Bono, 62, shares his new book highlights his 40 year marriage to Ali Hewson
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Bono of the band U2 on Tuesday promoted his new book Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story in New York City.
The rock star told Good morning America‘ by George Stephanopoulos that many of the memoirs are about love.
The crooner – who has been married to his high school sweetheart Ali Hewson for the past 40 years – added that most of it is “a love letter to Ali.”
Live: Bono of the band U2 on Tuesday promoted his new book Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story in New York City
Bono wrote that he was so in love with the woman he married in 1984 that he feared he could write a great love song.
“Ali, she doesn’t want to be patronized,” the singer/songwriter noted.
“She spared me the sentimentality. And we’ve been through things, everyone knows that. But in the end we always have each other there.’
The writer admitted that he was afraid to show the book to his wife for more than 40 years.
From the heart: The rock star told Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos that many of the memoirs are about love. He has been married to his high school sweetheart Ali Hewson for 40 years
“Writing the book was really scary, because I had to make her read it, and she came back with mostly spelling. It was a few sections she wanted to remove, but that will tell you who she is,” he offered.
In an interview with the Sunday Times Magazinethe Beautiful Day artist spoke fondly of their partnership.
“Ali gave me the chance and covered for me at home. So I don’t write rock’n’roll memoirs, [or] an activist’s memoirs, I’m not just writing a stranger’s memoirs, I’m trying to write a love letter to my wife.’
Love of his life: Born Paul David Hewson in Dublin in 1960, Bono began dating his future wife, Alison (Ali) Stewart around the same time he founded U2. The high school sweethearts got married in 1982
Scared: Bono admitted that he was afraid to show the book to Ali. “Writing the book was really scary, because I had to make her read it… It was a few sections she wanted to remove, but that will tell you who she is”
That’s not to say there weren’t problems along the way.
‘It’s not as if our love had no dark undercurrents or salt water, [but] we got through those bits where it was hard to see where we were,” he explained. ‘Ali calls it ‘the work of love’. I wish she wouldn’t use the word ‘work’ because I feel like there’s an adjective ‘hard’ derived from that.”
The couple, who share four children; Jordan, 33, Eve, 31, Elijah, 23, and John 21, have managed to hold a spark over the years.
Mystery: The couple share four children and Bono says after all these years, “She’s not just a mystery to me, by the way. She’s a mystery to her daughters, to her sons… She’s endlessly fascinating’ (Pictured in 2016 Los Angeles with daughters Eve, 31, and Jordan, 33)
‘She’s not just a mystery to me, by the way. She is a mystery to her daughters, to her sons,’ he said.
“I mean, we’re all trying to get to know her. She is endlessly fascinating. She’s… full of mischief.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also spoke to its friends at GMA.
“It humbled me to realize that the most special thing about my life was actually the relationships, the people I was in a relationship with and the most important ones I met almost the same week (in high school).”
Brave: Bono, 52, looked neat in black as he left the set of ABC studios in New York on Tuesday in a black T-shirt, jeans, shows and jacket as he made the rounds promoting his new book, Surrender: 40 Songs , A Story
Autographs: The U2 frontman took a moment to sign autographs for those who had been waiting for the chance to see him in the chilly morning hours of Times Square
He added, “Friendship is key, really.”
The author explained that he “could be in the bad books of Edge, Adam or Larry, but we’ll get through it.”
He looked neat in black as he left the set of ABC studios in New York on Tuesday.
The 62-year-old artist stepped out in a black T-shirt, jeans, shoes and jacket.
Trademark: The Grammy winner wore his signature round glasses with a light pink tinted lens. His light brown hair was combed back and his beard was cropped short, revealing gray patches
Love: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member said the heart of the book is not about his exploits as a music icon, but about love
He wore all black on his morning show.
His light brown hair was combed back and his beard was cropped short, revealing gray patches.
The Grammy winner wore his signature round glasses with a light pink tinted lens.
The U2 frontman waved a peace sign to the fans waiting at the stage door and took a moment to sign autographs for those who had been waiting for the chance to see him in the chilly pre-dawn hours in Times Square.
Bad Books: Of his decades-long relationships with his U2 bandmates, the author explained, “Friendship is at the heart of it, really…I could be in the bad books of Edge, Adam or Larry, but we’ll get through it” (Pictured in Mumbai in December 2019)
Surrender: When explaining the title of his tome, Bono said, “The title is where I’m going, rather than where I am”
When alluding to the current polarization in American politics, the I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For singer remained hopeful.
“There are reasons to believe in this country, and I’m surprised I can get away with talking about this country, and also waving my mouth shut and about you. The world has so much interest in this country. The promise of this country has yet to be fulfilled.’
Bono has spent much of his career using his fame to fight for social justice, and has been at the forefront of the fight against the global AIDS/HIV crisis, especially in Africa.
In the US, he has met with lawmakers to get funding to fight the spread of the deadly disease and to treat HIV/AIDS patients, and joked, “The only thing all of America agrees on is this funding to fight HIV/AIDS.” HIV/AIDS. AIDS. And if you’re American, you’re an AIDS activist, and that’s a nice thought.’
Regarding the title ‘Surrender’, Bono suggested it’s more about the attitude than the act. “The title is where I’m going, not where I am.”
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story is now available in bookstores.