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  1. It depends on the band. I think it is ok for U2, since they are pretty much a very "planned playing" band, apart from Bono. They almost never improvise. Now, Led Zeppelin for instance, with backing tracks is something that would never work. U2 is a pretty "safe" band, so it doesn't hurt their sound. It actually makes them sound "bigger".


  2. They did a consider it a few times but Bono said they decided against getting extra musicians beacuase U2 is a about those four guys and their show is about how they interact on stage.
  3. Seems I'm in the minority here. I don't like semi- playbacks that much.

    I was the person who started the discussion in the other thread, so thanks for your opinions.

    Let me explain my view:

    ZooTV was a great tour, and PopPart was even bigger. Part of the concept of those tours was IMHO overpowering technology and how humanity is in the middle between reigning over technology and being enslaved by it. So to underline that artistic direction they had to use a lot of backing tracks, even semi- playback (Daddy's gonna pay) and full playback (Lemon Perfecto Mix). In this concept it fit well. It was more a high tech multimedia show than a live rock concert.

    Now U2 try to present themselves as a rock band - they even copied the Beatles' famous rooftop concert. Why do they still use prerecorded parts? Recorded music is the opposite of live music. They have been playing "real live" during the eighties, so I'm convinced they could still do that quite easily - but they don't want to. They don't want to strip down their multi- layered studio versions to real live rock.

    Obviously U2 try to achieve two goals: They want their songs to sound as multi- layered as they do on CD and they want to stay a strict four- piece band. So they compromise and sacrifice the "live" aspect. As you might notice, I disagree with that direction. It's a sacrifice at the wrong place. I want live rock music to be played live. I prefer a rough "live" version to an over- perfect playback performance.

    I don't rant about click tracks for IEM, these are useful tools that help the band to stay tight. I also understand why a self- repeating rhythm loop for dance- based songs can be helpful. Effects like these can easily be switched on and off by a drummer during a song - or he could use triggered drums. But if they really want to have an even "bigger" sound it would be definitely more "live" to get an additional musician on stage than to use prerecorded parts. A lot of bands do that instead of playing to semi- playback. Pink Floyd and the Who for example had dozens of assistant musicians on stage...

    Someone posted they couldn't bring an organ on tour just for Streets... well, why not? Edge already carries dozens of guitars and tons of equipment. They already have some high end keyboards on stage - isn't any of these able to reproduce a decent organ sound? And wouldn't the band be able to get a guest keyboarder on stage when needed?

    Alex
  4. Originally posted by SalvationTambourine:They did a consider it a few times but Bono said they decided against getting extra musicians beacuase U2 is a about those four guys and their show is about how they interact on stage.

    Yes, definitely, that's what I'd like to see. But there's not much interaction when everything is just the reproduction of something pre- recorded and pre- rehearsed. Exactly that's the reason why I don't like it. I liked it during ZooTV and PopMart when it wasn't about interaction but about a multimedia show concept with a social- political message about the state of human civilisation.

    Alex
  5. It doesn't bother me, but I would be interested to see what they'd sound like without the backing tracks and whatnot
  6. better a good loop than a bad attempt at trying themselves. however, they all only got 2 arms, so of course there have to be backing tracks and that's ok.


  7. you mean Santiago? they didn't play Bad in Sarajevo...

    on topic - I don't have a problem with them if they enhance the song. I think the telemprompts are a bit much, it's great when Bono fucks up lines, he shouldn't be reading them while he sings them. I also don't like it at all when they play along to completely prerecorded tracks like the performance of Vertigo and WITS they did for that Japanese TV show. That's just not live. I don't get it.
  8. Originally posted by flowerchild:better a good loop than a bad attempt at trying themselves. however, they all only got 2 arms, so of course there have to be backing tracks and that's ok.

    A lot of bands consist of three or four musicians. Most of these players have just two hands and get along with them quite well.

    Problem occurs when three or four musicians want to sound like nine...

    Alex
  9. I don't care...if they can't do it without, they can't do it without.
  10. I'm not the biggest fan of all these backing tracks, prerecorded music/vocals teleprompters, etc. But I don't have a real problem with it.
    I do think it's ridiculous if they hide musicians who play along, though. Like when Sam O'Sullivan did/does some additional drumming or Terry Lawless is playing Keyboards,...
  11. Originally posted by yeah:I'm not the biggest fan of all these backing tracks, prerecorded music/vocals teleprompters, etc. But I don't have a real problem with it.
    I do think it's ridiculous if they hide musicians who play along, though. Like when Sam O'Sullivan did/does some additional drumming or Terry Lawless is playing Keyboards,...


    you're not supposed to know that, Yeah! Shhhhhh!

  12. Originally posted by yeah:I'm not the biggest fan of all these backing tracks, prerecorded music/vocals teleprompters, etc. But I don't have a real problem with it.
    I do think it's ridiculous if they hide musicians who play along, though. Like when Sam O'Sullivan did/does some additional drumming or Terry Lawless is playing Keyboards,...


    Agree a 100%

    I remember that Muse also has a 4th member for live performances. At least he's just on the podium (okay, in the back of the podium, but still, the crowd does see him).
    Just let them on the stage, maybe even introduce them, so the crowd knows who they are.
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.