Music
26 Feb 25

Apple announce Bono: Stories of Surrender documentary

Bono.

An updated paperback edition of Bono's bestselling memoir will be released concurrently with the documentary

Bono: Stories of Surrender, a new documentary exploring the U2 singer's stage show, is set to arrive on Apple TV on May 30.

The original one-man show by the same name was based on his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story

Directed by filmmaker Andrew Dominik, Bono: Stories of Surrender is described in a statement as being a "vivid reimagining of Bono’s critically-acclaimed one-man stage show (...) as he pulls back the curtain on a remarkable life and the family, friends, and faith that have challenged and sustained him, revealing personal stories about his journey as a son, father, husband, activist and rockstar."

The film will feature never-before-seen, exclusive footage from the Stories of Surrender Beacon Theatre shows, as well as Bono performing a number of U2 hits.

The original stage show was memorably critiqued by Noel Gallagher in Hot Press.

"I went with my kids to see the show he did in London," Noel told us. "I didn’t know what to expect because they’ve banned people filming it to keep it off YouTube, but it was fucking far out, man. At one point, he’s dancing on a table whilst theatrically singing one of his songs. My eldest lad lent into me and said, ‘He’s finally lost it!’ He was doing opera and holding an imaginary conversation in an empty chair with his dead father – it was really, really great. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever seen and the songs came across brilliantly.”

Also premiering on May 30 is Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive). The first feature-length film to be available in Apple Immersive Video, the experience promises to "produce a 180-degree video that places viewers onstage with Bono and in the centre of his story."

Bono: Stories of Surrender, an abridged and updated paperback edition of the musician's bestselling memoir, will also be released concurrently with the documentary film.

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In other recent U2 news, the band shared a poem and piano piece in support of Ukraine and President Zelenskyy to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

"The brave people of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom – and for ours – in the face of unspeakable violence and an unjust invasion," U2 wrote in an accompanying statement on social media. "More than 4 million people, mostly women and children, have had to flee for their lives -- a population nearly the size of Ireland. World leaders must stand up and stand by Ukranians now ... those who are fighting and those who have fled ... and stand with refugees everywhere who have been forced from their homes and their lands. #StandUpForUkraine"