Bono and Larry proved a hit with guests when they appeared on VH1 to launch the new Jonas Akerlund directed video for Beautiful Day earlier this month.

With the album finished, the tour is zooming into focus but Larry said the band "intend to take it easy and see how the land lies."

"We went into the record like it was Tamla Motown. It was an exciting record to make, and it should be exciting to take on the road."

Larry and Bono, who flew to the US to introduce Rage Against The Machine's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, do not appear unduly alarmed at the emergence, in their absence, of teen icons like 'N Sync.'

"We are the men. They are the boys." said Bono with a grin.

Dates for the tour, which will launch in indoor arenas in the US next Spring, will be announced first on U2.com.

Last time round, said Bono, "it was all about reaching out to the audience, keeping an open heart." This time, he predicted, "We're going to have some fun, go indoors for the first time in years.