“It’s all kicking off in Mexico City…”
Says Larry Mullen Jr. who tossed the coin at the @StreetChildUtd final match, “once a north side tosser always a north side tosser”
The thunder and rain crashed the generator for the film shoot, which meant a bewildered but welcoming neighbour let the U2ers crash their apartment at dinner time and out to their balcony.
A prayer from Fr. Richard Rohr, shared in a conversation with Bono for Easter Lily Propaganda.
Read more in Propaganda. Easter Lily EP available now. https://t.co/LHNoj0jqAt
A Spiritual Quest: Adam talks about the journey of recovery, the spiritual discipline of the twelve steps and travelling with Bono, The Edge and Larry to the songs on the Easter Lily EP.
Read more in Propaganda. Easter Lily EP available now. https://t.co/LHNoj0iSKV
‘Some band photos from my collection - not sure I’ll be getting a prize for my photojournalistic skills, but in fairness the subject matter was difficult to shoot in its natural environment! - Larry, The Curlews, March 2026.
Read more in Propaganda. Easter Lily EP available now. https://t.co/OB3mVe5BFW
'COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?)’ is a lullaby for parents of children caught up in war, featuring a soundscape by Brian Eno.
Coexist is the idea at the center of this lyric. That religion has become a reason to go to war is crazy to us. It’s easy to fall into despair - there's so much to be fearful of, not least because, as we succumb to war, we are not doing enough to combat truly existential threats like the climate emergency.
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe69vu
‘Easter Parade’ is a devotional song, a celebration of new life, rebirth and resurrection. Faith has to involve doubt. For us, shaped by the Christian tradition, it’s all wrapped up in Easter, in the mystery of the death and resurrection FULL STOP.. We’ve explored these ideas before - back in the day with 40 or with Yahweh. It’s a rich tradition which some of our favorite artists have mined - Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Patti Smith - but still, to talk about the spiritual nature of songs like this it’s easy to bump into cliches.
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe69vu
‘Resurrection Song’ lyrically, is a road trip song. There's a bit of a tongue in cheek aspect. Fundamentally it's defiance against cynicism, cynicism with religion that might be understandable.
As Carl Sagan said, "The Cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the Universe to know itself.” It's already kind of ridiculous that we exist. The challenge to any of us is, 'can we get over ourselves?'
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe69vu
‘In a Life’ is a song about friendship and while we accept how absurd it is to talk about faith and friendship in such nihilistic times, we are unrepentant... this is emotionally direct which for some will be uncool.
But that’s the point… to be confrontational and challenging to the coolness that creeps into relationships.
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe5BFW
‘Song for Hal’ is a COVID-19 lockdown lament, with The Edge on lead vocals, written for the band’s friend, the music-maker, Hal Willner, who would have turned 70 on Easter Monday and passed away almost 6 years ago to the day.
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe5BFW
You wait twenty five years for a new edition of Propaganda and then two come along at once. You wait eight years for a new collection of U2 songs…and then two come along at once.
The Easter Lily EP is accompanied by another special digital e-zine edition of Propaganda. Titled ‘U2 - Propaganda - Easter Lily’, this magazine features contributions from the four band members including sleeve notes from The Edge; Adam Clayton on art and the journey of recovery; a conversation between Bono and Franciscan friar Richard Rohr; and in-the-studio photographs shot by Larry Mullen Jr.
Forty years ago, in February 1986, the first issue of Propaganda dropped through the letterboxes of U2 fans around the world. Aspiring to match other fan magazines at that time, Propaganda was born out of the punk-era D.I.Y. zine culture that embraced attitude, ideas and dialogue.
Easter Lily EP available now. Read Propaganda. https://t.co/OB3mVe5BFW
On this Good Friday, here’s Easter Lily EP. A much more reflective set of songs emerging from a more personal, private place that some may retreat to in such times – exploring themes of friendship, loss, hope, and ultimately, renewal. Easter Lily EP arrives six weeks after Days of Ash EP, which marked the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday Easter Lily EP available now. https://t.co/OB3mVe69vu
A note to U2’s audience from Bono:
"We are in the studio, still working towards a noisy, messy, 'unreasonably colour xerox’ album to play LIVE… which is where U2 lives. We still look to vivid rock n roll as an act of resistance against all this awfulness on our small screens. These are for sure ‘wilderness years’ for so many of us looking at the mayhem out there in the world. It’s a time that has our band digging deeper into our lives to find a wellspring of songs to try to meet the moment…
With Easter Lily we ended up asking very personal questions like: Are our own relationships up to these challenging times? How hard do you fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the mangling of meaning that those algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and still ripping us apart…? Or are there answers to find in its crevices? Are there ceremonies, rituals, dances that we might be missing in our lives? From the rite of Spring to Easter and its promise of rebirth and renewal… Patti Smith’s album Easter gave me so much hope when it was released in 1978. I wasn’t yet 18. The title is a nod to her.
We will attempt hoopla and fanfare at a later date to remind the rest of the world we exist but in the meantime… this is between you and us."
Easter Lily EP available now. https://t.co/OB3mVe69vu