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A lifelong storyteller, Bono brings his audience to extraordinary realms.
The renowned U2 frontman is spotlighted in the Apple TV+ documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender, recently showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.
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He shares insights with The Hollywood Reporter regarding the film and an upcoming U2 series.
In the documentary, you reflect on the oddity of performing without your band. Did this experience enable a fresh connection with your music?
Absolutely. Altering the key changes the mood of the song. Slowing down the tempo alters it too. In Stories of Surrender, every choice must advance the narrative. So “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was included not just because U2 fans love it, but because it highlights a pivotal moment in Ireland when a song on nonviolence held significant weight.
At the time, it even faced mockery in Ireland. I would introduce it by saying, “This is not a rebel song,” as it served as an anthem for peace. “Pride (In the Name of Love)” from the ’80s embodied a similar message. These tracks were selected to express how I evolved, as well as how the band progressed within our identity of militant pacifism.
Later works like “With or Without You” became meditations on love and the trials of partnership, revealing how love involves recognizing each other’s potential, as well as one’s own. If balanced and mutual, enduring love is possible—not just in a marriage, but within a band, a family. It brings us to a very personal space. Ultimately, [this project] reflects on my birth family and all the families I’ve been part of.
You mentioned ridicule towards the song. Today’s environment often belittles those wanting to foster change or express compassion. Can artists still influence this change?
The concept of “freedom” and “democracy” seems to have been forgotten. These are terms we never expected to scrutinize, yet they are being challenged daily. “Maybe democracy isn’t the best tool for addressing climate change.” “Freedom is only for the educated.” It’s unbelievable. In my lifetime, the threat of global conflict has never been as imminent. Here I am on the Cannes red carpet, presenting a film titled Stories of Surrender, at a time when “surrender” feels profoundly ironic, with fists raised everywhere.
I began this book [which inspired the stage show] thinking I was alone in my experiences. We’re navigating this—though it feels like we aren’t making it through. Yet, I hold on to faith and hope that we will overcome. Remember Dr. [Martin Luther] King’s famous assertion that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice? I’m not sure that holds true anymore, but we must strive to steer it in that direction.
We owe a great deal to the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Aretha Franklin. These artistic icons sparked what we now call a renaissance of peace and love in the 1960s. My admiration for that generation deepens; they emerged from the aftermath of a World War and understood the peril of entrusting unchecked power to egocentric leaders wielding destructive weapons.
You mentioned some artists who have received film adaptations. In the case of the Beatles, a biopic is forthcoming. U2 fans have expressed excitement about a Netflix series by J.J. Abrams. Can you provide any updates?
No updates yet. We will know when the time is right. The U2 narrative is quite extraordinary—like a high school drama mixed with Stranger Things. [Stories of Surrender] marks the conclusion of a four-year journey reflecting on the past, addressing underlying issues, and now we’re ready to move forward [with new music]. If my discoveries in this personal journey resonate with others, I would be overjoyed.
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