Larry Mullen U2 in 3d at Imax

[photon]

I just caught the U2 performace last night in 3d at the Imax theater. If you are a U2 fan (or even if you're not) I would highly recommend it. The 3d effect puts you right on stage with the band and it is fantastic.

That said maybe I'm getting harder to impress in my old age but I found Larry Mullens drumming to be just average. Apart from a few inventive grooves he employs in some of their tunes I left the theater thinking here is just another average drummer who won the lottery as far as having the good fortune of hooking up with phenomenal songwriters and performers in Bono and the Edge.

[PQleyR]

With some bands you feel like the drummer and bassist almost have to keep out of the way of everything else, so as not to be too challenging for the listener. Dire Straits are a good example of that, especially some of the later stuff.

[photon]

There may be some truth in what you say PQ...U2 is certainly a band that is greater than the sum of it's parts...I was impressed by Adam Claytons bass playing however but I think that has more to do with the fact that I can't actually play bass myself.....

In all fairness to Mullen I should say that when we left the theater my buddy asked my opinion on his drumming and I said "Very solid, nothing technically challenging but he did everything that the band needed" But then my buddy having heard me play said "You could play what he played"....I mean how do you respond to that? I am sure we have all heard that from friends over the years. I guess I could have said yes, that I could copy his playing but he was the one who came up with the original musical idea for his parts. As it was I just kind of laughed it off...

[rmandelbaum]

He plays exactly what the music calls for,

It is called being a musician.

[rendezvous_drummer]

Larry Mullen Jr. plays what is right for the music and he's exciting to watch. What more can you ask for in a drummer?

[photon]

Exciting is not a word I would use to describe his drumming actually...mediocre would be a better word...

[rendezvous_drummer]

Exciting is not a word I would use to describe his drumming actually...mediocre would be a better word...

Have you seen them live?

[appledrummer]

Larry Mullen Jr. Is in my easily my favorite drummer. I admire drummers who play for the music (except ringo) and who just completeley lock in with the bassist. I started listeing to u2 when I was 6 and havn't stoped since, and I would say that Larry Mullen has had the biggest inluence on my playing. I do of course still throw in fills, but when ever I play people comment on how I drive the music, play for the music, and keep it solid. (not trying to brag) This has come from listening to u2, and these complements are, in my mind, the best I can get. Thank you Larry Mullen.

[Stevesmithfan]

Larry is awesome. Something to consider is Larry's situation. It's easy to sit in a room alone and copy his licks. But being onstage with hot spotlights shining on you, with multiple cameras constantly close to you and over 50,000 people in the audience, I think playing his grooves won't be so easy in that situation. He also created those parts to the songs as well. Something to ponder for any who want to criticize Larry.

[rmandelbaum]

"People say, "Why don't you do interviews? What do you think about this? What do you think about that?" My job in the band is to play drums, to get up on stage and hold the band together. That's what I do. At the end of the day that's all that's important. Everything else is irrelevant."

—Larry Mullen Jr.