The Last Mixed Tape

Few songs in modern rock have inspired as much discussion as U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday.

For more than forty years, Bono has introduced the song with the words: “This is not a rebel song.” Yet that statement has only fuelled debate about one of the most important songs ever written about The Troubles.

In this new documentary essay, I explore the history behind Sunday Bloody Sunday, beginning with the events of Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972, through the writing and recording of U2’s War album, the song’s first performance in Belfast, and the legendary Red Rocks concert that helped define the band’s career.

Drawing on interviews, Bono’s autobiography Surrender, contemporary reviews and archival footage, the film explores why the band attempted to write a song about the human cost of violence rather than a traditional political anthem, and why audiences have continued to debate its meaning ever since.

The Last Mixed Tape is hosted by Stephen White, and is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.