Bono 'received DEATH THREATS from the IRA', new memoir claims

I received death threats from the IRA and the American far-Right, reveals Bono: U2 singer’s new memoir claims he was insulted by Gerry Adams ‘for his peace stance’ while Martin Luther King tribute sparked anger from US racists

Irish superstar’s memoir ‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story’, is out November 1
Bono is planning a worldwide tour throughout November to promote the book
But he gave audiences at a literature festival yesterday a sneak peek at the story

U2 frontman Bono has opened up about the death threats he received in the course of his storied career which saw him clash with the IRA.

In his upcoming memoir ‘Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story’, out November 1, the Irish superstar discusses how the threat of violence plagued the band, with figures such as Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams making sinister statements about the consequences of their pro-peace message.

Speaking at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival on Sunday, the 62-year-old singer revealed authorities warned him that his wife Ali was a likely target of the IRA amid rumblings that ‘U2’s opposition to paramilitaries had cost the IRA valuable fundraising in the US’.

The father of four also claimed that a ‘famous gangland leader in Dublin had been planning to kidnap [his daughters], that [the gangster’s] people had been casing our houses for several months and developed an elaborate plan’.

Live Nation and Penguin Random House announced earlier this month that Bono would visit 14 cities in November, starting at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan on Nov. 2 and ending Nov. 28 at the Teatro Coliseum in Madrid to promote the release of the memoir.

‘I miss being on stage and the closeness of U2’s audience,’ Bono said in a statement.

‘In these shows I’ve got some stories to sing, and some songs to tell… Plus I want to have some fun presenting my ME-moir, Surrender, is really more of a WE-moir if I think of all the people who helped me get from there to here.’

Ali Hewson, Bono of U2, Eve Hewson and Jordan Hewson attend ‘Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark’ Broadway opening night at Foxwoods Theatre on June 14, 2011 in New York City

Photo of BONO and U2; Bono performing live onstage at the US Festival in San Bernardino

Frontman of Irish rock band U2, Bono attends the launch of the Scholas Occurrentes International Movement at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy, 19 May 2022

At yesterday’s literature festival, Bono recounted one particular heart-pounding moment he had on stage in Arizona in the 1980s.

Ahead of a performance of their hit song ‘Pride’ – a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr – the band had come under fire for speaking out against the then-governor’s resistance to having a memorial day for the famed civil rights icon.

The frontman claimed they received a threat which promised that he would be assassinated before the end of the song if he were to sing the verse detailing King’s shooting.

Bono told The Times he had ‘got all messianic on myself’ and half-knelt to sing the key verse.

‘I then realised the gravity of the situation and I did close my eyes. It was a slim possibility [of being assassinated] but just in case.’

He then opened his eyes to find that his bass guitarist Adam Clayton had stood squarely in front of him throughout the entire verse to protect him from any shots from the crowd.

Irish singer-songwriter, musician, philanthropist and lead singer of U2, Bono, performs their song ‘MLK’ at the Grand Circus Theatre, aka the Detroit Opera House, during their War Tour, on May 20, 1983, in Detroit, Michigan

March 20, 1981: Irish rock band U2 on their first U.S. tour pose backstage March 20, 1981 at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California. Left to right: Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr

Earlier this month, Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, opened up about his marriage to wife Ali.

He appeared at the New Yorker Festival at The Society For Ethical Culture in New York City, where he spoke about his forthcoming memoir at The Society For Ethical Culture, People reported.

Bono was asked by a member in the audience who said they are a newlywed, asking him for insight on how he’s maintained his four-decade union with Hewson, 61.

The Grammy-winning rocker responded: ‘It is a grand madness about us. And there’s something about knowing that you’re going against the odds.

‘But I would say if you ask me seriously, friendship can outpace romantic love, sometimes. And friendship is what myself and Ali have. When you have romantic love and friendship, that’s really something special.’

The latest: Bono, 62, has opened up about his marriage to wife Ali Hewson, as the U2 frontman, 62, appeared at the New Yorker Festival Friday at The Society For Ethical Culture in NYC

The Grammy-winning rocker and his longtime spouse were snapped at the Sarajevo Film Festival last year

The couple, who first met at Dublin, Ireland’s Mount Temple Comprehensive School 50 years ago – and celebrated their 40th anniversary this past August – are parents to four adult children: Jordan, 33, Eve, 31, Elijah, 23, and John, 21.

Bono noted how he and his spouse complement one another and are there for each other amid tough times.

‘Any time either of us got lost, the other would… be there to get the other one home,’ he said. ‘And I’m so grateful. And 40 years is a powerful number for me. That’s a powerful number for Ali. And it was brilliant when we got to 40, and we went, ”Let’s not f*** this up now.”

Bono also touched on his long stint with his bandmates (The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.), saying their decision to evenly split up their finances was ‘the best thing ever.’

‘And those songs are made what they are because of Edge, Adam, and Larry. And I think Edge feels the same. You know, we’re the lead songwriters. But Adam will come up with an incredible bassline, or Larry will come up with an amazing beat… our manager used to say to us, ”You know, it’s not musical differences that break up most bands. It’s the moolah.” He said, ”Get that right.”

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