Podcast Summary:

New Books Network: Bradley Morgan, U2: Until the End of the World
Host: Latoya Johnson
Guest: Bradley Morgan
Date: October 19, 2025

Overview

In this episode of New Books Network, host Latoya Johnson sits down with Bradley Morgan to discuss his latest book, U2: Until the End of the World (Weldon Owen, 2025), a retrospective celebrating U2’s five decades of music, activism, and ongoing evolution. The conversation explores Morgan’s motivations, research process, balancing fandom and criticism, and the enduring significance of U2’s music and legacy. The episode dives deep into the creative, cultural, and personal history of one of rock’s most enduring bands.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Genesis of the Book

• Roots in Previous Work ([02:02]–[04:50])
  • Bradley initially pitched a book focusing on The Joshua Tree but faced rejections, prompting a broader approach.
  • The manuscript spent years in limbo until a publisher approached him about a U2 compendium.
  • The book took shape organically, enhanced by process flexibility and existing outlines.
  • Quote: “I whipped up a quick outline for what would become this book. And nobody was interested in that either. So it just. It just sat on my hard drive for the longest time.” — Bradley Morgan ([03:50])

Visual Storytelling and Photo Selection

• Behind the Book’s Gorgeous Images ([04:50]–[06:58])
  • The photo selection was largely thanks to publisher Claire Brown.
  • Morgan emphasized aligning images with narrative, resulting in a collaborative effort.
  • Quote: “...we all came together to try to tell the story from our, you know, from our different vantage points. And it really was a team effort in that regard.” — Bradley Morgan ([06:47])

Fandom vs. Criticism: Balancing Perspectives

• Approach as an Admirer and Analyst ([06:58]–[10:43])
  • Morgan set out to avoid an album-by-album recap in favor of a broader, narrative-driven critique.
  • The book is organized into five chapters, each covering a trio of albums to provide deeper, interconnected analysis.
  • Writing about U2 post-Zappa project became an exercise in rediscovering joy.
  • Quote: “Writing this book on U2 became a journey of rediscovering joy.” — Bradley Morgan ([09:15])
  • He aimed to balance attention between the band’s iconic moments and less-celebrated periods.

The Title’s Meaning and Longevity

• Why “Until the End of the World”? ([10:43]–[12:55])
  • The publisher requested song titles for book names; “Until the End of the World” resonated for its broad, timeless connotation.
  • The title encapsulates U2’s staying power and ongoing relevance.
  • Quote: “When I was thinking about... a title that would encompass a 50 year history of a band... Until the End of the World was the one that really kind of stood out for me.” — Bradley Morgan ([12:36])

U2’s Solidarity and Creative Tensions

• The Band’s Endurance ([12:55]–[17:23])
  • U2’s consistent lineup ties back to deep, early friendships and shared formative experiences.
  • They weathered creative rifts, especially around Achtung Baby, sometimes coming close to breaking up.
  • The writing and recording of “One” is highlighted as a moment that healed the band.
  • Quote: “It was when they were kind of jamming together that the basis of the song 'One' started to form. And it was that song that really kind of brought the band back together into the shared common language.” — Bradley Morgan ([16:37])

Music, Morality, and Personal Growth

• Impact of U2’s Humanism on the Author ([18:53]–[20:42])
  • Three band members (Bono, Larry, The Edge) are deeply religious, but their outlook is broadly humanistic.
  • Morgan, not religious himself, has internalized U2’s themes of grace, forgiveness, and commonality.
  • Quote: “I'm a really big believer in the concept of grace... if we just practice grace and forgiveness and not fall into this kind of eye for an eye mentality. And I take a lot of those lessons from them.” — Bradley Morgan ([19:55])

Chronicling the Later Years: Scale and Legacy

• The Challenge of Recent History ([20:42]–[22:44])
  • Documenting U2’s latter years proved challenging due to the lack of new releases and the band’s introspection.
  • Morgan focused on their transition from upstarts to arena-filling icons—and the artistic anxiety that comes with legacy.
  • Quote: “This was a band that was struggling. How do they maintain their ethos of being intimate... but do so at a much larger scale.” — Bradley Morgan ([21:42])

The Band’s Creative Process

• Studio Chaos and Improvisation ([22:44]–[25:57])
  • Producer Steve Lillywhite characterized U2’s process as “operating in chaos,” with much improvisation and many self-critical meetings. ([22:44])
  • Their process shifted over the decades, becoming more luxury of time- and resource-driven, especially to avoid past mistakes like the rushed release of Pop.
  • Quote: “They don't really come in with a lot of strong ideas. They come in, they start jamming together, pick out what works and then build a framework from there.” — Bradley Morgan ([24:00])

Surprises and New Perspectives

• Discoveries in Research ([25:57]–[27:41])
  • While Morgan had deep knowledge of The Joshua Tree era, juxtaposing it with the rest of U2’s timeline gave him renewed appreciation for their artistic shifts, especially from War to The Unforgettable Fire and ultimately to The Joshua Tree.
  • The band’s evolution tracks with broader musical and cultural changes.

The Human Behind the Icon

• Stage Names and Irish Context ([27:41]–[31:56])
  • Johnson admits not knowing Bono’s or the Edge’s real names, leading to a reflection on the limits of celebrity knowledge pre-social media.
  • Morgan explains the origins of their nicknames, rooted in friendship and inventiveness rather than brand calculation.
  • He also contextualizes their adolescence in economically challenged 1970s Ireland, underscoring why their journey is remarkable.
  • Quote: “...there’s a lot of paths that young white men can take, especially from, you know, poor socioeconomic backgrounds that can often lead to danger and violence … they found a different path.” — Bradley Morgan ([30:40])

What’s Next for Bradley Morgan?

• Future Projects ([31:56]–[34:29])
  • Morgan is cautious about future plans, citing challenges for writers in today’s publishing climate.
  • Interested in potentially joining the 33 1/3 series, possibly with a project about Bowie and “techno fascism.”
  • Quote: “I want to be open to whatever opportunities may come my way... as far as... beginnings of future ideas, you know, I'm thinking Bowie.” — Bradley Morgan ([33:20])

Memorable Quotes

• “Writing this book on U2 became a journey of rediscovering joy.” — Bradley Morgan ([09:15])
• “Until the End of the World... didn't exactly convey a particular period or a particular album. And when I was thinking about a title that would encompass a 50 year history of a band... that was the one that really kind of stood out for me.” — Bradley Morgan ([12:36])
• “It was that song [‘One’] that really kind of brought the band back together into the shared common language… and I think we all benefited from that because they made a brilliant album.” — Bradley Morgan ([16:37])
• “I really gravitate towards U2's music and messaging because there is a humanism... that I really appreciate. ...I take a lot of those lessons from them.” — Bradley Morgan ([19:55])
• “This was a band that was struggling. How do they maintain their ethos of being intimate... at a much larger scale.” — Bradley Morgan ([21:42])
• “They found a different path. They formed their own little kind of collective called Lipton Village... as opposed to, you know, joining the IRA or anything like that. But that's where their names came from.” — Bradley Morgan ([30:40])

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-----------|-----------------| | 01:35 | Introduction to Bradley Morgan and his U2 book | | 02:02–04:50 | Background on book’s inception and publishing journey | | 04:50–06:58 | The story behind the book’s photography selection | | 06:58–10:43 | Balancing critique and admiration as a fan-critic | | 10:43–12:55 | Choice of book title and its significance | | 12:55–17:23 | U2’s group dynamic, creative tensions, and enduring lineup | | 18:53–20:42 | U2’s spiritual themes and personal impact on Morgan | | 20:42–22:44 | Documenting U2’s recent decades and maintaining relevance | | 22:44–25:57 | U2’s studio process and creative improvisation | | 25:57–27:41 | New insights from research and revisiting U2’s evolution | | 27:41–31:56 | The persona versus the person—stage names and Irish roots | | 31:56–34:29 | Morgan’s thoughts on future projects and book writing |

Tone & Style

The conversation is accessible, thoughtful, and warm, mirroring the mutual respect between host and guest. Morgan’s approach is both scholarly and personal, always striving for nuance in evaluating his long-term favorite band.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode is a deep dive into the artistry, perseverance, and cultural context of U2, weaving together backstory, critical reflection, and personal revelation. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the band’s legacy, the discussion offers insights into why U2’s career matters—and what keeps them relevant, both musically and thematically, “until the end of the world.”