This, it seems Bono, has clearly changed markedly since 2004’s How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and out of all recognition since 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Bono is not a stupid man. Now, with Eno and Lanois back in harness, the band have turned again, returning to something more like the experimental, exploratory approach of Achtung Baby and Zooropa. Eno and Lanois attention to depth, detail and background texture, and their encouragement of experimentation, served the group well through the 1990s. Perhaps not insignificantly, there was a sales drop of three million from All That You Can’t Leave Behind to How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, in which the pair had little involvement. It still shifted nine million units, but a 25 per cent fall is a quarter down.

U2 confirmed the details of their upcoming world tour which, as previously reported, will be called the 360 Degree tour and will be presented in the round, as it were. Support acts over the tour will include Glasvegas, Elbow, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol and Black Eyed Peas. Dates as follows…

30 Jun: Barcelona, Nou Camp
7 Jul: Milan, San Siro
11 Jul: Paris, Stade de France
15 Jul: Nice, France, Parc Charles Ehrmann
18 Jul: Berlin, Olympic Stadium
20 Jul: Amsterdam, Arena
24 Jul: Dublin, Croke Park
31 Jul: Gothenburg, Sweden, Ullevi
6 Aug: Chorzom, PL, Slaski Stadium
10 Aug: Zagreb, HR, Maksimir Stadium
14 Aug: London, Wembley Stadium
18 Aug: Glasgow, UK, Hampden Park
20 Aug: Sheffield, UK, Don Valey Stadium
22 Aug: Cardiff, UK, Millennium Stadium
12 Sep: Chicago, Soldier Field
16 Sep: Toronto, The Rogers Center
20 Sep: Foxborough, Mass., Gillette Stadium
24 Sep: New York, Giants Stadium