When U2 seems in Las Vegas later this 12 months for a fall residency, it will likely be the primary time the band has carried out stay since December 2019. However that is not the one purpose the exhibits will likely be noteworthy.
It is also reportedly solely the second time within the band’s 40-plus-year profession that they will carry out exhibits with out considered one of their core 4 members, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. (The primary time was in 1993 when bassist Adam Clayton missed considered one of U2’s Zoo TV Tour exhibits in Sydney attributable to a debilitating hangover. His bass technician, Stuart Morgan, crammed in; the incident pushed Clayton into sobriety.) Mullen Jr. had beforehand introduced that he wouldn’t be becoming a member of the band on the street in 2023 whereas he handles well being points.
His substitute is Bram van den Berg, the 40-year-old drummer of the Dutch pop-rock band Krezip. The group, fronted by Jacqueline Govaert, was initially shaped in 1997 in Tilburg, Netherlands; van den Berg joined in 2004. The band is widespread within the Netherlands — they’ve performed their house nation’s Pinkpop competition six instances — in addition to in different components of Europe, Krezip has launched 5 albums, three of which van den Berg has contributed to.
Van den Berg, who was born within the small Dutch village of Wamel, joined his first band, One in a Million, in 2001, whereas finding out on the Fontys Rock Academy in Tilburg. Three years later he joined Krezip and performed his first live performance with them on New 12 months’s Day 2005. That very same 12 months, the band launched its third album, What Are You Ready For? “I’m a tune drummer,” he mentioned in a 2005 interview with Drummerszone. “Do not get me flawed, I really like the heavy technical drummers, however [I’d] reasonably give attention to songs: serving the tune, so to talk.”
Watch Bram van den Berg Carry out With Krezip at Pinkpop in 2009
Van den Berg, who has additionally drummed for VanVelzen, Drive Like Maria and Guild of Stags, has cited varied rock drummers as inspiration. “I simply need to create a full sound and attempt to create that by enjoying as I do,” van den Berg mentioned in 2005. “My biggest influences truly do the identical. Drummers like Roger Taylor, Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl. Man, their sound is simply superior. However on the identical time, they’re additionally drummers who give attention to the songs, not the heavy technical stuff. As an example, take ‘We Will Rock You’ [by] Queen. It is increase increase tak, increase increase tak. That rhythm is completely nothing however all the things on the identical time. The general public is aware of it, remembers it and claps [its] fingers on it. That is the way it needs to be.”
Though Krezip cut up up in 2009, they reunited in 2019 at Pinkpop, and in addition introduced final month that their sixth album, Any Day Now, will arrive on April 7.
In an Instagram publish, Krezip acknowledged they’re “extremely proud” of van den Berg, noting that U2 is considered one of his favourite bands. “We have recognized for a very long time how good he’s,” they mentioned.
Extra particulars on U2’s exhibits on the MSG Sphere on the Venetian in Las Vegas will likely be introduced later.
“Very enthusiastic about this chance to affix Bono, the Edge and Adam onstage in Las Vegas,” van den Berg wrote in an Instagram publish. “It is large sneakers to fill however Larry and the band have been so supportive, I am unable to wait!”
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U2 do not encourage weak reactions in individuals. There are passionate U2 followers, and passionate U2 haters, and little or no in between.
