It's official. The ‘With or Without You’ band is back in the studio making new music, after a gap of eight years.

The four-piece had been on an extended break, as drummer Larry Mullen Jr. recovered from neck surgery.

Prompted by years of onstage damage to his “elbows, knees and neck”, it stopped him recording new material (2023's Atomic City aside), and saw U2 hiring Dutch musician Bram van den Berg for last year's Las Vegas residency.

“It was difficult being away because of injury,” says Mullen Jr., “so I'm thrilled to be back in a creative environment, even if I'm not 100% there and I've got some bits falling off.”

“It's just the most extraordinary thing,” he adds. “When I was away from the band, I missed it, but I didn't realise how much I missed it.”

The band were speaking backstage at the Ivor Novello Awards, where they've just become the first Irish Group to be given fellowship of the Ivors' songwriting academy.