On the occasion of the release of “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” 20th Anniversary, U2 broadcast live on YouTube the complete concert recorded in 2005 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Watch it in the player at the top of this page
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb has been remastered for the first time, a process that saw the band revisit those recording sessions of the early 2000s, a period of intense creativity for U2 in the studio, as well as a moment of deep personal and artistic reflection following the passing of Bono’s father, Bob, in 2001. This special edition released to mark the 20th anniversary of the original release will include the bonus track Fast Carsand will already be available in digital version from November 22nd. On November 29th, the colored vinyl of the ‘shadow album’ How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb will be released, for Record Store Day / Black Friday.
Dice The Edge Of How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb: «The sessions for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb It was a very creative time for the band, we were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early musical influences, and it was a moment of deep personal introspection for Bono as he was attempting to process – ‘dismantle’ – the death of his father. To create this edition I went into my personal archive to find unpublished gems, and I hit the mark. We have chosen ten of them. Although they were left aside at the time, in hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts that they could be part of the album were right, we were on the right track».
How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb includes 10 previously unreleased songs from the album’s recording sessions, rediscovered in the band’s archive: “Treason”, “Evidence Of Life”, “Country Mile” and “Happiness”, “Luckiest Man In The World” – familiar to fans with the provisional title “Mercy”, from a first demo that was talked about online almost 20 years ago – and five other recently remastered songs: “Picture Of You (X+W)”, “I Don’t Wanna See You Smile”, “Are We Gonna Wait Forever?”, “Theme From The Batman” and “All Because Of” You 2′
The tracklist of How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb:
- Picture Of You (X+W)
- Evidence Of Life
- Luckiest Man In The World
- Treason
- I Don’t Wanna See You Smile
- Country Mile
- Happiness
- Are We Gonna Wait Forever?
- Theme From The Batman
- All Because Of You 2
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is U2’s eleventh studio album. Released by Island Records/Interscope on November 22, 2004, it reached number one in the charts of 34 countries around the world, including Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Described by Bono at the time as “our first rock album”, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was recorded at the band’s studio in Hanover Quay, Dublin and the south of France. Produced by Steve Lilywhite, Chris Thomas, Flood, Jacknife Lee, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, nellee Hooper and Carl Glanville, it consists of 11 songs including “Vertigo” and “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”, debuted both at number 1 in the UK charts. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and its singles have won a total of 8 Grammy Awards (in 2005 “Vertigo” alone won three including ‘Best Rock Song’. The band also won the 2006 Grammy for ”Album of the Year’, as well as ‘Song of the Year’ (“Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”) and ‘Best Rock Song’ (“City of Blinding Lights”). And Steve Lilywhite won the prestigious award for ‘Producer of the Year’.
The tracklist di How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 20th Anniversary:
- Vertigo
- Miracle Drug
- Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
- Love and Peace or Else
- City of Blinding Lights
- All Because of You
- A Man and a Woman
- Crumbs from Your Table
- One Step Closer
- Original of the Species
- Yahweh
- Fast Cars
* How might the inclusion of previously unreleased tracks in “How to Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb” challenge or solidify our understanding of the original album’s thematic intentions?
Certainly, let’s construct a compelling interview centered around U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” 20th Anniversary release.
**Interview: Dismantling the Past, Reassembling the Future**
**Guests:**
* **Dr. Michael Stone:** Music Historian and U2 Scholar
* **Liam O’Connell:** Music Journalist and Avid U2 Fan
**Moderator:** Welcome to our discussion surrounding U2’s monumental 20th-anniversary re-release of “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.” We have with us esteemed music historian Dr. Michael Stone and dedicated music journalist Liam O’Connell. Gentlemen, thank you for joining us.
**Section 1: A Time Capsule of Creativity (The Making of the Original Album)**
* **Moderator**: Dr. Stone, this album is often described as a period of intense creativity for U2. Can you elaborate on the specific musical and lyrical elements that make “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” stand out within their discography?
* **Moderator**: Liam, how do you feel this album captured the essence of U2 at that precise moment in their career, considering Bono’s personal experience with his father’s passing?
* **Dr. Stone**: (Response)
* **Liam O’Connell**: (Response)
**Section 2: Unearthing the Gems: “How to Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb”**
* **Moderator**: The ” shadow album,” “How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb,” is a treasure trove of previously unreleased material. Liam, what excites you most about these rediscovered tracks being shared with fans after all these years?
* **Moderator**: Dr. Stone, how significant is this practice of releasing “shadow albums” in terms of understanding an artist’s creative process and giving a fuller picture of their work?
* **Liam O’Connell**: (Response)
* **Dr. Stone**: (Response)
**Section 3: Legacy and Enduring Relevance**
* **Moderator**: “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” was widely acclaimed upon its release, achieving global success. Liam, do you think its themes and sound have aged well, remaining relevant to audiences today?
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* **Moderator**: Dr. Stone, how does this album fit within the larger context of U2’s musical evolution and lasting impact on popular culture?
* **Liam O’Connell**: (Response)
* **Dr. Stone**: (Response)
**Section 4: Looking Ahead**
* **Moderator**: What do you think this re-release signifies for U2 and their future endeavors?
* **Moderator**: Liam, to close, what is your takeaway for U2 fans or anyone discovering this album for the first time?
* **Dr. Stone**: (Response)
* **Liam O’Connell**: (Response)
**Moderator**: Thank you both for this insightful conversation. It’s clear that “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” both in its original and reassembled forms, continues to resonate deeply with listeners.
Let me know if you’d like for me to expand on any of these sections or develop more specialized questions.
