U2, the iconic Irish rock band, first formed in 1976, are known for their eclectic sound, fervent lyrics, and dedication to various political causes. The group, led by Bono, has attained worldwide fame with hit albums such as How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and Under A Blood Red Sky. The popular band, which cites acts such as the Ramones, T-Rex and David Bowie as inspirations, has also inspired other artists such as Coldplay and Keane. However, despite their decades in the music industry together, Bono has in recent years revealed a surprising revelation. According to him, the entire band had, at one point or another, considered quitting the group.
Bono Once Revealed That U2 Almost Broke Up Several Times
U2 front-man Bono has been promoting the release of his solo documentary, Bono: Stories of Surrender, on Apple TV+. The 86-minute documentary, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, documents Bono’s iconic 2023 performance at the Beacon Theater. Bono describes that in the making of the documentary, directed by famed Australian director Andrew Dominik, in an interview with Esquire magazine: “Andrew wanted to make a documentary around the show. It felt unnatural. It was Edge, actually, who told Andrew, ‘You find Bono onstage. You’re not going to find him backstage.” However, it’s a previous documentary that features the entire group, which has fans buzzing and revisiting past revelations.
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In the 2023 Disney+ documentary titled A Kind Of Homecoming. Bandmates Bono and The Edge share behind-the-scenes footage of them creating music together. They also gave an exclusive interview with former Late Show host David Letterman, along with never-before-seen clips of the band. The documentary itself also features some surprising revelations about the group, who have been together for nearly fifty years.
For example, Bono revealed that U2 had come close to disbanding several times. The latter admitted: “I have certainly thought about walking away from U2, every member has. We have all thought about it. It is the right instinct to question whether this should still be going and what it demands of all four members. But the reason why I want to go forward,” he continued, “is something is stirring in my voice and my singing and the desire to write songs we don’t have yet. We are chasing the dragon of the song we can’t get. The real magic of U2 is that everything we needed, the people we needed, were always right there.” As for one of the reasons why the band considered going their separate ways, Bono said that for him, his dedication to political activism has sometimes “tested the patience” of his bandmates at times. “If you are in a rock and roll band, you don’t want to be in the photograph with some people who might have polarizing opposite values you hold dear, and I did that to them.” said Bono. The Edge then added, “The fact we are still together is a remarkable thing. We kind of grew up together and learned how to be people of the world via the band.”
U2 Are Back in the Studio Preparing for New Album
U2 fans are rejoicing after the band recently revealed that they are back in the studio working on new music. The band, which consists of members Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr, and Adam Clayton, had previously been on an extended break as Mullen recovered from neck surgery. As fans will know, last year, U2 performed at their Las Vegas residency without Mullen. The latter said in a recent interview with the BBC, “It was difficult being away because of injury. So I’m thrilled to be back in a creative environment, even if I’m not 100% there, and I’ve got some bits falling off. It’s just the most extraordinary thing,” he added. “When I was away from the band, I missed it, but I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
As for the preparations for the upcoming album, Bono revealed that “It was just the four of us in a room, trying a new song and going, ‘What’s that feeling? Oh right, that’s chemistry.” A few years ago, Bono revealed that their next album would be “a noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album,” citing AC/DC as an influence. The Edge added, “The fellas are all on about this guitar album we’re making, and I’m at home, going, ‘Okay, I’d better get on with it.'”