[@U2 note: there are more than a half-dozen active links in the online
version of this story. Those of you interested in following the links
should probably just read the story here:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=3444 ]


Did U2 Plan to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb?

Another set of domain registrations means more speculation about the
name of the next U2 album

@U2, July 12, 2004
by Matt McGee

Domain name registrations are once again offering a possible clue about
the name of U2's next studio album.

Following up on our recent report about three domains -- U2vertigo.com,
.net, and .org -- that were registered by James Cooke of Dublin web
firm Digital:CC, @U2 has discovered three additional domains that were
registered back in February by the same James Cooke:

howtodismantleanatomicbomb.com
howtodismantleanatomicbomb.net
howtodismantleanatomicbomb.org

Only the .org domain specifically lists Cooke's name; the others have
fake address information (Times Square, NY, 00000), but use the same
dvibe.com domain in the contact information and are sourced from
Joker.com, the same registration source on the U2vertigo domains.

This discovery fits in nicely with a recent report on U2log.com that
British artist Damian Hirst offered "Vertigo" and "How to Deconstruct
an Atomic Bomb" as possible song titles after hearing some of U2's new
material.

Adding further intrigue is word from an @U2 reader that Christian
singer Michael W. Smith told a concert crowd last month about a recent
conversation he had with Bono, during which Bono shared a possible
album title: How to Dismantle the Atomic Bomb. As Smith tells the
story, Bono asked if he (Smith) knew how to dismantle an atomic bomb.
Smith said "no", and Bono answered his own question: "Love. With love."
Bono and Smith are friends who recently appeared together for the
launch of The One Campaign in Philadelphia.

It may also be worth nothing that the three "atomic bomb" domains were
registered on February 6th of this year, just days before Billboard
reported that Steve Lillywhite had been asked to take over album
production duties. The three "U2vertigo" domains were registered June
22nd, as U2 was in the final two weeks of recording. It's easy to
speculate that "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" was one of the early
names being considered, and that "Vertigo" may have replaced it as the
recording sessions came to an end. But until the album name is
announced, that remains nothing more than speculation.

(Thx to U2log.com and B.M. for assistance.)

© @U2/McGee, 2004.