Despite attempts to squash rumors that U2 is heavily involved in Apple’s launch of the iPhone 6 and iWatch, a report from The New York Times is now debunking the band’s publicist’s debunking of rumors that Bono and the Edge will take the stage at the Flint Center.
Get ready to rock, Cupertino, because Ben Sisario says U2 will be involved in Apple’s event tomorrow in a big way:
U2 will play a significant part in Apple’s event, which will be held at a performing arts center in Cupertino, Calif., the company’s home base, according to three people briefed on its plans. In addition to performing, the band will reveal an integration with Apple’s products that is connected to its next album, which is expected to come out by the end of the year, according to these people, who spoke anonymously because the band’s appearance — and its deal with Apple — is supposed to be a surprise.
Rumors of the iPhone-U2 connection bubbled up last week after the band was spotted shooting a new music video that shut down an entire bridge. Sean Lennon even let it slip that the band was doing something with Apple.
A spokeswoman for U2 denied rumors that the band was playing at the “iPhone launch,” and said the band’s new album wouldn’t be released on the iPhone, but we got a sense that she wasn’t really denying involvement. Apple and U2 haven’t commented on the Times’ report.
U2 playing at the event isn’t a big surprise as Apple usually brings on guest performers and has long ties with the Irish band. A potential U2 album integration with Apple products is the most interesting and perplexing detail in this latest report. Is Apple creating a new version of the iTunes format? Or perhaps music will integrate closely into the Health and HomeKit products Apple is releasing?
All the details will be revealed in the less than 24 hours when Tim Cook takes the stage at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino. Along with a U2 performance, the event is expected to feature the iPhone 6 and iWatch. Cult of Mac will be reporting live from the event with hands-on coverage from ground zero, so make sure to bookmark our liveblog and get ready for the tsunami of new products.
Source: NYT
