U2 Doesn’t Have a Tour on the Horizon, Larry Mullen Jr. Needs Surgery

U2 is going to be honored this weekend in Washington, D.C. at the 45th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. Honorees don't perform at the ceremony, so those looking for a performance from U2 will have to wait a bit for their next tour. Of course, when that tour will take place in anyone's guess.

The legendary band was highlighted in a feature piece by The Washington Post to celebrate the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. The outlet wrote that during their interview with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. that he revealed, " ... if the band plays live in 2023 it will probably be without him, as he needs surgery to continue playing." Considering his decades of drumming, it's not surprising Mullen Jr. needs some sort of corrective surgery.

At the same time, Mullen Jr. made additional comments about U2 that may raise some eyebrows. WaPo writes, " ... [Mullen] admits the dynamics in the band are not the same as they were decades ago. As the ’80s wore on and U2’s stature grew, band decisions would be made by what they called the 'Politburo,' named after the policymaking committees in most communist systems. In Mullen’s view, the system that served the band well for so long has now become more of a benevolent dictatorship."

Furthermore, WaPo quotes Mullen Jr. saying, "You only do this if you’re having the best time. And not everyone is going to make it because the price is so high. So I think the challenge is for more generosity. More openness to the process. I am autonomous and I value my autonomy. I don’t sing from the same hymn sheet. I don’t pray to the same version of God. So everyone has their limits. And you only do this if it is a great time you’re having, you know?"

As previously reported, the 45th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, December 4. A broadcast of the event will air on CBS at a later date. In addition to U2, the 45th Kennedy Center Honors class includes George Clooney, Amy Grant, Gladys Knight and Tania León.

U2 has been one of the biggest bands of the past 50 years and for good reason: Their catalog is a prime example of a band evolving and growing up before the eyes of the world.

So far, U2 has released 14 studio albums. Their catalog also features live releases, box sets, compilations and more. In total, they have sold over 175 million records worldwide.

The legend of U2 had humble beginnings. Its four members -- Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. -- were all students at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin.

One day in 1976, Mullen Jr. put a flyer on the school's bulletin board searching for musicians to start a band. He was only 14 at the time. Among the people who responded were Bono (16), The Edge (15) and Clayton (16). The band's first practice was on September 25, 1976 in the kitchen of Mullen Jr.'s childhood home.

Who would've thought all of this success started with a just simple post on a bulletin board and a practice in a kitchen?!

U2's list of accolades is nothing short of insane. They've won 22 Grammy Awards out of 46 nominations. In 2005, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2022.

In addition to those awards, they've been a massive tour draw. Per Pollstar, U2 has sold over 26 million tickets since 1980. Their tours have grossed a staggering $2.12 million. The only other act to make more money on the road is the Rolling Stones with $2.16 million.

With all of this mind, we thought we'd take on the daunting task of ranking U2's best song. Scroll through the list below to see which songs from their vast catalog we think are their 50 best!