U2 Needs to Retire?

[king]

WOW! Kinda shocking to hear Larry Mullen Jr., drummer and founding member U2 announce that he wants the band to retire while they're still on top. Here is what he had to say:
   
There will be a time when it’s like, “It’s time to go.” I would like that to be on a high when you’re still achieving as opposed to the curve down. That’ll be sad for me. I think it’ll be a more dignified time to go.

    We might come back in five years’ time and may do something together for old times’ sake because we know we’ll want to. That’ll be a beautiful end to a long beautiful career. It can’t go on for ever. It just can’t.

I can see where he's coming from. Way too many artists/bands try to stay in the spotlight too long. Some entertainers just don't know when to hang it up. The problem I see with most famous bands is that they try to make NEW material far past their prime. They should just stop trying to adapt and stick to what made them famous to begin with. Instead,they try to evolve with the times to conform to a certain type of music they thing people want to hear these days - music they influenced to begin with. Like Metallica....they should have stopped making new music and toured off of the old albums years ago. They don't need to make any new music. U2 has won 22 Grammy's - I don't think they have anything else to prove by making new music...I still love the group, but as Larry said-it all has to end sometime, why not go out on top?

[drumfreak]

I've never been a big U2 fan (some people will shoot me for saying that..) but I did like some of their songs.  Yeah Bono is some huge symbol for something, but the band as a whole could go on making music for sometime to come, but as you said, it's not a bad idea to move on while they are at their prime. I'm sure they've (and still will) made enough ends to live on for quite awhile anyways!

Wow, life without the lifestyle... I wonder what that would be like for these guys? I'm sure it won't be suburbia lifestyle, and they'll still get treated like Rock Stars, so it can't be that bad staking your fame forever and taking the time to enjoy it.

[king]

 

How dare you say that! I'd like to shoot you ....right between the eyes. I'm BONO @#^$%!

[king]

Just kidding dude   I had to put that in there. Of all people I'd say the drummer and the bass player would have the easiest time adapting since they've kept a low profile throughout the years. I was reading that Larry has always preferred to stay out of the spotlight. They could get away with going out in public, depending on where they are. It would suck to have security following you around all the time.