U2 have reportedly been accused of stealing elements of a song for their single ‘The Fly’.
The Irish rock band – comprised of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. – released the single, which went to Number one in the UK chart, in 1991 as the lead single from their album ‘Achtung Baby’, and it has now been reported that British singer-songwriter Paul Rose has filed a lawsuit against the band from using elements of his track ‘Nae Slappin’.
According to Billboard magazine, Paul filed the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Monday (27.02.17).
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Paul – who believes U2 heard his track when they signed to Island Records in 1989, the same year he provided the label with a demo tape of the track in question – is reportedly seeking a whopping $5 million in damages and lawyer’s fees for the case, as well as a song-writing credit on the record.
Meanwhile, U2 – who are set to embark on a celebratory tour of their 1987 album ‘The Joshua Tree’ as it turns 30 this summer – are currently working on their new album ‘Songs of Experience’, which they hope will be released by the end of the year.
Bassist Adam Clayton said recently: "We all very much feel like it needs to be the end of this year. It’s not on any schedule anywhere, anything like that. We’re going to get back to that later this year and polish it off and finish it off a bit more. But we think we’re there with it."
Meanwhile, the ‘Beautiful Day’ hitmakers announced last month they were having trouble picking the tracks that will make the final cut, as they have too much material to work with.
Adam said:" We’ve an abundance of great ideas and it’s really about identifying what to finish and how to finish it."
Whilst The Edge added: "That’s the gift and the curse of this record.
"The ordeal is getting all four members to agree on the same dozen songs."
The Fly, U2 1991
Nae Slappin, Paul Rose
12 October 2026 - 1:16 PM
