Und wieder gibt es neue Gerüchte um eine evtl. Single-Veröffentlichung im September. Wie der Boston Herald in seiner Ausgabe vom 30.6.2004 berichtet, soll die neue U2 Single in der dritten Septemberwoche erscheinen. Das Album soll dann an Thanksgiving folgen. Wie immer gilt, bestätigt ist noch nichts!

By Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa Wednesday, June 30, 2004 It's been a long four years for U2 fans, who Still Haven't Found What They're Looking For - a new album. But today we can exclusively report that the end of the long wait is near. A source close to Boston's favorite musical import tells the Track a new, as-yet-untitled single will be released the third week of September with an album to follow at Thanksgiving. Bono says the CD is ``the best ever,'' our spy reports. And he is ``over the moon'' about the new single. Well, we should hope so! After all, the legendary Irish band hasn't released an album since 2000's ``All That You Can't Leave Behind'' and U2 fans' Desire for some new tunes has gone from a Rattle and Hum to an Unforgettable Fire! For more than two years, fan Web sites have obsessively tracked every rumor, clue, news report or innuendo trying to pinpoint when Bono & Co. would deliver a new disc. ``Is this the most anticipated U2 album ever?'' asks a fan on a popular U2 forum. ``Four years is a long wait, and given all the hints that Bono has dropped over the last two years . . . yeah, I'd say it's their most anticipated.'' The band has been playing it close to the leather vest about the progress of the record and hasn't exactly explained what the holdup has been. Rumor has it some of the band members were annoyed Bono's peripatetic left-wing politicking has taken him away from the studio. In a 2003 interview with a British tab, Bono joked about the reports and said the new album was ``a monster, a dragon'' that's ``filled with big tunes and it's driven by a guitar player (Edge) who is sick of the sight of me shaking hands with dodgy politicians. The anger is unbelievable.'' (No word on what The Edge thinks of Bono's plan to help headline the Ted Kennedy tribute during the Democratic National Convention!) But our spies say the real reason U2's record has been Stuck In A Moment wasn't politics as much as quality control. Reportedly, Bono wasn't happy with the music the band was making in the Dublin studios. Last February, U2 summoned Steve Lillywhite, who worked on ``The Joshua Tree,'' ``Achtung Baby'' and ``All That You Can't Leave Behind,'' to oversee the new record along with legendary production wizard Flood. And apparently, that gave the band the Elevation they needed to finish the disc. Rumor has it that U2 will tour in support of the new disc in 2005. At one point, there reportedly were plans for the band to set up shop in Boston for rehearsals and kick off the tour here - a schedule that would have them in the city for as long as five weeks. But no tour plans have yet been announced. So do stay tuned.