com, French police are investigating the theft. So far the songs have yet to surface on the Internet. Said manager Paul McGuinness, "It would be a shame if unfinished work fell into the wrong hands."

Further details about U2's next record have been scant. A fall release is projected for the album (which includes production by Chris Thomas and Steve Lillywhite), and it is expected to contain the song "Tough," which frontman Bono wrote for his late father.

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Song Stories

“Help Me”

Joni Mitchell | 1974

Joni Mitchell wrote and recorded this song for her album Court and Spark, but she had to switch from her regular band to make the song sound exactly the way she wanted. "I had attempted to play my music with rock & roll players," she told Rolling Stone. "They’d laugh, 'Awww, isn't that cute? She's trying to teach us how to play.'" Mitchell switched to a jazz band, Tom Scott’s L.A. Express, and scored the biggest hit of her career in the process.

More Song Stories entries »

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