With Or Without Him? Larry Mullen Jr. Discusses Possibility Of U2 Tour In 2023

Members of U2 spoke with The Washington Post for a career-spanning feature on the band published yesterday. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. revealed if U2 tours in 2023 he will be unable to participate as the man described by bassist Adam Clayton as the band’s “bullshit detector” needs to undergo surgery.

Mullen Jr. gave what he called his first interview in seven years to the Washington Post’s Geoff Edgers in advance of U2 receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony this Sunday, December 4. The drummer isn’t quoted directly in the tibit about the potential for a 2023 U2 tour. “He’s blunt — he says if the band plays live in 2023 it will probably be without him, as he needs surgery to continue playing,” wrote Edgers in reference to what would be the quartet’s first trek since 2019. The specifics of the Mullen Jr.’s condition aren’t detailed other than Edgers describing Larry as “a powerhouse who now struggles with the physical toll of a lifetime of pounding.”

The feature also makes mention of new music on the way from U2. Surrender, a collection of intimate takes on the 40 U2 songs discussed in frontman Bono’s recently released Surrender memoir, is due next year according to Edgers. The journalist also confirmed U2 “have a nearly finished album of new original songs called Songs Of Ascent.” Both Bono and guitarist The Edge didn’t have an answer when asked about the release date for the follow-up to 2017’s Songs Of Experience.

George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight and Tania León will also be feted at Sunday’s event at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington D.C. CBS will air a special documenting the night on Wednesday, December 28. Head to the Washington Post for the complete U2 feature.