Calling the documentary “very intimate,” Bono revealed he drew creative inspiration from the late John Lennon. “It was always, ‘Break open the ribcage, show what’s the heart, let it bleed.’ That was the John Lennon way
Rock icon Bono has described legendary band U2 as a functioning “democracy,” where all four members—The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., and himself—contribute ideas, but ultimately follow the lead of guitarist The Edge.
Speaking to the Daily Star on Sunday’s Wired column, Bono reflected on the group’s collaborative process over their four-decade-long career. “Bloody democracy,” he joked. “Thom Yorke from Radiohead says, ‘A band is like the United Nations, except I’m America.’ But U2 is an actual democracy. We all listen to each other, and then do what Edge says.”
The 65-year-old frontman is currently in the spotlight with Stories of Surrender, an Apple TV+ documentary that captures a deeply personal one-man performance he gave in New York in 2023. Despite its emotional and artistic depth, Bono humorously admitted that his bandmates might not be fully engaged with the film. “I think Larry only likes Westerns,” he said. “Adam said he liked the moonwalk, so I think perhaps he was looking at a different film. Edge is always there. He’s so supportive, especially when he sees me be open or be vulnerable, which is our definition of art.”
Calling the documentary “very intimate,” Bono revealed he drew creative inspiration from the late John Lennon. “It was always, ‘Break open the ribcage, show what’s the heart, let it bleed.’ That was the John Lennon way. So it starts with heart surgery.” Looking ahead, Bono also shared his vision for U2’s next album during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He teased an ambitious direction for their future work. “We’ve been in the studio and you’ve sometimes got to deal with the past to get to the present, in order to make the sound of the future. That’s what we want to do.”
Despite decades of success, Bono emphasized that the band’s drive remains as strong as ever. “It’s the sound of four men, who feel like their lives depend on it. I remind them, they do. Nobody needs a new U2 album unless it’s an extraordinary one. I’m feeling very strong about it.”
