Daniel Lanois on 'The Making Of' U2's Achtung Baby

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

I believe Achtung Baby is one of the greatest rock albums ever. Lanois, Eno and Flood plus the band, the locations, the state of the world...just an amazing album with huge ripples and aftershocks.

[@alexmorrison9156]

And Steve Lilywhite

[@kevincosgrove948]

garbeaj Agree. I love this album. 2nd only to Joshua Tree

[@melorafoy7109]

@@alexmorrison9156 Steve was once married Kristy MacColl. He was involved in the making of Fairytale of New York. That was why Kristy ended up doing the female vocal.

[@spartan876]

Insane group of producers. Flood is awesome. Listen to “Doppleganger” by Curve

[@seanm7553]

Joshua Tree was the band's pinnacle by far.

[@riffratt]

Absolute musical guru, Danny L exudes musicality with a shamanic authority

[@jcmgt]

'Musical Recklessness' what a fabulous expression and what a decent man.

[@eponymousmoonbeam]

The interviewer seems pretty good to me. He's OK. I've seen far, far worse.

[@ObamaFromKenya]

Malte Meiermann Dude, he's not smoking weed, he looks intense, not stoned

[@IanMcCausland]

Rich is way better an interview that Pharrell! :-)

[@RideMyBMW]

Note to interviewer : Dont quit the day job bud. Oh, and burn yer fu$#in q cards.

[@2Oysters1]

RideMyTruck Agreed, terrible interviewer

[@kellethomas7808]

Hands down one of the greatest albums of all time

[@MrThedonhead]

Who says ? Rolling stone?

[@matthewpepler9673]

100%

[@hasinurrahman4119]

@@MrThedonhead All the genuine music lovers...

[@nckey42]

It is. But it’s definitely not hands down..

[@Cyb3riano]

@@MrThedonhead say we, the fans

[@cluman1]

Best U2 album IMO. My buddy was playing the album in his car back in 1991. I wasn't a huge U2 fan at the time. So Cruel came on and I asked him to play it again. U2 became one of my favorite bands after that day.

[@leopardtrek1150]

What do you think about the cover at So Cruel, by Depeche Mode ?

[@edgemugadx6327]

Achtung Baby is way beyond that time. SO CRUEL was so different the soft emotion building slowly which there is a goosebump when between string arrangement and guitar sounds like in a mono getly ascending you like in a clouds telling the songs lyrics.

[@rounick28]

The worst track on AB

[@FerSpada]

I like it ... Also the killers cover and jack white cover....Garbage cover, believe it or not I predicted like 15tn years ago that garbage coul do that song and when I hear it was like woow this wass just like I imagine.

[@StratsRUs]

It's got a cool beat but the song itself is a bit 70 percent U2

[@paliki]

What a masterpiece. One of the best album in rock history definitively

[@MJLU280]

The last 3 songs on this album are incredible and rarely talked about

[@adamcoe]

It's an absolute desert island Side B for sure

[@elizabethmcleod246]

I love ‘Trying to Throw your Arms Around the World’. I’m 66, I had the album and I listen to this song every day.

[@ovathere93]

Love is blindness, acrobat , ultra Violet.

[@evilrslade]

Achtung Baby is a game changer. Awesome. You're so Cruel is incredible.

[@evilrslade]

The best song U2 ever recorded. Achtung and it's following tour was just a phenomenon....

[@lauriemayhew2279]

It was Edge's guitar intro on Mysterious Ways that made me snap to attention and become a lifelong U2 fan. I played AB non-stop on audio cassette after it came out and I soon acquired everything released up to that point. I hadn't read or seen anything about them in magazines or TV (no cable back then) and I hadn't been listening to the radio. I only had the miniscule images on the cassette inserts to know what they even looked like. It was entirely their music that spoke to me at the time. I didn't know about the cult of personality in full swing by then, their sex appeal nor social causes. The first time I laid eyes on them was live at ZooTV in Tempe AZ, and WOW was that a feast for the senses! I like to say that I came to U2 through Mysterious Ways. 😍

[@ovathere93]

Exactly 💯. Buddy lent me the cassette in HS. I'd play it on Auto reverse walking to school. Quickly starting hitting The Wiz for all their old stuff. Didn't realize AB split the fan base the way it did. It was awesome

[@farnaddarnell3926]

"So Cruel" is really the best song on such an important album. AB is their best album, coming out in the grunge era and upending the expected pop flare, a la The Joshua Tree. "The Fly" is the perfect intro hook for the rest of the album. Thank you Mr. Lanois and U2

[@paulvigliotti444]

Finally someone gives this song the love it deserves

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

@@paulvigliotti444 i keep swearing i'm gonna do a cover of this entire album in one go, but the one song I bothered to look up and record was "So Cruel." Some of us remember to give it love. :)

[@candybanks8717]

Never have understood the vitriol against Rattle and Hum. I adore that album. It was just time to dislike then for something I guess. What could be more useless than a critic?

[@danielkeville8869]

Yeah I feel the same, although, I read somewhere that some people felt they came across a bit too eager to become submerged in American music. It almost felt like they were saying "look at us, we're evolving, we listen to American music now" I love u2 more than any artist but I have to say in hindsight I can kinda see where that opinion is coming from. Still wasnt that bad though in my opinion.

[@gugy68]

Yep, I love the album and movie.

[@Mr_Rob_otto]

I get the feeling Bono wanting to make a European rock n’ roll record was a direct reaction or response to the Rattle and Hum criticism. U2 turning their back on an ungrateful American press and heading in the other direction. If that’s the case, then I’m grateful for that criticism.

[@mariod2890]

Agreed. Also I've never understood the "hatred" for POP. I think that's U2's last classic album... Last iconic U2 sound IMO.

[@paulibaby2825]

Rattle and Hum was self indulgent but great. Not many albums have Bob Dylan performing backing vocals on a song.

[@davelister1]

Achtung is one of the best ever made !

[@davelister1]

Virginia Pie ! THX

[@burpo]

I disagree will some of the sentiments below. This interviewer is respectful, doesn't step all over/interrupt his guest like many interviewers do. He seems well prepared. He is a journalist, not a showman. He is letting Lanois come out and shine.

[@MauFerrusca]

Abstolutely. Love this kind of interviewers who ask and give their guest space and time to respond. Great job.

[@bojanarezina2352]

He did a very good job

[@jude999]

Spot-on. It's almost impossible to find any interview nowadays that's not about the person doing the interview

[@niallcollins1917]

This might be the least prepared reviewer I’ve ever seen. He’s literally reading off a script...

[@carlosclaptrix]

Strange that he reads so much of his notes. Maybe he was very nervous, he doesn't seem relaxed, whereas Daniel is a 100% relaxed.

[@matthewpepler9673]

My all time fave album...one heavy mother in it's truth reflective explosion of consciousness!

[@richardmcmillan4307]

Also my favourite album, and hard to believe it’s almost 30 years since it’s release. Closing 3 songs amazing, and brilliant in their own way.

[@christopherecatalano]

I agree. The best triple track closer in rock history. The darkest...and best...of their best. I was a fan from the beginning, but this defied all expectation. Nastier, weirder, and sadder than anything they made before it.

[@roscoemuttley]

I love to play Auchtung Baby later in the evening, after a few drinks, maybe pass a joint around. Such a cool sound to it.

[@Dev-ek6qm]

You got an invite

[@aportman58]

So much wisdom coming from Daniel Lanois! It wouldn't hurt for many of the new younger know it all producers to listen too and digest Daniel's wisdom!!!

[@timmcgrath3995]

Flesh and Machine. That makes complete sense. Zoo Station is the epitome of this.

[@cbcmusic]

It's a high concept record that maybe came a little too soon...

[@Secretarian]

That's the song that I thought of immediately when Lanois said "Flesh and Machine". Zoo Station has that industrial feel and sound.

[@rvanheukelum]

This is a great and very respectful interview. Also respect to Daniel Lanois, who not only is a great producer but also a great human being. The way he tells (his) stories is a breeze of fresh air. Thanks for posting this.

[@joesutherland2017]

One of the most painful corners this band ever turned, but thank God they survived it. Achtung is one of my desert island top 5's.

[@YouGenie]

Such an endearing soul Daniel Lanois. Wonderful to have his talents recognized by Canada's Library of Greats.

[@michaelhammock1270]

Achtung Baby was the right record at the right time. The German reunification and an interesting period in a great band's career. I love reading about Berlin and Hansa Studios.

[@johnlinnell]

Everyone likes to bash the interviewer. Just ignore him. Focus on the questions an the answers.

[@MrKarmapolice97]

I loved the 1-2 punch of Joshua Tree and Autung Baby. U2 were at their highest.

[@thefrainator]

Anthony Strunk 4 years apart... You not mean Achtung Baby and zooropa

[@michaelgriffiths8068]

thefrainator - indeed, a lot of people dismiss (or even forget) shout Rattle & Hum since it wasn’t a “proper” studio album. Yet it has 9 amazing studio tracks (10 if you include the studio version of Silver & Gold). If you exclude the live tracks, you have another classic studio U2 album.

[@Cornerboy73]

Still my favorite u2 album of all time.

[@greengrass811]

Even though its a daniel lanois album.

[@bobboberson2024]

AC/DC never evolved. They did alright. But Lanois is another cat altogether.

[@tonbomohm1]

The album that made U2 cool, not only was it a masterpiece musically, the whole visual presentation of the band from the album covers to the music videos were ahead of its time, credit to Anton Corbijn. The production team literally reinvented U2.

[@MrLovell1971]

Daniel L a genius just ask Emmy Lou Harris 5 years later on Wrecking Ball

[@baerhomburg6447]

this guys intelligence; eloquently spoken, inspired me to visit Montreal...and so I did...in march 2019. go habs! +

[@cbcmusic]

Wow that's amazing.

[@bruceh92]

Daniel is a genius. Great interview.

[@rodtaylor5476]

Achtung Baby was a complete game changer for U2, which produced one of their best albums. A complete reinvention that paid off in spades.

[@gp3256]

Daniel Lanois so heartfelt and remembers all the stories. This man has the gift of listening and loving people.

[@TylerDurden-oy2hm]

i love Daniels humility...hes friendly and happy to answer questions honestly..much respect to him

[@seanfanningdesigns]

The latter part of this interview about creativity and always wondering what’s around the bend to discover - good stuff.

[@TheKingofRockMusic]

that is a GREAT, straight-from-the-hip interview, and, it is no wonder where and why U2is, for lack of a better word, 'with' Daniel Lanois....it is intense.....good stuff.

[@weezaputz]

Achtung Baby is in my Top 3 U2 albums ever, with SO CRUEL being one of the many hidden gems.

[@hoderharris]

Great interviewer, he allows his guest to talk and share his narrative. Better than most interviewers in the US who want to become as important as the person they are interviewing.

[@cbcmusic]

Thank you for this comment! That's CBC Music Drive host Rich Terfry!

[@LydiaDeeets]

Great interview and questions. Cool insight into the making of AB

[@Pulse2AM]

He's been involved in so many great projects, says a lot about him.

[@sonicfoxxmusic4281]

Superb interviewer...GOOD JOB.

[@slockyboy]

Lanois & Eno = Geniuses!!!

[@TheQueenOfTheSwamp]

Yep, pure genius - And how they acquired the Germaine Wells mansion in the historical French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, to have a corporate studio image in the largest music market in the world, The United States of America! Good Job while working on yr careers as musicians - and producers. Never heard any press about the conceptual engineer/visual artist-designer as the Curator and crew behind refurbishing that historical mansion developed as a studioworks in New Orleans. Maybe Lanois promoted the artists in Canada. Brilliant.

[@InTheOuter]

It is a masterpiece. Suddenly I had friends who loathed U2 play this cd and even attend their concert. Conversly, I had friends who previously liked them, dump them and didn't get it. It was a massive shift in what U2 was putting out but my god did it really come together. By far the best and most polished CD of their catalogue. I still remember playing the CD the first time in my room and my reaction. Unfortunately they never reached anywhere near those heights again, but that's ok, it's impossible to improve on perfection.

[@lehmanndj]

The odd child of Lanois's work is Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. Not saying odd in a bad way, I mean, it's a brilliant pop song. It's just so unlike the rest of Lanois's work that makes it very surprising.

[@collinjamesguitar]

One of the greatest commercial songs ever! Never gets old.

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Even though I am late seeing this..It's Super great to see. During part of the tour for this album. I was in an Opening band along with them. I Got to see and hear this music it was super. I Love the rock Mixed with the Tech.

[@updown5238]

Great interview, thanks for that. Good questions well answered with insights most valuable!

[@j9186]

The greatest album of Alltime ACTING BABY. And U2 HAD A LOT OF CLASSIC ALBUMS LAKE Joshua Tree Unfortorgetable Fire War ATYCLB Etc etc etc

[@Hicluster]

Get the job done, Dan! He is a trusty soul with that stick-to-the-idea, once found, and it will work out fine, mind!

[@thirdlantern]

Get Lanois and Flood to work on the next Depeche Mode album. Include Alan Wilder and it will be a masterpiece.

[@masshallucinations490]

Lanois is a legend. He made me a cocktail once and it was legendary.

[@trr9230]

Achtung Baby is fantastic, one of the all-time greats. In light of U2's recent lacklustre offerings, one can't help wondering if Lanois and Eno were the true brains behind it all.

[@ramonarellano4988]

I have been wishing that the lads get together with Eno and Lanois again, for one last shot .

[@washerdryer3466]

It's so cool to belittle U2. You're so cool. Nothing lacklustre about you, dude.

[@trr9230]

@@washerdryer3466 hey, I'm usually in your position roasting the haters. I love U2, always have, always will. Most of the haters fail to acknowledge that U2 once upon a time made no mistakes - the best band in the world. It's usually just a load of meaningsless hate based on Bono's politics, their infamous iPhone album AND quite a few sub-par albums the last 15-20 years. I like to think my view is a little bit more nuanced; I simply happen to dislike the way they took after 2000. Everything before it was sublime. I await, perhaps in vain, a return to form for my favorite band.

[@ramonarellano4988]

@@trr9230 , as Bono once said long ago, "maybe U2 will be the band that is always coming, but will never arrive", but we, those who know they could do the ultimate album, keep waiting every 4 years...

[@collinjamesguitar]

I don’t think that is the case. BUT, I think that when you get certain people together, there’s an alchemy. (Think the cast of The Sopranos) and when those people are together, it just WORKS.

[@kevinsmith5318]

Rich! Put out another album!

[@mccloysong]

4:19 "we went back to Dublin, a little bit with tail between our legs 'cause we didn't get quite as much as we had hoped". uhhh, One, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, and Zoo Station… not too shabby for one album.

[@seanm7553]

He needs to let Larry be larry.

[@redcoat4ever]

Dan Lanois is from Hamilton Ontario Canada

[@RobDucharme]

The boys need to listen to some of the past 18 years of the Gary Numan catalogue for their next inspiration. Not copy him, but play off of that vibe. It worked when they listened to bands like KMFDM around the early 90's!

[@fitfiddlerz]

only CBC would put a music legend on an uncomfortable stool for an interview

[@stephenburke1123]

This guy is a great interviewer.

[@majoneski]

One of my favorite albums of all time and a true masterpiece. I agree with many below that the interviewer is clueless and reads everything word for word.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

"Flesh and Machine" is exactly the right description--and i feel like this album is where that 'machine' really takes its rightfully prominent position... It pulled us, as listeners in the early 90s, into a realm with an entirely new palette/soundscape/space. So much subsequent art was rooted in this aural texture/space. But even unplugged (i sometimes do a few of these tracks on piano), the lilt of both the lyrics and melodies make them as spectacular without the electricity as they are with it. One day, I'mma do a marathon sing/play-a-thon to this entire album, start-to-finish in one go. But not today. :) Today, I'mma listen to Achtung Baby on cassette in my 25-yr-old minivan because "After all this time? Always."

[@HarryDeano]

Like many albums they seem to be more magical etc years later, ie: masterpiece.

[@billtthatsme]

Lanois and Eno are U2. Every good album came from them.

[@paultiplea]

War?

[@voxpoesis]

Love you Daniel lanois!

[@krisscanlon4051]

This lp changed a landscape. U2 needed to revamp...essentially this lp is titled Divorce Reinvention...my title...when a minus is an actual plus.

[@arduoushoaxley]

What a terrible interview - the host wastes zero time going after controversy instead of music. Daniel was obviously annoyed, what an idiot.

[@ksturner8453]

RDR2 brought me here and to think U2 is one of my top 3 if not #1 of all time!! MIND BLOWN!!! And that's the way it is....

I enjoyed this interview.

[@alexandregenereux5024]

Achtung baby had no line on the horizon because space is the limit in this Sonic creative process! when you arrive on the mountain top whit Joshua tree: it's a logical step!

[@Lars-k1p]

If I were to go see u2 I would want to see all four original members. Playing. A residency I do not have a problem with. I have not seen the advertisement however, confused by this is wrong? Also the album downloaded to phones etc was Bono’s idea he admits this in interviews when asked. Everybody is entitled to their own views & opinions for sure, but it kinda feels in some of the comments that u2 are being lined up for the cancel culture? Each to their own I guess.

[@hermeslord]

what a brilliant professional.. get into the studio, shut out the noise and work with your head down and come out with one of the greatest records of all time

[@RONNYMORRISMUSIC]

The interviewer seems almost anxious. Relax it’s just a conversation about music.

[@The_McD]

Arguably U2’s best album. They need to go back to why they formed as band in the 1st place. The music has become trite and commercial. It lacks the surprise and emotional connection. Obviously their lives have changed but they need start taking chances again and stop trying to make hits.

[@Daneiladams555]

I prefer everything they did before this album But it was still good

[@mojorizen7]

Listening to Lanois talk about music and the creation of music always sucks me in.

[@markyexley9440]

This is one of the most clunky interviews I have ever seen. Poor Daniel being exposed to this!

[@Pstaines439]

What a shame the interviewer reads the intro looking at the notes. Looks like he is unprepared. And there are discussions of songs where the song isn't names. 🤦‍♂️

[@mmaxsters]

one of the greatest album

[@MrRuss64]

i regret nothing but everything is regrettable and mine is the latter and tommorrow is great if i never see it today

[@christopherpederson1021]

Thank god Waylon Jennings is alive and well and channeled through daniel lanois

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Lanois is a legendary talent on so many levels.

[@davidryan7386]

engine room/idea room : : total gold folks. diamond even.

[@MitchGettman]

I didn't know Jeff Tweedy worked with U2 :-)

[@fundamentalification]

A Great producers and Great Rock`n Roll Band. That change something.

[@thefly2045]

Every Thing You Know Is Wrong.

[@mellowman9055]

I was 12 years old when I saw "the fly" on TV 💣💥💥💥💣The sound of the song, the beat, the edge's guitar (one of the best solo guitar ever), Bono's charisma, lyrics and voice, their look etc..everything was amazing, fresh. ACHTUNG BABY is a masterpiece! Thank you Daniel Lanois👏👏👏

[@TheTammybrad]

❤DANIEL LANOIS FOREVER ❤🥰💋💋💋

[@chrisjones-rd8it]

there is no evolution, just adaptation

[@medibadidou7248]

Respect to you Mr Daniel Lavoie

[@medibadidou7248]

Daniel Lanois

[@eddieharcourt6049]

Great interview.

[@fdschuler7863]

Terrible interview.

[@stephengent9974]

Funny that Bono talks about this as being a very difficult experience. BTW IMO Rattle and Hum is an amazing album

[@distractionchannel4954]

@Montréal 🇨🇦...SONiC PRiViLEGE ❤️

[@thebostonbrawler1]

WOW! I didn't know U2 had such cool help in studio. The Edge was probably hapless musically because of his divorce so this "Danny" dude seems to have been a priceless addition to the sessions.

[@fredtietjen3247]

Great Interview. Daniel Lanois is very gentle, giving and nurturing meeting the the interviewers awe and awkwardness. How not to meet this artist? In Awe. For 2023 Daniel Lanois and Rick Rubin may be the quintessential bookends for Contemporary music production. I'd like to listen to a conversation with these two magnificent Producers.

[@ParadNorthProd]

The interviewer mentioned Mysterious Ways, but Lanois is talking about One.

[@noautotunejustpuretalent]

“Ack” tung 🤦‍♂️

[@spookerz35]

U2 fan since 83 and I feel AB is their best album, and its my personal favorite. "One" is the best song on it, perhaps "Ultraviolet" is #2. But the 5 best songs are so freaking close together, they could be interchangeable based on your personal taste. How many bands can release such an album, actually 2 (Joshua Tree) in a 4 year span that are incredible. Zooropa was no slouch either, but Pop is a dud.

[@paulcawley8413]

What is this interviewer doing....reading off a sheet whilst the subject is sat a metre away....whilst on camera. Nonsense.