It's been going on for a while, so I guess it's not really a new thing.
And based on all the comments, I think the band shouldn't bother attempting to be "relevant." If being relevant means bowing to the will of 99% of those ignorant people, forget that.
I think people have a different definition of what Bono means to be relevant. I think Bono wants to be relevant in terms of being important for mainstream music listeners, he wants to get non-U2 fans to become U2 fans and he doesn't want to become non-important to the recording industry other than selling older records with hit songs.
What some of the fans are saying to this is that they shouldn't be trying to stay relevant in the mainstream and they should be trying to cater to their fans instead, and what I'm taking from this argument is that people want U2 to stop caring about trying to top the charts and release something than the fans can and will appreciate.
Yup:
REPORT: LARRY SAYS U2 PLANNING NEW ALBUM BY SEPTEMBER 2013
@U2, January 09, 2013
Larry Mullen Jr. has reportedly told Irish DJ Dave Fanning that U2 is looking to have its next album released by September 2013. That's the word via Twitter from Yvonne Judge, a 2FM radio editor who shared the photo at right of Mullen and Fanning together in the studio today (no doubt taping the interview), and then shared this sneak peek at Larry's album news:
Yvonne Judge@yvonnejudge
This Saturday on @Davefanningshow on 2fm, Larry Mullen Jnr tells Dave U2 aiming to have new album released by September. #2fm #U2
Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:It's weird that Bono hasn't been running his mouth for the past few months though if it's that close to completion
Larry probably threatened Bono that he'll kick his ass if he's going to tell people bullshit. That's the only explanation.