“We love you, Larry Mullen Jr.”
U2 brought the curtain down on their Las Vegas residency over the weekend, paying an emotional tribute to their drummer Larry Mullen Jr.
The 62-year-old has been absent from their entire 40-show run of their sellout residency in The Sphere, as he recovers from neck surgery.
Mullen Jr hasn’t played for the band since the 2019 leg of their Joshua Tree anniversary tour, and was replaced by stand-in Bram van den Berg for the Vegas shows.
U2 pay emotional tribute to Larry Mullen Jr while wrapping up Las Vegas shows
During their penultimate gig in the newly built, state-of-the-art Las Vegas auditorium, Mullen was seen in the audience as Bono paid tribute to his bandmate.
“Not since October 1978 have we played shows without Larry Mullen Jr., and it’s only right I start by introducing the man who saved the day when Larry Mullen could not make it,” Bono said, while introducing his bandmates.
“His name is already legend around here to people who can pronounce it. The flying while sitting-in Dutchman, Bram van den Berg on drums.”
Rumours circulated last week that Mullen was making his way to Vegas, with a potential surprise return on the cards for their final two shows.
However, Mullen was in attendance, but did not take the stage.
“What an incredible night at Sphere-So Grateful to Bono Edge and Adam and of course Bram for an amazing job-very emotional night for me personally”
— U2 (@U2) March 2, 2024
• Larry Mullen Jr.
📸: @richfury pic.twitter.com/49nOz4Mpbt
Bono continued by addressed Mullen in the stands: “The rumors that Larry will be playing with us tonight are not true sadly. But he is here with us!”
The crowd reacting with cheers and chants of “Larry!”, with Bono adding, “That is the man who pinned the note on the notice board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School all those years ago. And we are very grateful that he did and that he’s here with us tonight.
“We wish him a speedy, speedy, speedy recovery. We love you, Larry Mullen Jr.”
The band went on to play ‘Beautiful Day’, with Bono tweaking the lyrics to “Larry Mullen, you’re beautiful”.
In a post on Twitter after the show, Mullen said: “What an incredible night at the Sphere. So grateful to Bono, Edge and Adam and of course Bram for an amazing job. Very emotional night for me personally.”
Read more:
- A hair-raisingly tense thriller is among the movies on TV tonight
- Netflix has just added one of 2024’s biggest sci-fi movies
- Dune: Part 2 is the perfect cinematic experience
- Lock of Cillian Murphy’s hair on sale for a ridiculous amount
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
