FANS OF U2 are in for a treat today as the world's first radio station dedicated to the band is just hours away from launching.
'U2 X-Radio' has been in the works for several months, after the Irish megastars teamed up with US satellite and online radio giant SiriusXM, and the 'beautiful day' is finally here.
From 3.pm Eastern Time today, (8pm Irish time) fans will have access to the band's 40-year back catalogue of acclaimed albums and singles, which will broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The station also promises rare interviews from Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton, as well as recorded live performances and unreleased B-Sides.
Speaking back when the U2 X-Radio was first announced in December, frontman Bono said:
“Generally when I open my mouth people prefer if I’m singing, but on U2X RADIO, maybe they’ll forgive me the odd interruption!”
The station will have weekly segments in which Bono will interview fellow musicians and artists.Drummer Larry Mullen added: “It all sounds exhausting to me but if people really want to listen to us for 24 hours a day, this is the way to do it.”
Each member of the band will also introduce specially-created playlists of their own musical influences, particularly from other Irish musicians who helped inspire them to start their own band as teenagers back in 1976.
Famous fans of the band, including actor Matthew McConaughey, will also feature on the station talking about their favourite U2 songs, with Bono set to interview fellow musicians and artists in a special weekly show.
In a blow to Irish fans, the station will only be available in the US and Canada for now, but there are plans to make U2 X-Radio globally accessible in the near future.
It's a Beautiful Day to be a U2 fan as the eagerly awaited U2-only radio station is hours away from launching (Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images)Speaking ahead of the launch, Bono said: "Radio introduced me to music so you could say that radio introduced me to my life."
"It has kept me company all my life. Music dared me to dream outside the four walls of my childhood bedroom."
The first week of U2 X-Radio will see Bono interview comedian Chris Rock, The Edge speaking with fellow musicians and artists, a disco segment which will reimagine classic songs as electronic music, fans coming on air to talk about what the band means to them-- and a whole lot of U2 songs.
