Bono’s Intimate Performance at the Beacon Theatre

Bono recently chose a more intimate venue for his acclaimed “Quarterman” show, performing solo at the Beacon Theatre in New York, without his U2 bandmates—Adam Clayton, David “Edge” Evans, and Larry Mullen Jr. The performance was recorded live in 2023. It’s a confident and engaging show, stripped of excess, with Bono sometimes resembling a character pulled from a Samuel Beckett play, although there are moments where the rock and roll flair feels a bit overdone.

During the show, Bono shares stories from his autobiography, touching on recent personal fears, his philanthropic efforts in Dublin, and issues like global fame, poverty, and hunger. He weaves in reflections on his spiritual journey, although he sidesteps discussing the Live Aid initiative’s impact. The performance features “renewed” renditions of U2 classics, enhanced by the sounds of harp and cello.

This performance certainly resonates with the dedicated fanbase, yet Bono works hard to convey a sense of humility, despite his larger-than-life persona. He highlights two pivotal figures in his life—his parents, Iris and Bob Hewson. Bono recounts their relationship, notably the trauma of losing his mother when he was just 14, during his father’s funeral. He and his brother, Norman, witnessed their father’s sorrowful retreat following Iris’s death. Bob never spoke of Iris again, channeling his grief instead into his love for classical music, leaving Bono to grapple with this silence.

Interestingly, Bono practiced with U2 near the cemetery where his mother is buried but has never visited her gravesite. Bob, on the other hand, had difficulty accepting his son as a global star, which created a strained relationship. Their bond was complicated, colored by the inability to express love openly, especially during Bob’s final moments. Bono expresses disappointment that the film adaptation doesn’t capture the affectionate anecdotes Bob shared in interviews, particularly when he described his son’s performance as “very professional” after a U2 concert.

Other significant figures in Bono’s life, like his bandmate and wife Allison—whom he married at 21—aren’t examined in the same depth during the performance. Nonetheless, Bono makes a commendable effort to transition from the image of a rock god to that of a relatable rock man.

Bono: Stories of Surrender premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and will be available on Apple TV+ starting May 30th.