The Tall Tales of a Short Rockstar

It's just shy of 2 years since Bono did a promotional tour for his memoir, Surrender, and I've been looking forward to the AppleTV+ version of the show ever since it was revealed that they were filming it. Luckily for all the people still making the "is this going to be put on my phone for free?" jokes that are well past their best before date, you do have to be an AppleTV+ subscriber to watch the film.

As a nearly lifelong U2 fan—I discovered them listening to their 1991 album Achtung Baby on CD in a friend's basement in high school—I'm a bit biased in my assessment of all things Bono and U2. I believe that Bono’s book and this stage performance are both deeply moving experiences—open-hearted and beautiful, filled with moments of vulnerability, sorrow, and joy as one person lays bare the story of their life.

Turns out the most extraordinary thing about my life is that the people I'm in relationships with. I met my wife, Ali, the same week I joined U2.

Last time I saw my mother alive, was at her own father's funeral. It sounds almost too Irish, I know. My father's response to this tragedy was to never speak of her again. I craved my father's attention, so I sang louder and louder.

Bono: Stories of Surrender Trailer

Direct link to the trailer on YouTube.

I have a twinge of disappointment in what seems to be parts of the live performance swapped out for more polished studio footage. U2, like the greats, thrive on the electricity of a real audience—their concerts feed off shared, unrepeatable moments. Cutting between stage and studio risks dulling some of the emotion that makes a live performance so powerful. That said, few bands are as good at making every performance feel like the first time quite like U2. Their brand of rehearsed spontaneity has carried them through countless nights on tour, and I’m still holding out hope that this will deliver that same kind of experience—just in a different key.

Apple Immersive on Vision Pro

Speaking of experiences:

The groundbreaking event ‘Bono: Stories of Surrender’ streams May 30 on Apple TV+ and will be the first feature-length film available in Apple Immersive on Vision Pro.

I'm still waiting on my Vision Pro demo hardware to check out the film with Apple. 😜 I can't do a proper review if I don't have the right gear to watch it with.