My friend Bruce gave me this book for Christmas 2022. It is now December 2024 and well, I have finally finished. Here are a few thoughts chapter by chapter.
Chapter 1 - Lights of Home - Bono, lying in bed after having maybe a heart attack in 2017 and thinking about his dad who passed away. He mentions that before each performance that U2 prays together. He read Psalm 32 Tuesday on his deathbed. His dad didn’t wanna hear it.
Chapter 2 - Out of Control - Bono now takes himself back to his younger days, back to 1978 (born 1960) and mentions the song Out of Control written after he read Crime and Punishment and the acknowledgement we have nothing to say about our birth or death occurring.
Chapter 3 - Iris (Hold Me Close) - launches more into his growing up years with his mom, Iris, who passed when he was 14. And she didn’t get spoken of much after this by 3 males in the house (Da (Dad), brother and himself). She had a stroke. Died quickly after that. He writes songs to her but also maybe to his wife Ali (married since 1982). Mentions songs are prayers.
Chapter 4 - Cedarwood Road - was more about growing up and experiences with his father after his mom died. His dad singing voice and him learning to do things on his own.
Chapter 5 - Stories for Boys - was more on his youth and how he got the name Bono, a childhood friend that is still friends today, Guggi, gave him the name and gives other people’s names as well. Mentions another friend with effiminate characteristics. Talks about his faith a little more and says everytime someone asks him to ask Jesus in his heart he does. He learned about faith from Guggi as well.
Chapter 6 - Song for Someone - was the band coming together. David Evans the Edge. Paul Hewson is Bono and talks about him meeting Ali which I think will be his wife. And then how Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen are a part of it as well.
Chapter 7 - I Will Follow - Started out by mentioning a painting in their house about Road to Emmaus. The year is about 1978 and they are starting rehearsals and trying to get signed to a record deal that includes getting a van for the band that they are having a hard time getting. He talks about food and eating and everyone’s eating habits. They found a place to practice near where his mom is buried. The song I will Follow is a suicide note about a kid wanting to find his mother even if she is already in the grave. Mentions the prodigal son story and the focus on the father not simply waiting but out looking for his son. Mentions the Shalom group he and his wife got interested in. Christian radicals. Practiced 1st Century Christian life. Mentions being in a coffee shop with NYT writer and being approached by rough guys that said they had mercy and didn’t attack his father.
Chapter 8 - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock - was a little all over place as I started it. Had a focus on Punk a little as the band was now starting to figure out a place to practice. Starts to mention them playing gigs and the response and the crowds, though not large. And trying to get a record deal, but people passing on them. And then they got a deal with Island records. They found a manger and agreed to go forward at 20% each which they still thought was a lot of money, but they need a manager. Paul McGuiness.
Chapter 9 - Invisible - was next up getting a producer and landing on Steve Lillywhite who is close to their age. It is 1980 but also moving into 1983. Chapter starts to talk about the concert experiences and people listening to them and the connecting they make with the audience, feeling privileged that people spend money. U2 is more of a punk band at this point. It moves into 1981 and their first US tour which is like 50+ shows and quick summary of experiences. Mentioned festivals in Europe and coming back home. Talk of manager and experiences with him on the road. Long chapter.
Chapter 10 - October. It starts off with Bono talking about his anger management issues and one time throwing Larry’s drum kit off the stage. Him and the Edge can get angry and duke it out at times. Mentions songs with a hymn like quality like New Year’s Day, Where Streets have no name and I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Talks about revival taking place in Dublin, a movement of Holy Spirit. He states he is a follower of Jesus Christ, but doesn’t like people preaching, thinking it should be done without words. Band was actually thinking of quitting as a band to pursue their faith in God and preach the Gospel. Started with the Edge then Bono. Larry was not happy but the manager told them they shouldn’t be breaking their contract.
Chapter 11 - Two Hearts Beat as One - back in Ireland. Got married 8/31/82 (he 22, her 21). Adam Clayton best man - hoped it would make them closer. They honeymooned in Jamaica. Elaborate. Different from what they knew. He said they would always find home with each other. And then started writing songs for War.
Chapter 12 - Sunday, Bloody, Sunday - mentions the life of Larry growing up and loving drums and mom allowing him to grow his hair out which was unusual. Song about a day in 1972 in Ireland when a peaceful protest went tense and 14 people were killed. The song begins with pounding of drums. The politics though began to follow them. They cried this is not a rebel song - sung to continue the ill treatment of innocence. Some agreed and some did not. Problems erupted at home and they began to be confronted. Had John Hume (Irish politician) and David Trimble (northern Irish minister) onstage at same time.
Chapter 13 - Bad - Brian Eno - island thought it crazy to have him work with U2. Met Bob Dylan backstage and he invited Bono for a game of chess. It’s the first time they felt like artists recording the Unforgettable Fire at Slane Castle.
Chapter 14 - Bullet the Blue Sky - visiting El Salvador and human rights issues with wife Ali. Went to the Pentagon in 2008 to talk of these atrocities.
Chapter 15 - Where the Streets Have No Name - 1985, Bono and Ali in Ajibar, Ethiopian famine (also the reason for LiveAid). Knock on Christian’s for not helping poor enough and being too focused on their own well-being. $250M resulted from LiveAid and other spin-offs. When he saw Live Aid footage all he could see was his mullet.
Chapter 16 - With or Without You - The relationship of Ali and Bono. They have a border collie call Joe. Ali not only lived with me, but with the poets I was reading. The making of the Joshua tree was a very exciting time or Bono could hardly sleep. Remembering Greg, Carol, who became a personal manager on the unforgettable fire tour in 1984. It was part of the group that was making this new album when he was killed on a motorcycle. The song one tree hill paid home edge to the time with Greg. He learned that he and Allie could be themselves around each other. She could never be known. There was some thing unfathomable about her. With or without you captured some of her dark beauty and our bittersweet duality.
Chapter 17 - Desire - The band moved to Los Angeles in1988. It has been a good place for them starting from a 600 person show to 80,000 later. he met Quincy Jones by way of his car driver. And then All got pregnant. He was partly afraid, and partly thinking his dad is alive, would laugh in his face. But All loved every part of Bono.
Chapter 18 - Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - now we were looking for a Music we had yet to hear. The due date if their child was May 13, 1989. It was May 9 and she was in delivery and he felt helpless but he did hear the heartbeat of his baby slowing. Jordan Joy, Iris still water Hewson born on May 10th, also Bono’s birthday, a girl. Named after the river Jordan, the river of the gospel song, where the sweet chariot swings, low, and a band of angels are coming forward to carry me home. Her sister Eve was born a couple of years later. He then talks about his children and growing up with them at times, not being around. Being honest with them. Enjoying the discovery of them and who they are. He is also very thankful that he doesn’t ever have to worry about money. He’s thankful to the fans for that. Good chapter.
Chapter 19 - Until the End of the World - it is 2022. He’s with Edge on a train from Poland to Ukraine. The war with Russia has begun and they are there to meet with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine who he met previously when he was an actor and comedian. This chapter takes a momentary detour to mention also meeting with Gorbachev and Chancellor Merkel.
Chapter 20 - One - 10/3/1990 arriving in Berlin to record Achtung Baby as the Berlin Wall has come down. They were recording in the historic place, and yet there’s songs we’re not yet crafted in the way they would like. The single man Edge asked out the waitress. He talks about some recurring dreams he has of his da. The song until the end of the world is about a conversation between Jesus and Judas. Love is blind. This came about from the edge and playing his guitar to the story of his marriage ending leaving three girls. He loves the mother, but can no longer make it work for each other. The song one talked about how people are more the same than they are different. There is a line about a son, telling his religious father he was gay. A line about a lover who has been discovered, finding sex outside of sexless marriage, and how she got there. We are one, but we’re not the same. Yet years later in 2008 while playing this song at the end of the show, he looks at his bandmates and wonders if we are all the same.
21 - The Fly - The fly was a song about a man’s libido, and how insignificant he is up against that libido. Spoke of David Bowie, England’s Elvis. Mentions meeting President Clinton before he was president in Chicago. Talk of Zoo TV and reality TV coming alive due to MTV show and also the experience of arena's and preferring that to an open field where sound of fans goes into the air. One thing Hitler did was set a stage with the Olympics of getting voices to reverberate.
Chapter 22 - Even Better than the Real Thing - Zoo TV Tour in Sydney, Australia for 2 nights and shooting footage there as well. Adam Clayton partied the night before and didn't show up the next day for the shoot and also would not be at the 1st night of the concert. This hadn't happened since one time in 1978. He was a wild person at times. His guitar tech subbed for him that evening.
Chapter 23 - Mysterious Ways - Song was about the gender of God, as Bono muses that God could be feminine. And the chapter retells the story of women in general and all of their mysterious ways and beauty. Mentions super models and particularly Naomi Campbell and her impact as a woman of color. Also mentions their managers and the impact of many women in their organization as a band.
Chapter 24 - Stuck in a Moment - Refers to suicide and specifically Michael Hutchence, lead singer of INXS, who Bono was friends with. They mused together in their friendship one time about Kurt Cobain. Michael took his life in 1997 after wondering why Kurt did in 1994 thinking Kurt just needed to move by the moment (stuck). Interesting line about the song he wrote "Hold Me, Thrill me, Kiss Me, Kill me" how if you don't die on a cross at 33, people start asking for their money back. [This is my favorite chapter.]
25 - Wake Up Dead Man - Describes how U2 is a band that is constantly evolving instead of duplicating the same sound from the previous albums. Pop album was supposed to an exploration album in staying current with popular music, but it didn't. No top 10 hits. Also came to realize that just putting out anything would now get extreme praise, but still concerned they lost momentum. Wake Up Dead Man could be addressed to Jesus in the tomb or it could be my bandmates ode to Me (Bono).
26 - The Showman - Being an artist is about showmanship. Also about deception and he reminisced about meeting and singing with Frank Sinatra and how he knew Sinatra by his songs. Also, how Pavarotti wanted to do a song with them and incessantly asked and then what ended up, "Miss Sarajevo" was Bono felt one of the best songs as the focus was also not on him. The year is 1996.
27 - Pride (In the Name of Love) - March, 1999 walked into the oval office singing the cry of antipoverty walking in a T-shirt and black combat pants. Bono trying to convince the president to have the richest countries pay for the debts of the forest. Buy those riches countries just writing off the debt. It could all start by the turn of the century January 1, 2000. Jubilee 2000 would take care of all of this as jubilee in the Bible meant a year of the Lord‘s favor. Jewish tradition every seventh cycle of seven years you must write off peoples debts and release them from their bondage. Bono also had opportunity to speak to the Pope about it and by the end of the chapter Clinton had any fact forgiven the debt which meant probably 50 million children would be able to have food.
28 - Beautiful Day - This chapter is about his da and his relationship with, their friendship and his dad coming to see a show in 1985 for the first time in Houston, then announcing he has cancer in 1995. Bono made an interesting remark about the seasons of marriage - friendship, passion, co-parent, raising kids - and then hopefully back to being a friend.
29 - Crumbs from your Table - This song title is in reference to how hard Bono has to work to get money out of the government, and that money is simply crumbs for the table to them, almost like their petty cash even though it represents millions of dollars.
30 - Miracle Drug - This chapter continues Bono's theme of activism and now moves into 2001 when George Bush is now president. He talks about it being different and harder to get into the White House to speak to someone. His agenda is AIDS and makes the comment that the republican's and even church people don't give much credence to it like other problems. He gets in with John O'Neill and has good conversations and then he is gone. He is concerned about the people that are suffering, like those in Botswana where it is said to have impacted 30% of the population. Mentions someone named Anne who is at a hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, a hospital where people are just waiting to die and yet she is there, with a spunky and positive attitude. He finally makes strides with Condoleezza Rice and ends up at a news conference of sort in which the government will give $5 Billion in relief money and he announces this with Bush, though his left wing people think he's a traitor for siding with Bush, concerned about the other motivations people have. Also brings up Rupert Murdoch and the beginning of Fox News, a non-liberal based news service that would be the beginning also of the ascension of Donald Trump. Again, tough words towards the right. They go on tour and Agnes, a Ugandan nurse who tested positive for AIDS comes along and speaks. Then in 2003, the President, George W. Bush, at the State of Union of address commits $15 billion over the next 5 years (PEPFAR) to fight AIDS. Bono gets impatient with Bush when it doesn't happen quickly, but eventually the amount will grow to $100 billion.
31 - Vertigo - 2004. Was in Dublin with friend and actor Cillian Murphy. He made a comment that their lyrics are not about real love and real life since One Tree Hill. But I told him I have to write where I am at now and in Vertigo I'm writing about us, to you and me. Then chapter switched to conversation with Steve Jobs and and designing a new iPod and U2 representing the iPod; they hitched a ticket on the Apple ride to infinity and beyond. AIDS Activism continued in 2006 with (RED). It started in 2002 and continued with the goal to end poverty. Later hospitalized in 2020 for back issues when he received a hand written note from Jobs and his wife Laurene. Then Jobs passed away in 2011.
32 - Ordinary Love - Remember 2014 Oscars playing this song, part of Mandela movie. Mandela locked up in a cell for 27 years found greatness through reading. Result of working a limestone quarry cost him tear glands and the ability to cry. Summer of 2001 fashion and music converged in Barcelona - "Frock 'n' Roll." 2005 London Trafalgar Square speech by Mandela. "Poverty is man-made." Talk of working on anti-poverty campaigns. There is wealthy in Africa despite the portrayal globally its poor. Africans have more mobile phones. Nollywood in Nigeria makes more movies. The problem with COVID relief and vaccinations was often the rich countries bought up the supplies. He prays with bishop Desmond tutu and wonders how he has time to pray as to two remarks prayers of passage way for everything in life. He speaks to Kader Asmal of the African National Congress in 1998 about the slow progress in South Africa of getting out of poverty with an example of not achieving a goal of South Africa administration of providing running water to everyone within 300 feet and the irony of seeing sprinklers going off in lush areas of the city.
33 - City of Blinding Lights - It is January 2009 and Obama is becoming the next president. Bono has grand words to say of Obama. The chapter song title is a song Obama used when announcing his presidency. He sees America as a great idea of a country, a song yet to be finished. He does not have kind words to say of outgoing George W. Bush as Obama will rewrite history now. Obama's turn as president will be soulful. Mentions Trump who begins his campaign of lies. Bono tried to engage but Trump will never admit when he's wrong, but he isn't the problem, populism is the problem. Obama's fight for healthcare was for the pursuit of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Obama added $52 billion to Bush's $18 billion for his AIDS work, continuing his predecessor's legacy. Obama's were invited friends. Talks of wine and how he is allergic.
34 - Get Out of Your Own Way - getting picked up at airport by Paul McCartney as he presented him MTV legends award. Speaks of music business and problem of signing music label contracts and giving up rights to music. Better to take less royalties in the beginning. Money breaks up bands. Look out for each other was their philosophy including having everyone get equal songwriting credits. His friendship with Bill and Melanie Gates and Warren Buffett family and singing at Susie Buffets funeral.
35 - Every Breaking Wave - Jackson, one of two dogs, is dying. I hate goodbyes. Paul McGuiness, manager in 2013 departs. Recollects Seamus Heaney poem "Scaffolding" and line "all comes down when the job's done." Read William Blake results in Songs of Innocence (2014) and Songs of Experience (2017). New manager is Guy Oseary till 2022. Talks of Love Songs.
36 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Impact of Jimmy Iovine (white man) recording black gospel group New Voices of Freedom in Harlem. Recording "I Still Haven't Found..." song and will play at Madison Square Garden with the Harlem group. Trying to figure out in 1987 how life is about constant refreshment - dying and being reborn. Black church music feels more honest. This song is about that quest and not arriving and this is how he sees faith, ever a journey not an end. While hypnotized, for his voice problems, he says the place he feels safest and strongest is walking along a river with his best friend Jesus. Then later at the Jordan River 30 years and everyone in his family jump in. Sees baptism as submerging into death to find new life. Metaphor constantly used in Scripture to help us understand God. Joshua Tree took the band to a whole new kind of success. Remembers time Johnny and June Cash and their visit with him in 1987. Similar initials to Jesus Christ. Johnny prayed for the meal when they visited and it was very poetic. They had a zoo at their house. Asked him to sing on a song in 1993. June preceded Johnny in death by 4 months. Says the cross is the horizontal reaching out to the community and the vertical rooting our heady dreams into solid ground.
37 - Love is Bigger than Anything in Its Way - It is 2018, his son, an artist is on stage, engaging in theatrics on the stage. He is comfortable in his own skin with a fainting stunt. Then at a rugby match watching 16 year-olds remembering his child coming into the world, realizing one day are children will be looking out for us. In 2000, there was a discovery that his cousin Scott was actually his brother, that his father and auntie Barbara - family secrets -- doesn't everyone have them? On stage in Berlin in 2018, and seeing each band member individually but also who they are as part of the whole. U2 is an unfinished song. Recollects that the best albums are the hardest to complete. It is when you stop fighting that you stop functioning. Recollects on the Apostle Paul, someone who overcame himself, and he finds inspiration. Recites I Corinthians 13. There is no promised land, only a promised journey. Thinking about God. Hopes he is with those who live comfortable lives, but he knows he is with the poorest and most vulnerable.
38 - Moment of Surrender - Wife (Ali) at one of their favorite restaurants, in Nice - La Petite Maison in 2016. He has never liked fireworks. But those weren't fireworks, but a Tunisian driving a lorry into the crowds, taking 86 lives. Surrender is powerful word as we surrender to each other, love, maybe a higher power; it is at the heart of many faiths, "Not my will, but..." This song came from photographs and one was of a man falling to his knees in the street, bottoming out (per AA). In surrender we realize that we are not in charge. And Bono is aging and seeing that the last 3rd of his life looks a lot different from his 1st and the ideals are different. The drive to achieve. He loves the story of Elijah who is told to wait on the voice of God and what comes is a still small voice. He remain a singer, continuing to dream.
39 - Landlady - The only conversation now is with me and my Maker. Lying in bed. Seeing his wife, lying there and his camera light shining on her face, reminding him that this is his life and the reason for his journey. He wants to learn how to be home, to be still, and surrender.
40 - Breathe - This is my heart. I am ready to take my first breath. And...I will sing, sing a new song. How long to sing this song?
I remember going to Natural Sound on Eubank Blvd in Albuquerque, south of Candelaria and buying U2, War. August 10, 1982 is when I gave my life to Christ. But this was 1983. Music had already been a huge part of my life. My first record I remember buying was Shaun Cassidy, from his self-titled album in 1976 when I was 9. Tom Faerber across the street, my best friend's older brother, was into classic rock and turned me onto it as well: AC/DC, Scorpion's, Deep Purple, Krokus, Rush, Rainbow, the Kinks, April Wine, the Cars and my trips to Natural Sound were plentiful. Sometime later in 1982 my mom purchased me a ticket to Resurrection Band and Jerusalem at Kiva Auditorium and later in 1983, I took all of those secular records and trashed them, deciding my listening ears needed only holy sounds. U2's War was being played on the Christian radio station, KLYT. And this record, I still remember was a sound that I had never experienced and Psalm 40 quickly became my favorite bible passage.
I really enjoyed this walk through Bono's life.
