U2 Considering Residency at London's O2 Arena?

U2 are rumored to be considering a record-setting residency at London's O2 Arena in the fall, when their new Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois-produced album is tentatively scheduled for release. Prince currently owns the venue's record for longest run of gigs with twenty-one nights in May 2007. The arena also recently housed the Led Zeppelin reunion concert, and U2, who are currently on the road promoting their new concert film U2 3D, have been rumored to play the venue for months. When asked about the band's intentions, U2's manager Paul McGuinness said of the O2 Arena, "It's got great potential for U2 and because it's under cover you can do a run of shows in the autumn." Earlier this week, McGuinness called upon governments and ISPs to end illegal downloading. While that certainly won't happen by the time U2 releases their new album, the O2 residency would help recoup some of those profits lost as the music industry continues to decline.

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• U2's Next Album Is "Making Itself," Says Daniel Lanois

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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