Breaking Waves…Site Updates, Book Updates, Adam on TV

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2025-11-04)

When things are a bit quieter with U2 we work on bringing certain areas of the site up to date, and it is also our chance to research and do some deep diving into things like U2’s release catalog. This weekend past we’ve added and update a number of items related to U2’s work on the Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly tribute, Folkways: A Vision Shared. For that tribute U2 contributed a cover of Guthrie’s “Jesus Christ” and it served as a preview to what U2 were working up for Rattle and Hum released just a few weeks later.

The video release included footage of Bono and The Edge performing “This Land is Your Land” alongside John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen and Emmylou Harris among others. This was different from the version on the album. The “Interchords” promo we just added? Features an audio release of “This Land is Your Land” – the version from the film with Bono and The Edge.

Another new release to the discography is The Late Late Show Tribute to Sharon Shannon video, which features Adam Clayton performing with Shannon on Irish television. And a new U2 release in the discography? The U2 Album Snippets promotional release, which included those 30 second snippets of songs from All That You Can’t Leave Behind that were featured on the just launched U2.com as well. Hard to believe that was 25 years ago now.

We’ve got a few additional items that we will be adding this week, and more to come.

Our report of a new 40th anniversary remaster of Clannad’s Macalla featuring Bono on vocals of “In A Lifetime” brought forth a number of comments about the song, and how treasured it is by U2 fans. This week the XS Noize Podcast also is looking at the album, with Moya Brennan from Clannad showing up to speak with Mark Millar on the podcast. In the podcast Brennan speaks of the “lightning in a bottle” studio sessions to record “In A Lifetime”. The podcast is available here at XS Noize.

There’s been a number of new books about U2 of late. And another one arrives on November 6. This time it’s Live Aid: The Definitive 40 Year Story written by Paul Vallely and published by Simon and Schuster. The book includes a foreword by Bob Geldolf, and looks at the Live Aid event, and the forty years that have followed. Vallely has acted as an advisor to Geldof and traveled with him for over 40 years. This is being described as the “authoritative, official inside story of 40 years of Live Aid.”

Keeping with books…The U2: In Camera 1991-1997 photography book by Kevin Davies is shipping now in North America as well. It was released last month in Europe, but is coming out a bit later on this side of the Atlantic. Until the End of the World by Bradley Morgan is also out now celebrating U2 over their 50 years. And for those in the US, U2: Song by Song is currently on sale for 17% off on Amazon, if you are still looking for a copy. (Yes, that’s the one I wrote.) And yes, before we get asked, U2.com still appears to be shipping copies of the fan gift from last year, the second volume of lyrics. Had reports at the end of October of people recently receiving their copies. (Links lead to Amazon, but these are all available at other outlets, including your local bookseller!)

On November 28 Sky Arts (UK) will air a 3-part documentary titled Greatest Basslines. The show will feature Peter Hook, Nate Mendel and Melissa Auf der Maur as they take viewers through the world of the bass guitar. Each will host their own episode, looking at their songs, and the songs that inspired them. Adam Clayton will be a guest on the series. The show will also be available on the streaming service, NOW.

You can view past Breaking Waves digests here.

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