The last U2 album may not have shifted many copies, and the tour undertaken to support it was certainly controversial. But none of this stopped people from shelling out cash to experience the band’s music, as Bono and the boys were the highest earning act in the U.S. in 2009.

U2 made $109 million from record sales and touring, which is almost double what the second placed artist, Bruce Springsteen, earned (the Boss has a meager $57.6 million to his name). The Billboard chart also includes Madonna ($47.2 million), AC/DC ($43.6 million) and Britney Spears ($38.8 million).

Outside the top five, a few other interesting facts and figures crop up. The Michael Jackson industry that whirred into action following his death managed to pull in $27.3 million, and the biggest selling hip-hop artist was Lil Wayne, who came in at No. 30 with earnings of $12.8 million.

 

 

Linkin Park
When Chester Bennington launched his side project, Dead by Sunrise, in the fall of 2009, he made it clear that it was in no way going to affect the making of Linkin Park’s next album. Indeed, the band have spent most of 2009 working on their follow-up to 2007’s Minutes to Midnight, although they took a break to release “New Divide” as part of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack. “They’re going to have to come up with a new genre name for what this record is,” singer Mike Shinoda bragged to Rolling Stone about their forthcoming record.

Radiohead
In 2009, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke released a solo track on the New Moon soundtrack, and the band put out a couple of one-off singles. Those releases, coupled with a comment by Yorke that the band didn’t want to focus on making traditional albums anymore, suggested that perhaps 2007’s In Rainbows was going to be the group’s last record for a while. But according to guitarist Ed O’Brien, the band will be putting out a new album in 2010 after recording over the winter. No idea what it will sound like or if Radiohead will do a pay-what-you-like online release again like they did with In Rainbows.

Stone Temple Pilots
In 2008, Stone Temple Pilots reunited for a tour, and in 2010 the band will be putting out their first new studio record in nine years. Working with veteran rock producer Don Was, the band hope to reclaim their commercial clout from the 1990s, when albums like Core and Purple went platinum many times over.

U2
Hot on the heels of the release of 2009’s No Line on the Horizon, U2 discussed releasing a companion album, just as they did with Zooropa after Achtung Baby back in the early ‘90s. If the Irish quartet decide to go that way, the album would be called Songs of Ascent and would feature a contemplative, introspective sound. But U2 may ultimately choose to pursue new material, or they might return to songs that were part of the aborted Rick Rubin sessions that didn’t make it onto No Line. Of course, there may also be no new U2 album in 2010 – the band members do have a pretty busy touring schedule ahead of them.

Aaron Lewis
Staind’s frontman has talked about putting out his first solo album since December 2008, but there’s still no official word about whether it’s happening. We may get a better idea at the beginning of 2010 when he hits the road for a two-month solo tour. Maybe he’ll pull out some new material for these shows?

Blink-182
Blink-182 reunited in 2009 for a successful U.S. tour. The band had wanted to put out an album before the tour, but logistics kept that from happening. So 2010 could be a year when we see a new Blink record – actually, we could see two. The band will be working on a record but so will drummer Travis Barker, who is shooting for a spring release of his first solo disc.

Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon will try to build on the success of 2008’s Only by the Night with their next album, which will come out some time in 2010. Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill has said that the Tennessee quartet were going to try to be “more adventurous” on their next album and mentioned that the new songs sound like everything from the Band to Radiohead to Thin Lizzy.

Today is Tuesday (I swear, check your calendars) and that means I will be diving into the topic of new music on Radio 929. Today we have the latest from one of the grunge originators, a band that been on top of the charts for three decades, and a collaboration that will leave you feeling dirty.

Pearl Jam – The Fixer: With the opening cords sounding like the opening of Rescue Me theme song (The Von Bondies “C’mon C’mon, that reminds me that’s on tonight, sweet!) you know the song is going to keep you bouncing  and bobbing your head. Although I cant make out 90% of what Eddie Vedder is spiting out (its been that way since I first heard Pearl Jam), the catchy riffs, melody, and short length (2:58ish) makes this a perfect jam pun intended. I don’t know what they are trying to fix, but this easily goes to the top of my Pearl Jam “listen-to-able” tracks.

U2 – I’ll Go Crazy, If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight; now is this U2’s latest great rock ballad? By definition of lastest… YES but the answer is NO by execution. Crazy does have that U2 vibe with the Edges patented sound, but as that Fall Out Boy Esq title (ex: “I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me”) What with the Egyptian sounding sitar in the middle and the end of the song? I am a big U2 fan but this is just another average song off an overall average album. Also the video is well…. Equally average.

Also I would love to know what Bono says in the beginning of the chorus my guess is “It’s not here it’s a mountain” and don’t go looking up the lyrics.

Lastly check out Jet with Iggy Pop (how gross is this guy?) covering Wild One, this totally rocks!

 

If you’re a true music fan and/or historian these are shows you must see. Check out this 25^th anniversary concert celebration of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

 

These are not my words

“THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IS ORGANIZING A TWO-DAY CONCERT EVENT TO CELEBRATE ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, METALLICA, ARETHA FRANKLIN and U2 are among the artists that have signed on to perform at a two-day concert event, which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the rock and roll hall of fame.

It's happening at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th.  Each night will feature a different line-up . . . so basically, it'll be like your typical music festival . . . only with some HUGE artists.

Thursday's bill already includes:  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon,Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Friends, and Stevie Wonder.

And for Friday, they have already booked:  Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Metallica and U2.

Also, TOM HANKS and director CAMERON CROWE are serving on the, quote, "creative team" for the event, whatever that entails.

Tickets go on sale August 3rd.”

I’m drooling at the thought of this show, but I will whip my face clean and bring up the topic of who would you like to see get into the Hall of Fame?

 

 

I sat down with a someone who went to the secret U2 show last night here is what “he/she” had to say…

Overall how was the concert? It was awesome!  If you love seeing U2 and the energy they deliver in a stadium, try it in a small theater.  It gives you goose bumps.  And the new songs are perfect for a live setting.  Plenty of singing and clapping along moments.
Was it any different from any other concert because it was a secret show? There was extra electricity in the air because we felt special.
Atmosphere of the show? The Q&A was funny, relaxed and a side of the band we as fans don’t get to see up close.
If you could have U2 answer one question of yours what would it be? Do you ever wish you could take a day off from being in U2 and just go out to eat, or play Frisbee in the park, or just chill out and listen to Radio 929?
Heard you had a fun time after the concert, how was that? I had the honor of meeting Bono and it was pretty mind blowing.  Not to sound cliché, but these things can go really well or really awful.  He sat at our table of 7 people and just talked.  He was gracious, answered a question I asked about being on Letterman, and was really engaging. It is time I will never forget.
The show ended up being at the Somerville Theater. Do you think that was the right place to do it? The Paradise would have been better from a historical point of view, but really it could have been anywhere.  It was about the atmosphere, not the venue.  
Were does this rank in you top concerts/live shows? Because of the entire experience, it has to be top 5 for sure.  There are thousands who wanted to be there and I was lucky to have been one.
Other than Bono who’s your favorite band member? Adam Clayton. Unsung hero!

Sounded like an amazing time, if you’re like me and didn’t get in I hope you enjoyed listening to it on Radio 929.  We’ll get into the next one right?......right?

 

 

So with less then a half hour away from our U2 A-Z (that’s noon for those of you with no clock around) are you not pumped to be a U2 fan? C’mon even if don’t necessarily love the band you have to be some what interested in all this secret show hype.  All week people have asked can I get tickets? Where is the show? Can I sneak in? All I have to say is listen in today starting at noon as we play U2 songs in alphabetical order until 9pm when we bring you the live performance from the secret “Boston” location. I will be listening along with you all day!

Hey I could have just said “No” 

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