Originally posted by deanallison:Also voted no, I think the end is maybe in sight as the band do like to plan quite far ahead, but when I say in sight I mean at least one album after SOE possibly 2. So touring plans will have potentially already started for an album following SOE.
Originally posted by bpt3:I picked "not sure". It would make sense, actually, for this to be their last album as they are completing the "Experience" part of Innocence and Experience, reflecting back on what is inevitably lost and yet gained when moving from the one to the other (and eventually back to "innocence" again, if that's why they are titling the next part of the tour "Experience & Innocence"? I hope so!).
But part of me just can't see Bono, in particular, wanting to give it up yet. Sure, he has his family and house in France, and plenty of activist work to keep him busy...but he still has too much wanderlust in him, I think he has admitted before. Too soon to give up the adventures of touring and performing! Edge for more musical reasons I think probably isn't ready yet either, although maybe it will depend on how this album and tour are received...Adam I could see content with either calling it quits or at least (as he mentioned in some interview recently?) deciding to just release music in a more small-scale way "for the fans", whatever that might look like. And Larry - while I'm sure he still enjoys all of this craziness\ - seems most ready to retire. Maybe it's just his no-nonsense personality or his own aging in particular...
Clearly I'm still thinking about this.
Originally posted by dieder:There have been some hints that they might call it quits... I can also see why Bono and Edge would like to continue, but it could be that Adam and/or Larry want to retire, and I believe they have a pact that if one of them wants to quit, the others will not continue a U2. Otherwise, I think they will release SoE, tour for a year and then go away for a while. Maybe we will get Songs of Ascent in 4 years time and then a new tour. Maybe just a new release and no tour, we don't know!