U2 concluded their Las Vegas Sphere residency by playing the deep cut “40” from the album War for the first time since 2016. This 1983 tune was a staple at U2 shows in the Eighties and marked their 40th show at the Sphere since its opening in September 2023.
Fans were alerted to the impending performance of “40” when bassist Adam Clayton and guitarist The Edge switched instruments, a ritual from the band’s early days. Bono shared with the audience, “It’s been 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. What’s a fellow with a messianic complex going to do? Here’s a song we wrote in 40 minutes. I opened up the sacred text of the Psalm of David. I just kind of read it out. That was the lyric.”
Earlier in the evening, they brought on Achtung Baby co-producer Daniel Lanois to join them on guitar for “One.” Bono typically played guitar on the song alongside The Edge, but due to a shoulder and arm injury from a 2014 bicycle accident, he has been unable to use the instrument. Lanois and Lady Gaga are the only guests to have performed with U2 throughout the entire Sphere residency.
Following the acoustic set, where they have been playing Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” Bono hinted at something new. He revealed, “The other day we got a beautiful email from Neil Finn, who wrote this bewilderingly beautiful song. Attached to the email was a version of the song he said we could play whenever we wanted. It’s a new version that he did, and we’re going to try and record it.”
What followed was a stripped-down rendition of “Don’t Dream It’s Over” where Bono and The Edge virtually duetted with Finn. Bono mentioned, “Neither party has spoken to our record label [about releasing this], so this might be the only recording that might ever exist. Please take your phones and send it to whoever loves freedom you know. Maybe send it to people that don’t [too]. There’s a few of them around.”
U2’s future plans following the completion of the Sphere residency are uncertain. They have not released a new album since 2017’s Songs of Experience, marking the longest gap between albums since their debut in 1980. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. is still dealing with back issues, although he was present in the audience for the second-to-last show of the Sphere run on Friday night.
The Edge mentioned to Rolling Stone last year that they were working on an album “driven by guitar.” He clarified, “That isn’t to say we are turning into AC/DC, but we will find a way to use the instrument in a fresh way as much as possible. It’s still my first love for me as an instrument.” He did not provide a timeline for its release, stating, “We’re anxious and would love to get them out, but there will be a lot of options and other advice we’ll be taking about when to drop some new material. But just to say, we’ve been busy and very inspired creating new stuff.”