Larry Mullen Jr. will NOT tour with U2 in 2023: Report.

U2 has consisted of the same four guys since March 1978. In all that time, there has only been one time when someone couldn’t make a show. Adam Clayton was deep in the throws of alcoholism and couldn’t play a show in Australia on the Zoo TV tour and had to be replaced by his bass tech that night.

But that was a one-time thing. Until now.

A report says that Larry Mullen Jr will not tour with U2 in 2023 because of health issues. He says he injured his “elbows, knees [and] neck” and if U2 does tour in 2023, it’ll be without him because he requires surgery and physical rehabilitation.  I quote from The Washington Post:

“My body is not what it used to be physically. Like next year, I won’t be performing live next year. I don’t know what the band’s plan is. There’s talk of all kinds of things.

“I have lots of bits falling off, elbows, knees, necks, and so during Covid, when we weren’t playing, I got a chance to have a look at some of these things. So there’s some damage along the way.

“So I’d like to take some time, which I will do to get myself healed. And I really enjoy playing and I enjoy the process of playing and being in the company of creative people. I enjoy that. I don’t care if that’s big or small. It’s a bit like the sprout looking for water.”

Larry says he’s not leaving the band or retiring. He just has to have an overhaul so he doesn’t end up like Phil Collins.

What does this mean for U2’s rumoured residency at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas next September? No idea. Will U2 play without him? I can’t imagine it, but who knows? And if they do go ahead, who will fill in? Your guess is as good as mind.

Whatever the case, U2 without all four guys in unimaginable to most fans.