Larry Mullen speaks about his return to U2 following the death of his father

RETURN:U2 drummer Larry Mullen performs onstage during the U2 iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour opener in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on May 14, 2015 in Vancouver

U2 DRUMMER Larry Mullen has opened up about the death of his beloved dad just days before the band’s world tour kicked off in May — insisting the “circus” had to go on despite his loss.

Larry (53) jetted back to Ireland from rehearsals in Vancouver in Canada for the funeral of his dad Larry Sr, from Artane in Dublin, who passed away suddenly at age 92 at the Bons Secours Hospital in the capital.

But grieving Larry Jr then had to dash back to Canada just in time for the opening of U2’s Innocence and Experience Tour to go ahead as planned.

“It’s part of life. It happens,” Larry said.

“We’re circus people. That’s what we do. We just get on with it.”

He said his only regret was that his dad never got to see the new tour.

LEGENDS: U2 perform erform onstage during the U2 iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour opener in Vancouver [Wireimage]

“The only regret I have is that he’s not going to see this show because he would enjoy it,” he said.

“I’m proud of his involvement and proud of him. And I know he was proud of me. It’s all good.”

Larry’s mum Maureen was killed in a car crash in 1976, when the star was 15, but his dad was survived by his second wife Alice and Larry Jr’s sister Cecilia.

Larry continued to live with his dad after the death of his mum — but he has admitted that he and Bono, who also lost his mother at an early age, both found another “family” in U2.

Bono’s dad Bob Hewson passed away in 2001 during the band’s Elevation tour.

Bandmate Adam Clayton lost his mother Jo shortly after the band’s 360 tour ended in June 2011 while The Edge’s mother Gwenda Evans died in June 2012.

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