Bono and the Edge seem a little insecure about their Spider-Man musical’s rock credentials, but I don’t really see why. Sure, bandmate Larry Mullen, Jr. sort of dissed the project, but Larry’s always disagreeing with Bono. I think a simple “we’re the freakin’ guitarist and singer of U2, so we’ll do whatever we want” should suffice.

Either way, Bono and the Edge spoke to Italian fansite U2place (via RS) recently and were adamant that their foray into musical theater is actually very punk rock: “We were open to the idea of musical theater,” Bono said, “but Spider-Man, that’s a different thing again, because that’s comic books, and there’s a whole series of relations between punk rock and rock bands and comic books, that goes back years.”

Okay, I get it. A lot of rockers like comic books. The Edge takes the idea a little further though, saying that Peter Parker is “sort of like every rock & roll star’s story, in a weird way. Every rock & roll star probably started out as the geek who was bullied on in school, and eventually their form of revenge was to write songs or learn to play guitar or to sing or play drums and some of us ended up in big bands.”

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark premieres on Broadway on September 12, 2009, so grab your tickets now to see Peter Parker use this whole “superhero” thing as a springboard into rock stardom.

It looks like U2 drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. had the same reaction that we did when we heard about Bono and The Edge’s Spider-Man musical. He told STV Entertainment, “I’m not convinced about that. I think it’s a Bono and Edge project and I think that’s really valuable and really good. But I wouldn’t have chosen ‘Spider-Man’ as my theatrical debut.”

This is certainly not the first time Mullen has publicly disagreed with other members of U2. Late last year, Mullen spoke out about his discomfort with seeing Bono meeting with former British PM Tony Blair and former U.S. President George Bush. He even added, “Do I think George Bush is a war criminal? Probably.” It’s no wonder we don’t usually see Mullen doing interviews with his bandmates.

For more from STV Entertainment’s scoop, including a bit about how Bono thinks Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark could be as good as The Who’s Quadrophenia, click here.

Casting agents for Bono and The Edge’s Spider-Man musical have announced open call auditions in six major U.S. cities (NY, LA, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, Orlando). The press release said they are “seeking principals and understudies for the roles of ‘Peter Parker,’ ‘Mary Jane,’ and ‘Female Lead Villain.’ The production is looking for performers with dynamic rock/pop voices including those with experience in bands and as solo performers. Regardless of experience, anyone who thinks they might be qualified is encouraged to audition.”

Said “Female Lead Villian” should have “an amazing rock voice. Think Sinead O’Connor with a Middle Eastern/Bulgarian/Greek twist. Foreign accents are great.” Oh, of course the villain has to be a Pope-hater with a Middle Eastern accent. That’s kind of messed up.

So get on your Spidey boots and start practicing ‘cause the first audition date is less than a week away.