To be fair, though, we've never cultivated any cult of personality. Guitar rock music is not in great shape at the moment - the last band to really do it for me in that regard was Oasis. I just don't think it's enough these days to have a jangly guitar sound, a few good tunes. Don't get me wrong - I'm really into pure melodic music, all that early Beatles stuff I love, but I wouldn't be such a huge fan of, say, Travis. A band like Coldplay are a bit more interesting, but still I think all the imagination and innovative energy out there is going into pop music.
Rock music needs a lot more creative ambition.
And on that bombshell, we let The Edge get on with his packing for that afternoon's promo trip to Paris.