A band insider confirmed to Hot Press that February 2009 is now the likely launch date for the band's long-awaited follow-up to How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. That new target was set, Hot Press understands, at meetings that have taken place over the past 36 hours in Nice, where the band have been based for the latter part of the summer.

"There's still some details to be decided before the date is confirmed one hundred percent, but that's the plan," the source confirmed.

Bono has already spoken about how U2 intend to make 2009 their year.

“This is our chance for us to defy gravity once again,” he enthuses. “We have what it takes, we have the songs, new rhythms and a guitar player who is not ready to re-enter earth's atmosphere until he's taken a slice of the moon!