U2 New Zooland

The Edge and The Rock
13th December 2004

The following is a transcription of the interview with The Edge hosted by Auckland-based radio network, The Rock FM, on Monday 13th December 2004. The two DJ's conducting the interview are Nicholas Trott and Roger Farrelly, a.k.a. "Nick & Rog" from The Rock's weekday breakfast radio show.

Transcription made available courtesy of The Rock FM.

(Lead-in:)

Rog: The next hour, between now and 9:00... The Edge. Hard to believe!

Nick: How’s my hair look?

Rog: Very good, Nick! He’s on the phone with us. He’s calling us from his headquarters in Dublin, their recording studio, where they recorded the new album, ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’. He’s on with us after ‘I Will Follow’! U2… on The Rock.

[I Will Follow]

(Intro:)

Rog: Good morning, it’s eight past 8:00, you’re with Nick & Rog… “The Morning Rumble” on The Rock… and from the ‘Boy’ album…1980, U2 - I Will Follow.

It is our honour this morning to have on the phone, he’s in Dublin… at the headquarters where they recorded their album... from U2, The Edge – Good morning! (How are you?)

Edge: I am really --… I couldn’t be better! We’re in Dublin – I’m sure the weather’s not nearly as nice as it is down there in New Zealand. But, ya know, the reason why Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle is because it gets rain… a lot! And, right now, I have to say, I understand why it is so green.

(Laughter)

Nick: Edge, you were speaking of course about the rain and stuff, and we’ve phoned a pub in Galway, in Ireland, just the other day, because, of course, you can’t smoke in bars and restaurants, and nor can we...

The New Zealand government recently introduced legislation banning smoking in all workplaces and public buildings, including theatres, bars, and restaurants. This became law just three days prior to this interview. A similar law was introduced in Ireland earlier in the year.

Ah, so he was saying it’s a bit of a hassle, because, when you smoke now, you have to go outside, and in Ireland the weather’s always crap!?

Edge (laughing): Yeah! Well, it’s caused a variety of reactions. A lot of people have welcomed it and, y’know, given up smoking and decided to just get wise. And then there’s a whole other thing, which has developed called - a new term - called [“smirssing”?], which is like “flirting” but it’s conducted amongst the smokers, and so there’s a whole new social activity... has developed as a result of the smoking ban, where people gather in groups outside of the bars. And it’s the perfect ice-breaker – you go out there [and say], “Have ya got a light?”... So, there’s a whole other side to it – a whole little sub-culture developing.

Nick: Edge, are you one of these guitarists who collects guitars?

Edge: Umm, I find it very hard not to, even though I’ve never considered myself a collector. But I have, over the years, it has to be said, amassed a fairly respectable collection of guitars. It’s more that every time we go to make a record, I get intrigued by some guitar that I’ve never owned before, and, y’know, and a particular sound and a particular feel. And, the problem of course, is when we go and play live, in order to recreate the sound that I achieved on the record, I have to bring the very same guitars. So, my poor guitar technician, Dallas, is plagued by having to restring upwards of, like, thirty guitars… to the show. [??] So, it’s becoming a bit of a problem!

Y’know, I’d love to be one of those guys who just had the one guitar, but, I have to say that, each guitar sounds so different to me – I don’t think I could, honestly, go to do a show with just the one. I think it would... it would certainly sound wrong to me, but I’m sure it would also not be as good for U2 fans.

[Vertigo]

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