U2 SURPRISE: U2 plans to spend time...

U2 SURPRISE: U2 plans to spend time in a Dublin recording studio next month and if things go well, they’ll release an EP next spring . . . in time for the Irish group’s European tour. Edge says he already has two 90-minute cassettes worth of musical sketches.

And what do you think about some type of joint U2/Guns N’ Roses project? It sounds improbable, but so did a Guns N’ Roses/Metallica stadium tour at one time. We’re not sure whether Axl Rose wants to do a tour or a single benefit concert, but sources say he is apparently so eager to do something together that he’s willing to let U2 take top billing.

Rose was at Anaheim Stadium last weekend to help U2 celebrate the end of the U.S. leg of its world tour. Also spotted in the crowd: Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, Wynona Ryder (celebrating the big “Dracula” opening weekend by signing autographs at the mixing board), Tim Hutton and Nicolas Cage.