Edge obviously loves “Get on Your Boots,” as he was shown playing it several times during the “It Might Get Loud” film, but it just sounds like recycled “Vertigo” to me. One of the weakest tracks on NLOTH. Going to see them tomorrow night in Charlottesville–my first U2 show and I’m pumped to the max!

Whalespoon- I like “Boots” a lot, but wait until you see/hear it live- it will change your entire perspective on it. It is a great, really rocking song- maybe should have been recorded more “raw” sounding like the live version, and less studio-polished.

That cover shot is aweful

Had the chance to see U2 the second night of the 360 North American leg of the tour at Soldier Field in Chicago. What a great concert, What a fantastic tour.

Should have been KISS on that cover…

I concur. That may be the ugliest Rolling Stone cover ever. Hokey and weak. Plus, where are the other two members of the band?

Fuck KISS and fuck The Edge. Both suck.

U2 on the cover. Again. I am just surprised when they are not on the cover. This can’t be inspired by their disastrous recent album? A friend went their u2360 show said it was great performance which is expected but they stayed away from a lot of their new stuff and stuck with more of the old.

Saw the show. Got the A setlist (first night in venue), except for “My Blue Room” (bathroom song). I didn’t think there was enough “old stuff”, too much new album.

Leaving Friday morning for Raleigh, and then coming back for the Atlanta show. You guys that are on here talking shit need to have your head examined. But from what I am reading you guys do not have a ticket to the greatest show ever. See you in the red zone Bitches!!!!!

Indonesia, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee

Just saw U2 on this tour at Soldier Field and have to say it was a great spectacle but the music, and the quite frankly ridiculous politcal messages ruined the evening. How can they preach to us when they are spending over 750 K a day on this stage. Go see the Boss instead who was immense at the United Centre in Chicago (first time I’d seen him live)

i like u2 sorta, but i am so sick of seeing them on the front cover

and yes, this may be the lamest cover shot i have ever seen

I’m very excited to see U2 on the cover again. The album is great and the tour is mind-blowing. They definitely deserve the attention.

That is far too cool of a cover design to be used on U2. Oh well, still looks killer.

When is the Latin American leg being announced?

u2 can do what they want when they want. will I pay $120+ to see them?? I might. I just paid big money to see pearl jam in seattle.

The new tour is okay, but it isn’t even 1/10th as groundbreaking and exciting as Zoo TV was.

People just face it. U2 is amazing and thats why they are on the cover of Rolling Stone again and again and again. Also Get On Your Boots is amazing live and feel its better the Vertigo in my opinion. Loved the tour and love U2

I love U2! I hate “Get On Your Boot”! I loved the concert! U2 is bar none the best rock n roll band on the planet!

Could this cover possibly be any more lame? Come on guys.

Anyone calculated the carbon footprint for this “environmental conscious” band?

U2 = most overexposed band EVER!

Meanwhile, Alice In Chains (one of the most influential and underappreciated rock bands of the last 25 years) just put out their first album in 14 years. You guys barely wrote a paragraph about it and judging from the review, I’m guessing you didn’t listen to it either.

Shame on you.

Alice In Chains are nothing but a cover band, at this point.

They don’t deserve more than a paragraph’s mention.

That covers seems like little more than an afterthought. RS’s photos/cover creativity and graphic design has always been cutting edge (no pun intended)–but this is just lazy!

There’s nothing intriguing, dangerous or adventurous here. Colbert cover: hilarious and potent; Megan Fox, the dress that points to the Vagina With Teeth, edgy and dangerous.

Please step it up next time–if I wanted to subscribe to Spin, I would.

They are last biggest band on earth,i hope to see them for many years,but after them, what is next?, Jonas Brothers?, Anna Montana?, John Mayer?, just garbage. Long life to the last Rock and roll heroes.

I agree it’s a weird cover. But I saw U2 in Amsterdam and I’m going to see them 2010 in Denmark and I’m loving it. It’s the greatest rock and roll show on earth and their new album is wonderful…

Great cover and story. We went to several concerts on the current tour and loved it. Good to see U2 not relying on their old stuff and classics but playing a lot of new stuff. No Line is a great album. They finally started to take risks again. Beautiful songs.

That is one of the best RS covers I’ve ever seen.

really? u2?
when half of their show is bono, for 4 or 5 minutes between EACH song, going on about politics or what ever he is into at the time its sad. they played here in dc last night and muse was by far a better performance.

A SPACESHIP is the highlight of
a U-2 tour? Wow, maybe they rode
the Pharaoh band-wagon too long.
ANYONE remember great songs?
A SPACESHIP???

Boots is a cool song with horrible lyrics. “The future needs a big kiss, winds blow with a twist.” What the hell?

This looks almost exactly like the fake Rollingstone cover I have of me when I was 8. It was done at the boardwalk along Hampton beach here in New England. I love the cover. It is so fucking cheezy that it is cool. Right? Does that work?

Oh shush, Jackson. Jonas Brothers could be a truly amazing band in the near future, if given a chance…they are already a great live band. That’s why they aren’t anywhere near as successful as crap like Hannah Montana and Britney Spears. Stop using them as an example of “garbage”, unless you are referring to their label’s marketing department. They’re a solid pop band bogged down in Disney baggage…but hey, it’s still better than pretension.

Also, I like U2, in a sentimental sort of way…but this cover shot is deeply embarrassing. That is all.

rolling stone is the only magazine i hate and love at the same time,
i think hate them more now….
another Bono cover? ego maniacs who preach about saving the world and here they are spending mass amounts of money on a worthless concert…hypocrites

I’m not happy w/ U2 right now as they skipped playing in Seattle on this current leg of their US tour. If they continue to tour into next year, they better come back to the US & play in SEATTLE.

omg im so happy to see U2 on the cover of rolling stone bravo!
But im not loving the photo kind of lame …where is the rest of the band?? whats up? Anyone who doesnt like u2 here DONT write anything you suck! U2 are the last big band rock and roll stars who perform amazing! I saw thier 360 tour in toronto at the rogers center was brillant BUT Toronto fans are soo uptight omg and rude!
The show was amazing they played for 2 and a half hours.You know i paid 250 for floors and i dont regret one minute of it.Ive seen them live in Boston vertigo tour had floors It was different but great.
I like bonos voice its sweet and strong and edge is awsome.Bono give back to the crowd energy enthusiam love passion they lift you up Tell me what band can do that?? John Mayer?? Pplease no way
Areosmith? OLD!
It will be a sad day when u2 retire
i have been lucky enough to be in thier presence
Viva u2!!! Come back to toronto bono we love you!!!!

I am pretty burnt out on YOU TOO. I’m sick of Bono’s poses and The Edge’s skullcap. I wish they would go away for about 5 years.

Best cover of the Year! Cool!

Shocking, U2 on the cover. Again.

RS, you stopped being relevant in 1982. And obviously you’re still listening to the same bands you were then.

Just saw U2 last night in DC. Cool stage I guess, decent energy from the band, probably worth the money. I hope that they use the money from selling some o their staging gear after the tour so they send themselves into outer space so we don’t have to “deal” with them for a while.

Doesn’t Pearl Jam have a new cd out? Why not PJ on the cover? U2’s stage is awesome but the new album does not live up to the stage show. Rolling Stone has turned into The Nation. Show some balls and have a Conservative write a column.

“Alice In Chains (one of the most influential and underappreciated rock bands of the last 25 years)”

Jeff, It is true that Alice in Chains are one of the best bands of the last 20 years… Substitute Layne Staley with a karaoke version of his voice and what you have is an American Idol version of a band that I hold dear. Spare me the reunion/new album. If Layne isnt in the mix all I can say is screw them… That’s like saying The Doors reunited with a lounge singer from Vegas. lol

As for U2, I am pumped about their new sound. The new album may not be selling, but neither did Zooropa and Pop (two of U2’s most underrated albums). U2 opened my mind to so many great bands… The Pixies, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire… With greatness comes many criticisms.

U2 is the most powerful LIVE band on earth … and the new songs are high quality !!! Listen and listen again to NLOTH … and you will realize that the songs are great … the future will prove this !!!

WALK ON

Bongo and The Ed should stick to what they do best… lecturing Americans about their politics.

Just drop the pretense of music and run for office.. or ask Rome to canonize you.. or see if Ms. Arafat will loan you the Nobel.. or join the Mickey Mouse club.

Get over it.

WoooHoooo!!!

A rock show with video of Mandela and Tutu!

Partaaaayyy!

I think my wife said it best–”Wasn’t U2 just on the cover of that magazine?” I had to sit her down and gently explain to her that it is either Bruce, Britney, U2, or some misbegotten choice for what they think is “new music” (Lady GaGa? Seriously? Didn’t St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and now Girls put out albums that were actually good?) We held each other and cried. Pathetic. U2 hasn’t put out a groundbreaking album since ‘Achtung Baby’ and the last two weren’t even decent (and I own them, so shut up.) That whizzing sound around your ears, Rolling Stone, is the music scene passing you by. Great job.

Thanks for providing me with another cover story I will casually pass over. Stop wasting my 50 cents Rolling Stone, and give me more articles similary to the Merle Haggard or Kris Kristofferson pieces you ran recently.

I’m a big U2 fan but even I’m getting really really sick of the cover picture choices.

Lady GaGa? American Idol? U2 for the second time in less then a year? WTF?

Meanwhile the only ACDC cover (of all time!) was by far the worst quality photograph EVER to grace your front cover, tho the subject was probably the strongest youve come up with.

Kiss suck, I saw them early in the summer and was hugely dissapointed. Gene Simmons CANNOT play the bass for shit and Paul Stanley is so flaming gay I couldnt stand to watch him. Their sound quality was also shit, thank god for the pyro or the crowd would have rioted.

Whoever above is complaining about Bono pontificating about politics and his causes – I was at both shows in Chicago. The politics were maybe 10 minutes of the show – max. Get over it. If you want to see U2 you’re going to get some of that. Geez, you should understand that by now. I love it when people bitch about Bono trying to explain causes that he’s so passionate about – generally, if you’re not into those causes or don’t want your eyes opened to them, you probably aren’t that much of a fan of their music in the first place. Sorry if hearing about the US stepping up aid for Africa – which has saved millions of lives – really ruined your evening. Stay home.

ppl are just tired of U2 because they are the ONLY band EVER to have been so good for so long. it’s sad to see so many ppl blindly jump on the hate-u2/hate-bono bandwagon…….a century from now when this bias is gone, U2 will be remembered as THE greatest band ever…..better than the beatles, led zeppelin, pink floyd, the stones etc. etc.

Earth to Bono – Close your EFFING MOUTH!!!!

BTW – nice carbon footprint you are leaving with this tour – hypocrites!

U2 better than the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Stones, etc.? Sorry, WildIrishRose (the name says it all, doesn’t it) but no. Great bands like the Beatles and the Smiths (who, by the way, are both WAYYYYYYYYYY better than U2) had the brains to know when to call it a day rather than get to their ‘Pop’ and ‘How to Dismatle a Decent Career’ albums. U2 have some stinkers in their catalog and, quite frankly, the Beatles don’t. So think again.

Some people just cant accept how great U2 are, just learn to deal with it.

cant we all just get along

(donate to my charity even though i have enough money to build houses everywhere the charity is for)

With the 360° Tour U2 really deserve to be on the RS cover. The concept to be able to see the band from all sides is great and the “spaceship” with its illuminated tower looks fantastic. I think the futuristic character of that stage is really suitable for the music of NLOTH. On the one hand songs like “Magnificent” are clearly reminiscent of the time around “The Unforgettable Fire”, but I think that U2 have succeeded to bring them into our century. I really want to appreciate U2´s ambition and courage to do something different. Instead of resting on their laurels they still challenge themselves and their fans and this is great. I absolutely enjoyed listening to the new material live, particularly the title track impressed me because of its enormous guitar sound. This song is like a thunder! “Get On Your Boots” is innovative, it rocks hard and so I really don´t understand why so many people hate it. And “Breathe” is that kind of personal song that can connect with the audience. I´m always touched by the warmth and intimacy of those tunes. U2 give sooo much and Bono truly “sings his heart out”! I´m looking forward to seeing U2 again on August 30th 2010!

The World’s number one musical act by a mile. Across virtually all continents to boot. Accept no substitutes. Or for that matter C-grade critiques by would-be culture tsars and by extension their beloved Indie outfits that let’s be honest would stuggle to sell out a living-room and hence do not belong on the cover of RS, alas. Milk cartons maybe? That’s just life, kids.
U2 have always been unique in the sense that they have never made a secret of their ambition, their belief in what music can achieve, in the kind of feeling a stadium of eighty-thousand people can engender. In other words unlike the shoegazers they have refused to carry on like ostriches with their heads in the sand which some on this board, perversely, believe musicians and bands should behave, which on a point of order is a complete inversion of the role of the artist. Well done RS for continuing to champion a properly integrated as opposed to tediously inward view of music.

A couple of things…

1) Not everything that anybody will do is going to be groundbreaking. The Beatles may not have put out a shit record, but lets be honest, George wasn’t that reverred, John didn’t care for much of the last decade of his life and it showed more than people like to admit, and Paul has a healthy mix of crap to go with his good. I can’t speak for Ringo

2) Nobody can or will touch U2’s SUSTAINED excellence, but their best is not the best of all time. Sorry. The Beatles, The Who, Led Zepplin had peaks that were higher, though not by much. (I am a huge U2 fan, btw. I know of what I speak.) The fact remains that U2 have been at or near the top of the game for 30 years. The Rolling Stones have been phoning it in for about that long so they can’t really lay a legitimate claim. When the Stones tour, they tour on their classics (they had one song of Bigger Bang that got any attention) while U2 tours on their current material. That’s why they play roughly 7 songs off the new album every night.

3) They play SEVEN songs off the album every night that can and do fill a stadium up.

4) It’s easy to take pot shots at their hypocracy. I shake my head sometimes too. On the flip side, they have done more to influence good works on a global level than any single celebrity entity on the planet. They don’t adopt an entire nation’s worth of children as a way to stroke an over inflated ego, they don’t don’t deny their ridiculous position in society. Instead, Bono uses it to hold wealthy nations to their promise, he gives himself instead of wasting his down time on an island in the South Pacific or on an estate in Switerland.

4) U2 has four, that’s 4, members, not two. U2 as a whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

…and, by the way, using “hence” and “alas” (incorrectly, by the way) in the same sentence doesn’t sound smart; it sounds like you’ve swallowed a pretention dictionary. So, U2 is DEFINITELY the band for you.

Yes, Istabraq, you’re right–nothing denotes quality like sales. And you’re DEFINITELY right–sales are the only way to get on the cover of ‘Rolling Stone’. And you’re MOST CERTAINLY right–I’m bound to find more interesting and groundbreaking musicians on the back cover of a milk carton.

…and the Culture Tsars album was better than U2’s last piece of insufferable awfulness, too.

Thanks for convincing me to cancel my subscription to ‘Rolling Stone’. I’ll stick to the back of those milk cartons which is where I’m more likely to find new and exciting musicians, which U2 haven’t been since I was crapping my diapers.

Your comments were insightful and presented a fine, realistic argument. Unlike Brickabraq, you didn’t have to resort to 25 cent words and a holier-than-thou attitude, either. Great writing. Though I still think Bono is a dick. And doesn’t he look like he probably smells bad, too? Like stale Guinness and overpriced cigarettes? Hardcore whiskey breath, or something?

Istabraq, consider using them next time. It’s hard enough to get through your incomplete sentences; the lack of punctuation doesn’t help. Neither does the “I just bought a thesaurus!” vocabulary. Get over yourself.

U2 sucks

To the Genius who used the same name as me replying to me (incredibly smart that) suggest you find a REAL dictionary and look up the meaning of both words, so as to avoid sounding … silly in the future.
To Genius (one and the same?)re-read my post. I made no mention of sales whatsoever I was merely stating a fact and this holds true as far as I can ascertain unless you’re saying that they’re not in fact popular across virtually all continents. Are you? Furthermore, RS is a popular music magazine with a wide demographic. The artists it puts on the cover are a reflection of that. U2 are currently on tour in America playing sold-out stadium shows from coast-to-coast. Fact. Unless you have figures that prove otherwise. Do you?
Also, What you consider better than this or or better than that, who cares? No-one except you. And you’re free to contnue loving whatever artist(s) you like. More power to you.
It is worth noting that U2’s first three albums barely registered saleswise upon realease, and I would humbly contend, to futher disprove your insipid assumption, that simply put, quality denotes quality. I am, for my sins, a fan of quality. Like others, I think and ‘hence’, I am a fan of the band.

I like U2 but seriously, they need to, like, f*** off for a while. They played the Grammy’s and weren’t even nominated for anything, a whole week on the late night shows, ugh…just go away!!

And Anonymous, OK, that’s your (stupid) opinion. I suppose AC/DC were nothing but a cover band when they released Back In Black as well since they had their primary songwriters and a new singer? Let’s try to be consistent here…

Question; which other band managed to survive in music industry for 30 years, without changing their line-up, releasing album’s all the time that the whole world wants to listen to, sell out spectacular shows (again: around the world!)????

Eeehm, NO other band.

U2 rules, so that’s why they’re on a lot of covers around the globe.

Can’t see anything wrong in that…

Question; which other band managed to survive in music industry for 30 years, without changing their line-up, releasing albums all the time that the whole world wants to listen to, sell out spectacular shows (again: around the world!)????

Eeehm, NO other band.

U2 rules, so that’s why they’re on a lot of covers around the globe.

Can’t see anything wrong in that…

I think U2 are a great band that keeps trying to move forward, unlike the majority of acts; they don’t always succeed that’s for sure, but at least they are passionate about what they do, and they deliver most of the time. That IS a cheesy cover shot though. Getting a little tired of the couch potoatoes and blog nerds out there who don’t do anything except bitch. Whether or not you agree with them they are raising awareness on some imporant political issues, writing big checks for charity and rocking stadiums – sounds like a good gig

I think U2 are a great band that keeps trying to move forward, unlike the majority of acts; they don’t always succeed that’s for sure, but at least they are passionate about what they do, and they deliver most of the time. That IS a cheesy cover shot though. Getting a little tired of the couch potatoes and blog nerds out there who don’t do anything except bitch.

I love “Boots” but I appear to be in the minority.
It absolutely rocks live, and the crowd responds well.

U2 are the only band in history that still make relevant music 30 years in. City of Blinding Lights gets a bigger response live than The Unforgettable Fire. The crowd goes wild for Vertigo, Elevation, Beautiful Day, etc. People go to the concessions when the Stones play anything from the past two decades.

bono grow up and fuck off ,you’re one thick sad fucker

People talking about the new album not doing well, with album sales the way they are for all artist it’s not surprising that there not breaking CD sales records. You make money touring now a days not CD sales and U2 know how to tour! The new album is a great album and it sounds better live!

To Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry-All four of you did Baltimore and D.C. Proud-U3 are the best rock & roll band America has produced! All four spyplanes did a bang-up job last night on Get On Your Boots, Walk On, I Still Haven’t Found, Bloody Sunday, One,
Blinding Lights, Your Blue Room and Moment of Surrender to name just a couple of the Heartland Rock Classics. U2 turned a football stadium into an nightclub, a cathedral and an
all-out rock & roll block party where I cried, I danced and I waved my fist in the air. Because of U2, rock & roll is alive and here to stay-apologies to a Fifties doo-wop tune. To my good American friends U2, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!! Rock Hard!
Peace-Shanti!

LOVE U2…but yeah, this cover is kind of gay.

“Hey | 9/30/2009, 12:38 pm EST

Oh shush, Jackson. Jonas Brothers could be a truly amazing band in the near future, if given a chance…they are already a great live band. That’s why they aren’t anywhere near as successful as crap like Hannah Montana and Britney Spears. Stop using them as an example of “garbage”, unless you are referring to their label’s marketing department. They’re a solid pop band bogged down in Disney baggage…but hey, it’s still better than pretension.

Also, I like U2, in a sentimental sort of way…but this cover shot is deeply embarrassing. That is all.”

I’m sorry, but did you REALLY just imply that the Jonas Brothers are actually a ta… talen… talented band?!?!!? For real?!?! “They are already a great live band”, really? What performance did you witness in which they were actually “great” live? Because I haven’t seen it. And I’ve seen a few performances, and these guys SUCK beyond belief. It’s not the fact that they’re performing pop music, or that they represent Disney, it’s the fact that they SUCK, no ifs ands or buts about it. Breaking away from Disney and recording a heavy metal album produced by Rick Rubin will NOT make them any better, trust me. They’re just horrible by nature, they’re only getting by on their looks and the stupidity of tween girls. These guys do not have a shot at having a long-term career in music, they better look for another job, cause in a couple years’ time it’ll be “The Jonas who?” And staging comebacks on cruise ships is way too pathetic even for the most desperate has-been. You say they’re not a crap band and aren’t as successful as Britney and Hannah Montana, really? Which rock are you living under? They’re massively popular (unfortunately) and their latest album debuted at #1 and got a 4 star rating from Rolling Stone (WTF RS??? You gave Muse 3 stars and the Jonas Brothers 4???). They’re basically in the same vein as Britney and Miley, not to mention worse. Get your facts (and your taste in music) straight, dude.

They’re just a band promoting their music. For Rolling Stone it makes sense to put them on the cover now as the hundreds of thousands of U.S fans who are going to the gigs are more likely to buy a copy now. Johnson, Bono probably isn’t reading this. He’s playing rock and roll. So much stupidity….sheesh.

Thats very good to know… thanks

I’ve been a fan forever. Like the new album and thought the show in Toronto was great. Looking at some of the comments here and in other forums are kind of funny. So many people want the old U2 but if they stayed the same you’d still complain. They progress and move on and you don’t have to like every song or every magazine cover or every tour. For me ZooTV was tops but I don’t expect or want to see it done all over again in 2009. As for this cover…pretty cool. Nice to see RS shaking it up a bit.

Quit complaining about the cover, last month they put an overrated bitch of an actress on there(and by the way she is not americas sexiest bad girl, and whats with the lame marilyn tattoo it doesnt even look like her) U2 deserve the credit, love them or hate them there is no denying the impact they have made on the music world and society for the last couple decades. A U2 show is like a big family reunion, u are among others that share the same love as u for a legendary band, cant wait for the dallas show!

i like the cover very much.

u2 probably has its own hole in the ozone layer

I’ll admit it, I like U2. I haven’t heard any of their new album yet, but I like their older hits. I’m not going to say I love them, but they definitely can write some pretty cool songs. Plus, the fact that they collaborated with my favorite band on a song a few years ago also definitely puts a good mark in my book.

IDIOTS!

Whether you like or hate U2 as a band, or like or hate the personalities, its just subjective opinion.

However, the claim that U2 (or any band, individual, group, company artist… whatever) spends ALOT of money to put on a tour, so therefore this undermines and/or contradicts any humanitarian or Philanthropic goals they may have, or that it is hypocrisy, is just plain ignorant.

The claim in formulaic terms:

X = individual or goup
Y = Desire to spend alot of money
Z = Philanthropy

So by the “hypocracy” argument that MANY people carelessly trout out as if it were a gold standard of arguments.

X + Y cannot = Z

Really? I cant have the desire to spend alot of money and be philanthropic? This means that Bill Gates, The US Government, Any government with a good GDP and high GDP to charitable contributions ratio, any company with a high profit to charitable contribution ratio, Oprah Winfrey, Eli Lily, J Paul Getty, W.K. Kellogg, William R. Hewlett, and Andrew Carnegie should all just give their money out and shut up and not encourage others to do so. None of them should speak on the subject of philanthropy, tell others to give as long as they spend alot of money.

In order to believe this overused and pathetic argument, it REQUIRES that you believe the desire to spend alot of money and the desire to be philanthropic cannot and must not coexist, and must be mutually exclusive entities. It requires a belief that man is black or white with no gray areas

The last album that U2 released that was any good was Achtung Baby. Don’t you idiots realize that was the peak…….18 years ago. Stick a fork in them, they are done.

Carbon footprint. What crap. When are you environmental wackos going to get lives. This is about music. If your so freaking intelligent and no so much go write on Scientific Today’s website and keep your damn carbon footprint off music. The irony is you never complain about Rolling Stone’s use of paper every single month – where do you think it comes from and guess where it’s going?

Seen u 2 twice and all bono does is stand there as if he is god or something.Like thier music but live not so much and for the best band in the world there is a band called the stones,and no one even come close.

meh – crybabies are just mad that their mediocre, tenth-generation metal and punk bands couldn’t keep it together even half as long as U2 has.
don’t like ‘em? then don’t go the shows.
it’s your loss.

I think Breathe is a great opener; it’s very uplifting, and when I heard it live for the first time in Dublin, I cried. I was disappointed when I first heard NLOTH but the songs play extremely well live, including Boots. U2 is a live band and always has been. The have a new opinion on No Line now that I have seen the 360 Tour 6 times.

I would also like to add that U2 is the best live band ever, and I have seen over 400 acts live. I have seen McCartney, former members of Zeppelin and Floyd, and The Stones live and none of them even match the level of jubilation, exhilaration and sheer LOVE for a band and its music that U2 get night in and night out. There is nothing else like it, nothing even close.

Please..I’d love it if U2 couldn’t sell out big stadiums so that I could see them in smaller venues. So do me a favor: if you are better than someone who has been nominated for a Nobel Prize, or has been largely responsible for getting third world debt forgiven, or has continuously and successfully worked with the left and right to get large amounts of money dedicated for HIV and malaria medicines for the poorest people in the world, or has courageously exposed himself to every dubious politician and ignorant critic in the world so that he can use whatever power he has to help people who really need it, or has written publicly about his own struggles w/hypocrisy, or has by virtue his expressiveness given joy to millions of people in the world, PLEASE DON’T GO TO A U2 CONCERT OR BE FORCED TO READ ANY ARTICLES ABOUT THEM OR FOR A MOMENT FORM ANY NEW OPINION ABOUT THEIR MUSIC THAT DOESN’T SUPPORT YOUR OWN PREJUDICES or feel that you must gift us with your very salient opinions. Because you are obviously too cool to bother. You’re too intelligent to bother criticizing us “sheep”. All of this criticizing almost makes you look envious. Which, of course, you aren’t.
Bono and U2 don’t care if you like them. Go out and make your life worth something more than pettiness and negativity.

this cover looks like its from 1992. one of the lamest issues of rolling stone this year, and that is saying something.

wow u2 fans always have such long posts…. very verbose as well (you have to be verbose to know the word verbose). But after reading most of these i realized 2 things : I need a life, and most people tire of political preaching and the new material is a bit weak. I do have all their albums and get them as soon as they come out – I just download them now is all

What about the other 2 band members?
Fuck this…

you people are patic,u2 rool the world,when their gone! what other bands will be around,american music sucks you have had noting original in 30 years & are affraid of change.
Nloth is a bloody brillant album that whips the arse of any thig else relased this year.ya them old has beens peal jam have a new one out but they lost cred back in the 90’s(you carnt even understand him in that new song), thak goodness im from oz were will still produce good music that isent mimed.you guys are to spoilt by u2 by having to much access to them,our country still loves them yet they would rather kiss the arses of the likes of you lot insted of coming to a place that truley appreciates & understands them all i can say is let them rock on Bono is one of the hottest guys in the world( at any age)heres to u2 kings of the world, & as for the people how dont like them you dont have to read about them or listen to their music,but try not to destory it for the rerst of us who do love them as we dont go on this about your fave music as much as u2 get bashed.

Thank you. Finally a REAL ROCK BAND on the cover of the Rolling Stone.

Now let’s keep the momentum…

Just experienced the U2 all-sensory extravaganza in DC with searchlights stabbing the sky and a green-light drenched all-out heartbreaking Bloody Sunday. Danced next to two guys who flew in from Guatemala and said top non-Latin acts don’t even glance at Central America. No infrastructure + people can’t pay the insane ticket prices. Loved the show — but U2 could tone down the earnestness and maybe build a multi-use stadium down there — a built legacy to go with their music for the ages.

Great work Boys album and tour both masterpieces “Boots” realley takes off live! Keep the politics in the show Americans no nothing about Myanmar (Burma), Aung San Suu Kyi, the oppression of women in Iran — too busy watching dumb numbing sitcoms, their vevlet rope status, super model commercials, playing video games, or tweeting! More U2 is very good thing! come back next smummer please!

Get on Your Boots has a good riff and is a good enough song, but it has the effect of saying “Another Elevation/Vertigo clone song”? It should have been a minor song from an excellent CD and not have to carry the weight of being the initial single that presents the new CD to the world. It is the same mistake they made with Discotheque from Pop. They would have been better off crossing up people’s expectations of the big and noisy and releasing the quiet and melancholy White As Snow or Cedars of Lebanon. Or no single at all.

“Magnificent” should have been the first and maybe only)single from NLOTH. Everything about it screams “classic U2 song.”

Anyone who’s saying U2’s new music is less than stellar or that the tour is lame has not been paying attention, and I have to assume they’re forming uninformed opinions.

And to those that keep saying “Get On Your Boots” sounds like “Vertigo”- well, both songs are by the same band, aren’t they? I guess all the Ramones’ songs must be failures because they all sound exactly the same- “Sheila is a Punk Rocker is just a lame retread of Rockaway Beach” or some shit like that.

Did someone calculte the carbon fotprint for this tour? I thought U2 supported greenpeace? How many buses to carry the stage? Bono is shite.

For everyone saying U2 needs to go away for a few years – that’s what they did from 2006-2008. Now they are in the middle of a world wide tour (the largest and most expensive ever) with ticket prices very reasonable (hello Rolling Stones?) in support of their new album. When the tour is over, they’ll disappear again for a few years.

Hey bowieno why dont you keep your america bashing for somewhere else and discuss the topic. Do you live here? If not then shut the hell up you have no right. On topic- U2 rules and the 2 shows i seen at Giants Stadium were amazing.

Of course “Get On Your Boots” is similar to “Elevation” and “Vertigo”, but I think that it takes the idea of an edgy rock song to the next level. U2´s first single from their new album is more uncompromising, daring, radical and complex than the earlier songs and this is a great development. Maybe it didn´t sell so well, but writing such a song takes much more courage than going the safe way to repeat some kind of successful formula for years. And in the end this is the reason why U2´s music is still relevant and fresh. “Get On Your Boots” has some strong guitar sounds and bass lines and it really rocks live!

I thought there were 4 members of U2. What’s up RS, no love for Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton?

They recently came to Toronto to perform two shows at the ACC. It was largely hailed as one of their best performances here ever!

Am I the only one who takes perverse pleasure that this tour is losing money so far? So self indulgent, so bloated. I bet they will be buying carbon offsets to make themselves feel better about this monstrosity. Typical.

Saw the second show in Boston. It matched their 1980’s concerts. If you have tix for 360 tour in you’re in for a treat! The new songs were excellent particularly Magnificent and Unknown Caller. Until The End of The World and Ultraviolet were spectacular.

Iive just been reading the comments and one person really hit the nail on the head about the staying power of u2.They have been around for 30 years! They have won 22 gramys sold out thier 360 tour
have put out the best albums in my opion Ok Ok Get On YourBoots is crap But live Its really good.
They have such a positve energy about them When you see them live
Its well Its hard to explain each person feels different about it.They energize you Lift you up.You can be having a really bad day but when you hear them play live its like a healing process , well for me anyhow.I just love Bono
I dont think there is ANY performer
out there that can match him or the rest of the band.He pulls you in he likes to get up close with the audience so whatever money you paid for the tickets i paid 250 for floors well worth it, And involve them Its sooo worth it for me.
There is so much crap music out there Kayne, Talyor swift, The Jones Brothers WHO SUCK!!! u2 ARE THE BOMB it will be a very sad day when they reitre so sad But for now i am so happy to have them and see them live an amazing experince Im telling you.
Take Me Higher Take Me Higher Your The Real Thing
viva u2!!! love you Bono!!

Bono: the most pompous, arrogant, and self-important person in the music industry, and that’s saying something. And LOL to Dave for saying that fans are coming to hear the new tunes. You mean those songs from U2’s biggest flop album since Pop? These jokers are becoming more of an oldies band by the year.

So now we are not supposed to have big concerts anymore because people like Al Gore and his carbon tax cronies (along supporters in the public schools) have frightened the youth of America into believing this non-sense, while Gore and his pals are making hundreds of millions with his enviro-businesses, scaring the kids into believing unfounded science and giving up their rock n roll. Wake up and look into the things you are told to believe. I never hear Bono preaching about being green as implied on prior posts.

Awesome article. Thanks for covering this important historic tour.

Muley, the tour isn’t losing money, the costs are high cus they’re playing IN THE ROUND – OUT-FRICKIN’-DOORS. It’s a fucking gift to the fans. And yes, they’ll still make fuck loads of money, but they aint ever riding us for every dime they can. Amazing, amazing show. And the critics are right – a Great album.

Love them or hate them, you have to give U2 credit for still going strong. They’ve been together for over 30 years and they’re still selling out stadiums. Kudos to those guys!

If you’re not Taylor Swift you’re not going to sell many albums in this economy. ( Why that girl is so popular I’ll never know. Maybe it’s a tween girl and dirty old man thing.) The road is where bands make their money and promote their music. How many people have put out albums this year with lackluster sales but with a hit tour? The music biz is changing at a rapid rate to where albums are a excuse just to hit the road anymore.

What’s with the cover art? Coyote Ugly meets Cocktail…

When Joey Ramone died, Bono was spouting platitudes about the influence of the Ramones, blah, blah…but this tour is just the kind of bloated excess that the Ramones hated and were a reaction to.

3/4 of the band are right, “Get on Your Boots” was a TERRIBLE choice as first single, and I got worried moments after hearing it.

The rest of the album, however, is rock n’ roll gold!

3/4 of the band are right, “Get on Your Boots” was a TERRIBLE choice as first single, and I got worried moments after hearing it.

The rest of the album, however, is rock n’ roll gold!

I was at the second Chicago Soldier Field show, the debut of Blue Room. My first U2 show and I’ve been an admirer for over 20 years (I’m Bono’s age). When I got back from the concert I received my new issue of Rolling Stone that week and said, “I guarantee that the next issue of Rolling Stone will have U2 on the cover and their spaceship.” It was that fucking amazing! Way to go RS and U2 is unstoppable.

Man, you guys get so bent out of shape, it’s just sad. We all like what we like, why tear a band down just to build another band up?
So this band or that band doesn’t sell records like they use to.
So what? It’s the natural progression of life. They’ve all had thier success and Youth must be served. That doesn’t mean the older bands that are still around aren’t putting out good music. I don’t care if it’s Abba or ZZ Top, Frank Sinatra or Frank Zappa. If ya like it and it’s good to you, then that’s all that matters. who gives a F what anybody else says?

I bet youre more less all old. They hold big shows that only old people can afford to go to. Absolutely no one, and i mean no one, in the 4 years of high school or my two years of college has ever said u2 rocks or cited them as an influence. Bono is a clown and a caricature of a rock frontman.

I feel bad for folks in their 20’s and younger. R & R music, music w/ guitars is foreign to them. There are a lot of comments here that are from folks that simply don’t know what’s going on. A nostalgia act? 90% of the summer tours are nostalgia acts with songs from 20 or more years ago being played because there’s simply nothing else out there for the concert venues but these acts. U2 tours on new albums which generaly dominate awards shows and get critical acclaim. On that note I feel bad for U2. They are the only game in town so they really don’t have any competition. Seriously, is there a band out there in their 30’s or younger that could do a tour anywhere near what U2 does? As for Bono, take a look at his track record. Is there anyone more accomplished as a musician or social activist? You don’t have to like the guy but he’s certainly earned respect. Congrads to Rolling Stone on a job well done. And here’s to the younger crowd out there – try harder!

I saw the first Gillette Stadium show 2 weeks ago. The new songs worked great (except for No Line on the Horizon), but the “hands down” best moment was hearing (and seeing) Ultraviolet! It was mesmerizing! Genius!

I remember being very excited every time I listen to one of their song or even see them in covers. But lately is just a turn off. Don’t get me wrong.. I’ll kill for this band but the last album just didn’t make the cut for me. When I heard “saints are coming” Window in the sky” I thought that the album was promising. I think going back to Eno didn’t contribute no new great sound. The album is not bad (still is U2) but is not relevant.

As for RS… and other magazines please CAN YOU JUST CHANGE THE TITLE when it come for U2 “the best band” “The best show”. You know how many cover in the past has that title? and by the way the cover is tacky.

If you think that U2 is a “nostalgia act,” you obviously haven’t been paying attention and you haven’t been to one of the shows on the tour. If none of your (musician?) friends in high school/college ever cited them as influences, you need new friends because they haven’t been paying attention either. I hear a lot of U2’s influences either directly or indirectly in most of the new music that I hear. And for what it’s worth, my 14 guitar-playing son absolutely LOVED the show last night in Charlottesville

I don’t understand the comparisons with The Ramones that have occasionally cropped up in this series of posts. The Ramones were as much a comedy act as they were musicians. I love them for that, but comparing the two is like apples and oranges.

Don’t they have a drummer & bassist?

its only bono’s expression that kills the cover

I feel bad for you if you miss the 360 tour it’s a visual/auditory extravaganza. All inclusive futuristic stage design with the video screen perfectly coincides to inspirational high enegy of songs old and new.
The positive vibe in the stadium is tangible.Brand new My Blue Room is U2/Bono at his best.
They deserve the cover.

I feel that U2 should pay copious amounts of money and actually play a live broadcasted show in outer space on a space station. that would be amazing

Not a big U2 fan but the show in Raleigh was really good…great production!

For a band that is trying to put a stop to poverty…. i mean $750,000 a day as well as paying 400 employees, if U2 would just realise they have hit their peak and are on the way back down and just retire they could have stopped world hunger with the money they have spent! may i just add that Coldplays album sold way more copies than U2’s! just saying….

maybe only Bono and The Edge in U2, like only Lennon and McCartney in Beatles, and Morrisey and Marr in The Smith

you people are preaching to nobody. Do you really think u2 gives to shits to what you think? Their all about their true fans. The ones that buy every album, and every b-side. Most people who complain about them havent really listened to all their albums, all the way through. they’re amazing live, and and every album is different, and they succed at them too. like the smiths, but there not even in the same solar system.

U2 is the most overrated band in the world…why does Rolling Stone continue to torture it’s readers who actually appreciate real rock? And don’t even get me started on It Might Get Loud

With uncommon fortune, RS 1089 arrived the day before we left to see U2 in Raleigh. It was truly a rock n roll spectacle. Muse was awesome, the lads from Dublin amazing, and the “space junk” set mind boggling.

If some of our congressman had Bono’s passion, maybe we could actually solve a few problems.

And No Line is a great album.

They need to calm down, grow up, lose the shades and adopt more humility and restraint.

Love U2 but I agree with most other people, they need to fuck off for a while and do nothing; no greatest hits or duets or rereleases. Nothing. Then return.

They left it five years between the last album but were still everywhere.

They were incredible in Dublin, Bono on top form but they’re selling their legacy piece by piece.

The first U2 tour to take sponsorship and still they’ve price out the new generations in these tough times.

So what if they’re buying offsets or if the tax move was only for their intellectual property and they pay the same ammount of tax in Ireland.

They want to appeal to new fans but seem hell bent on destroying any sense of mystery that naturally surrounds a band of their stature.

Bono, we all love you really but sweetheart you’ve got to take a deep breath and calm down.

Loving the tour and love you guys but you’re not the innocent band of yesteryear. Love the politics too and all that stuff but there are far less clumsy ways of doing it, even by U2’s standards.

U2- THE MOST UNDERRATED SUPERBAND EVER!

Why? Because everyone assumes they’re overrated and overexposed. Scrape the brash exterior and you’ll be suprised by the underrated gems like October, Zooropa and Pop. No Line is set to join them.

The Edge has got to be one of the most exceptional underappreciated guitarists there is and all because guitar nerds get erect for soulless shredders.

Those circus skills are worth nothing unless you’ve got the skill for melody. Witness his influence on Tom Morrello, Matt Bellamy and Jonny Buckland, they’ve even admitted it.

U2- THE LAST GREAT ROCK BAND!

I would not pay $10 to see them. Nothing but mass-market and political rubbish, only their old stuff, before they became too big is worth anything.