The imminent Apple live event has already sent the rumour mill into overdrive, with expectations that the company will reveal its new iPhone and its first smartwatch, the iWatch, on the same day. Now reports are suggesting that U2 will also play a part in the September 9th event.
According to The New York Times, U2 will “play a significant part” in Apple’s event, which will be held at the Flint Centre for Performing Arts in Cupertino, California, the same venue where Steve Jobs unveiled the first Apple Macintosh computer in 1984.
The Times report that anonymous sources have said U2 will perform at the event as well as reveal some kind of “integration” with Apple’s products that will be connected to the next U2 album. The appearance would continue a long history the band have with the Apple.
Back in 2004, the company introduced a “Special Edition” iPod that came etched with signatures of the four U2 members. Apple has donated to Bono’s charity Project RED and Bono was reportedly close with Apple’s former chief, Steve Jobs.
The music connection runs even deeper, according to the Times, as record producer and music industry executive Jimmy Iovine, who worked with U2 for several years, recently joined the Apple family when his and Dr Dre’s Beats Electronics company was acquired by Apple for $3 billion.
It is unclear exactly what role U2 will play at the Apple event, and while the band and the company have not commented on the reports, people close to U2 have dismissed earlier claims that their next album would come installed on the iPhone 6.
A few weeks ago, Apple officially sent out its predictably cryptic invitation to the September 9 event, this year’s invitation displaying just the date and the words, “wish we could say more”.
