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Proof Ahimsa was a Bono and Edge project?

Maybe the worst pic of Bono ever lmao

Originally posted by podiumboy:[..]
Agreed. I've said this before, but ABOY is one of those U2 songs that NEEDS a rhythm guitar to really fill out the sound. When Edge switches from playing the main riff to his lead fills, the bottom of the song just drops out. There needs to be somebody playing the riffage while Edge focuses on the leads. There are many songs like this, and Bono never was an efficient rhythm guitar player even when he was able to do it. Full band "Stay", "Fly" and "One" are other songs that suffer from a lack of rhythm guitar.

I don't think many would object if they brought in a rhythm guitarist for the live shows especially if it was someone with a strong connection to the band like Dave Stewart ,Daniel Lanois or even Dallas .I never liked Walk on live but the version they did for the 9/11 tribute was fantastic as they had Dave Stewart playing rhythm which allowed Edge to let fly allowing the song to flow better.

LostSailor

5 years

Tom Morello, perhaps?

ferrari

5 years

In general I think U2 needs a 2nd guitar player. Many songs will sound better, especially One and WOWY needs both an extra guitar update for a second life.

Welsh_Edge

5 years

They could have someone under the stage playing ??‍♂️

See Blondie Chaplin with The Rolling Stones, although he was on stage

guykirk9

5 years

I mean Dallas plays back up a lot so

unclejosh

5 years

I think almost all bands but typically 4 piece bands (and some trios) should include a 2nd rhythm guitarist on stage as it sounds so much better. Even Bono's strumming which I love is better than when there is nothing. But every band I have heard live who include the extra musician whether it is percussion, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals almost always sound better live than without.

Especially for bands that use a lot of studio trickery and multiple layering and overdubbing in their albums. If I hear 2 guitars on the album, then there should be 2 guitarists onstage. Led Zeppelin is a band I love who I wished had added a touring guitarist back in their live days. Jimmy Page was a master much like the Edge does now in layering sounds and multiple guitar tracks on the songs yet live there was only one and the live sound suffered for it.

Now U2 does have a backstage keyboardist I believe and of course uses many samples and triggered sounds live but if they had a 2nd guitarist to thicken the sound and let Edge have a little more freedom I think it would be amazing. Especially now that Bono can't play guitar.

DMMacdonald

5 years

Do you think we will ever see Bono play guitar again or is it pretty much a write off?

Welsh_Edge

5 years

Originally posted by guykirk9:I mean Dallas plays back up a lot so

When?

podiumboy

5 years

Dallas actually does not play guitar during U2 shows. He's too busy getting Edge's next guitar ready, and paying attention to Edge's sound, pushing buttons and pedals to change his effects, etc. I believe he is so busy he even has his own assistant to help him during concerts.

The only time I recall Dallas playing backup guitar is in the video for "This Is", where he can be seen strumming an acoustic while Edge plays the electric guitar.

Terry Lawless, and Des Broadberry before him, play backup keyboards under the stage. Terry says they actually asked him if he wanted to be onstage, but prefers the anonymity of not being onstage. He's essentially the 5th member of U2, but he can still walk around in broad daylight and nobody will notice/bother him.

podiumboy

5 years

MOST U2 songs (besides the early days, where their sound was mainly built around the rhythm section and Edge's delay effects) could benefit from a full on rhythm guitarist. Even something like ISHFWILF should have an acoustic strumming along.

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