Thanks for reviewing Edge´s solos!! I think his best solo is Love is blindness (live versions 92-93). Amazing guitar work!! I also love the solo in Acrobat, the slide solo in Mysterious Ways... but I think he has as a guitarist 3 songs that defines him: Where the Streets have no name, Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday :) Personally I love the solo in Bullet the blue Sky (all versions in every era)
The solo from "Bullet The Blue Sky" just by itself has undergone a number of transformations over the years. My favourite is from the Vertigo Tour (2005), he was doing a straight up Chicago blues solo. Simple, but effective.
Listen to "New Years Day" again - the full song.. the way Edge plays his riffs AND the piano and switches back and forth.. Pure Excellence!! The song that shows another layer of his guitar is "Bad" - specially if you listen to the version from Live Aid. Enjoy!
U2 are still together, same Band as at the year of their start in the 70is, one of the best live bands ever. Saw them every tour they did since 1989. The Edge is one of the uniquest guitarist, you can identivy him directly when you here him. Love his sound and he is a good singer too. Had the chance to meet them at their hotel im Berlin. Great artists and super nice with the fans. Good examples for Good Edge parts in the songs: Love is Blindness Bullet the blue sky Until the end of the World Classics: With or without you Where the street has no name I will follow
The "end all be all" will vary by who you ask. Commercially, probably "Pride" is known best. For me, it's down to two. The Live from Sydney version of "Love is Blindness" is unbelievable and for me, the one song and Edge solo I could listen to on a loop forever comes from "Acrobat." Track 11 off of Achtung Baby. It didn't get radio play and wasn't even played live until just recently (I don't think the live version is anywhere close to the album version). I've said for years that Trent Reznor titled his NIN album "The Downward Spiral" but the Edge's solo on Acrobat defines that concept better than anything else.
His best live solos on film are Bullet the Blue Sky Live from Boston 2001 and Love is Blindness from ZooTV Live from Sydney 1993. Edge is mainly a rhythm guitar player in my opinion. He's also minimalist - views notes as expensive.
They are currently in a residency at the Sohere in Las Vegas. My wife and I are going to see them in late January, and they keep adding shows. Obviously they are a huge hit there, and considering their use of video and graphics live, being in the sphere seems like an obvious choice for them. Can’t wait. As for Edge’s solos, I’ve always liked the various iterations of Bullet the Blue Sky and The Fly live. Bono once said the Edge can make a whole solo out of just one note. With him, less is more.
The Edge is amazing and really good at creating an atmospheric sound. He has great solo’s and the best one I think is in ‘Love is blindness’ which they made after his divorce: ruclips.net/video/33ZKmi586PA/видео.html He can also sing very nicely, like in this video where he plays and sings ‘Running to stand still’: ruclips.net/video/W-RsogWt6wg/видео.html
Dancing Barefoot, The Crystal Ballroom have...sinuous guitar solos that weave in and around the melody. Bad from Wide Awake In America has always amazed me with what The Edge could do in a live setting. There are moments in the song where he is able to produce three different effects.
I haven't heard anything about U2 breaking up. Thier last release was in 2017. In 2021 The Edge mentioned in Rolling Stone that they were working on new music so I would expect more from them. But I understand they take forever to produce and record albums so who knows when the next release will happen. One of my favorite examples of The Edge's guitar work is the song Ultraviolet from the Achtung Baby album. There are no massive solos in the song, just a driving rhythm guitar with lead overlays. My favorite way to describe his playing is the term majestic. He's one of my all-time favorite guitarists.
great post, thank you! but during you asked whats the one song or riff that defines the edge's playing...his name is the edge. there is no definition, just a search for what is beyond. and i defy anyone to think they know what larry and adam have going on as it relates to the music during any live show. thats the music of U2
wears a beenie because he is bald, and because of the shape of his head. Thats how he got his name actually. They are about to open up the Sphere in Vegas for a residency in September-December
U2 were becoming big during the big hair band days and Edge purposely didn’t want to be like that. He can shred but doesn’t want their music to be like that at all. It’s more of a full, melodic soundscape sound.
What the solo live from Rattle & Hum of a under rated classic called "Silver and Gold" its short but the song just makes you bend at the knee.. ruclips.net/video/jmuhR3gqxZM/видео.html
I first heard U2 on the radio, which rarely listened to back in the mid 70s to mid 80s. I bought my own cassettes and listened to my own favorite musicians and skipped radio, but I happened to turn on the radio to listen for news and as I was turning through the dial i heard the opening organ to Where the Streets Have No Name. When Edges chiming guitar emerged I was frozen with goosebumps. I'd never heard such beautiful sound. It was cinematic in power and so superior to the tired old guitar solos from Clapton and Page etc. This was so much more powerful. From that moment The Edge became my favorite guitarist. All the regular guitarists with blues based solos are boring and whiney compared to Edges grand sound.
Edge is so underrated as a guitarist. People give him grief over the delay pedal but he’s a genius and so picky over the sounds he gets too.
I think it’s not only that he uses a distinct sound but the compositions of his guitar work are just full of emotion and really support the song.
Thanks for reviewing Edge´s solos!! I think his best solo is Love is blindness (live versions 92-93). Amazing guitar work!! I also love the solo in Acrobat, the slide solo in Mysterious Ways... but I think he has as a guitarist 3 songs that defines him: Where the Streets have no name, Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday :) Personally I love the solo in Bullet the blue Sky (all versions in every era)
That Fly solo is still my favourite thing to play
The solo from "Bullet The Blue Sky" just by itself has undergone a number of transformations over the years. My favourite is from the Vertigo Tour (2005), he was doing a straight up Chicago blues solo. Simple, but effective.
U2 don’t stop, always evolving
Listen to "New Years Day" again - the full song.. the way Edge plays his riffs AND the piano and switches back and forth.. Pure Excellence!!
The song that shows another layer of his guitar is "Bad" - specially if you listen to the version from Live Aid.
Enjoy!
U2 are still together, same Band as at the year of their start in the 70is, one of the best live bands ever. Saw them every tour they did since 1989. The Edge is one of the uniquest guitarist, you can identivy him directly when you here him. Love his sound and he is a good singer too. Had the chance to meet them at their hotel im Berlin. Great artists and super nice with the fans.
Good examples for Good Edge parts in the songs:
Love is Blindness
Bullet the blue sky
Until the end of the World
Classics:
With or without you
Where the street has no name
I will follow
U2 will have over 20 concerts in Las Vegas, starting 29th of Sep, at the MSG Sphere. I’ll be there 👍
APPLE added the album to your phone!!!! it just happened to be a U2 album. Bono didn't hack into all our phones
My favorite solo from the Edge is the live-version only solo of One. Its so beautiful it´s made me cry during several live shows.
Silver and gold… ok Edge play the blues!
During the “red rocks” performance - he was doing double duty playing piano and guitar on the same songs.
The "end all be all" will vary by who you ask. Commercially, probably "Pride" is known best.
For me, it's down to two. The Live from Sydney version of "Love is Blindness" is unbelievable and for me, the one song and Edge solo I could listen to on a loop forever comes from "Acrobat." Track 11 off of Achtung Baby. It didn't get radio play and wasn't even played live until just recently (I don't think the live version is anywhere close to the album version).
I've said for years that Trent Reznor titled his NIN album "The Downward Spiral" but the Edge's solo on Acrobat defines that concept better than anything else.
Electric Co. From their very first album Boy.
A genius production from 19 year old kids.
Where street have no name, there is not a solo but the song is a The Edge manifest.
His best live solos on film are Bullet the Blue Sky Live from Boston 2001 and Love is Blindness from ZooTV Live from Sydney 1993. Edge is mainly a rhythm guitar player in my opinion. He's also minimalist - views notes as expensive.
Tasteful is a good way to describe what he does. Always in service of the song and not showy.
His soloing on All I Want is You is pretty great.
The fly bullet the blue sky love is blindness and New Year’s Day are great tones leads chords etc
They are currently in a residency at the Sohere in Las Vegas. My wife and I are going to see them in late January, and they keep adding shows. Obviously they are a huge hit there, and considering their use of video and graphics live, being in the sphere seems like an obvious choice for them. Can’t wait.
As for Edge’s solos, I’ve always liked the various iterations of Bullet the Blue Sky and The Fly live.
Bono once said the Edge can make a whole solo out of just one note. With him, less is more.
The Edge is amazing and really good at creating an atmospheric sound. He has great solo’s and the best one I think is in ‘Love is blindness’ which they made after his divorce: ruclips.net/video/33ZKmi586PA/видео.html He can also sing very nicely, like in this video where he plays and sings ‘Running to stand still’: ruclips.net/video/W-RsogWt6wg/видео.html
His Solo in EBTTRT is one of his best
Dancing Barefoot, The Crystal Ballroom have...sinuous guitar solos that weave in and around the melody.
Bad from Wide Awake In America has always amazed me with what The Edge could do in a live setting. There are moments in the song where he is able to produce three different effects.
His best solo is Love Is Blindness from ZooTV Sydney.
Love is Blindness with acoustic guitar in an empty auditorium.
I haven't heard anything about U2 breaking up. Thier last release was in 2017. In 2021 The Edge mentioned in Rolling Stone that they were working on new music so I would expect more from them. But I understand they take forever to produce and record albums so who knows when the next release will happen. One of my favorite examples of The Edge's guitar work is the song Ultraviolet from the Achtung Baby album. There are no massive solos in the song, just a driving rhythm guitar with lead overlays. My favorite way to describe his playing is the term majestic. He's one of my all-time favorite guitarists.
Best of Edge solo is in "Bullet The Blue Sky" Live
Love is Blindness Live, end of story.
His sound is the reason every delay pedal comes standard with the dotted 8th note delay setting....just saying
For me U2 was done after the Joshua tree album - aside from a few songs like One and Staring at the Sun
They are opening the Sphere in vegas 1.5 million tickets last year still the biggest band in the world
great post, thank you! but during you asked whats the one song or riff that defines the edge's playing...his name is the edge. there is no definition, just a search for what is beyond. and i defy anyone to think they know what larry and adam have going on as it relates to the music during any live show. thats the music of U2
🤣😂 good point. Never thought of his name in that way. Makes sense though.
1st 2 albums were great. Downhill after that. Good live band, I saw them in 1982.
Great video!
Non profile guitar.
Genio.
I Guess "Where the streets have no name" is the complete definition of Edge.
"Ok, Edge, Play the Blues!"
wears a beenie because he is bald, and because of the shape of his head. Thats how he got his name actually. They are about to open up the Sphere in Vegas for a residency in September-December
Their Song Walk On has a really Good Solo too although it's a short one.
U2 were becoming big during the big hair band days and Edge purposely didn’t want to be like that. He can shred but doesn’t want their music to be like that at all. It’s more of a full, melodic soundscape sound.
The wizard of the guitar the number 7 Dave Evans better know how The Edge
This is missing his solo in Street Mission which is probably he shreds the most.
Send me a link. I watched a bunch of videos and found no shredding 😬
Sold them over 170 million albums, must be doing something right.
What the solo live from Rattle & Hum of a under rated classic called "Silver and Gold" its short but the song just makes you bend at the knee.. ruclips.net/video/jmuhR3gqxZM/видео.html
hold me thrill me kiss me kill me is a good indication of his skills and love is blindness
I first heard U2 on the radio, which rarely listened to back in the mid 70s to mid 80s. I bought my own cassettes and listened to my own favorite musicians and skipped radio, but I happened to turn on the radio to listen for news and as I was turning through the dial i heard the opening organ to Where the Streets Have No Name. When Edges chiming guitar emerged I was frozen with goosebumps. I'd never heard such beautiful sound. It was cinematic in power and so superior to the tired old guitar solos from Clapton and Page etc. This was so much more powerful. From that moment The Edge became my favorite guitarist. All the regular guitarists with blues based solos are boring and whiney compared to Edges grand sound.
David Gilmour may be the exception to your rule. 😉🤞🏼
I would like to see you reacting to "love is blindness zoo tv version" and take your notes on that solo
Bono and Edge get so much hate. But it’s stupid though. Deep down U2 are great. Their 80s/90s era is brilliant and unmatched.
Vale a pena ouvir o solo de : Love is blindness ao vivo Zoo Tv em Sidney 1993 é fantástico!!!
love is blindness from zootv in sydney in 1993 is a great solo. slower song but a great solo
Until the end of the world is a cool solo
Why did you skip the last 5 minutes 🤔
Ha, so I've heard Edge referred to as 'workman like' that was from 'Hot Press' in the eighties. I disagreed then and I disagree now.
Edge has gone from avant garde to Rory Gallagher rebellion, ✌🎼🎵🎶
Edge's creat a unic style.
Going bald - wear a beanie
a guitarist who works for the songs, not his ego
He's lost a good portion of his hair on top and he would NOT look right in a baseball hat!
No point in making all that money and not giving yourself time to enjoy it😂
Edge isn’t a ‘Shredder’ but he can prove he can do it if he wants to. Personally I can’t stand shredders they’re dull show offs!
The more notes into a second, the more annoying it gets.
the song that defines U2 is Bad
Solos are boring. Edge is a sonic genius. By the way Country Music is rubbish.😏🇦🇺