U2's Bono and the Edge recently performed part of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" in tribute to their long-devoted road crew.
The pair did so somewhat reluctantly, since the song is one of their crew's favorites to perform during line check.
"There's one annoying aspect of an Irish crew that has to be said," Bono explained at the beginning of the clip that was posted via the band's official Instagram. "Wherever you go in the world, whatever venue you're playing — whether it's the Olympia or 3 Arena or Madison Square Garden — you walk into the venue and it's a big moment, and you'll hear a song that we said, 'We'll never, ever play this.' And that's right, 'Stairway to Heaven.' These professionals believe they play this better than the band. And you know, it might be true."
Bono hinted that part of the U2 crew's fascination with "Stairway" might be that it exasperates the band, but we may never know for sure.
U2 has occasionally referenced "Stairway" during live shows, but the recent clip featuring a truncated version may be the longest they've explored the No. 1 classic rock song of all-time.
In addition to launching a satellite radio channel, U2 is also angling on completing the follow up to 2018's Songs of Experience.
Bassist Adam Clayton told Rolling Stone earlier this month that the band made quick work of the initial album sessions, but there's more to be done.
"It's very, very fresh," he said. "We've cut everything quite quickly. We're coming to things in a shorthand way. The feedback we get from that is pretty good. We want to be quick, down and dirty with the next one."
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