What Happened to Paul David Hewson?

Bono, born Paul David Hewson, rose to global prominence as the charismatic lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, which formed in Dublin in 1976. Beyond his musical career, Bono has long been recognized for his fervent activism and philanthropic efforts, particularly in the fight against extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa, co-founding organizations like DATA, ONE Campaign, and (RED). His commitment to social justice has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of Time's Persons of the Year in 2005 and receiving an honorary knighthood in 2007.

The period from 2022 to 2026 has been particularly busy for Bono. In November 2022, he released his highly anticipated memoir, "Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story," which delves into his life, career, and activism through 40 chapters, each named after a U2 song. The book, which includes 40 original drawings by Bono, became a New York Times bestseller and offered a candid look at his personal journey and the influences that shaped him.

From September 2023 to March 2024, Bono, alongside U2, embarked on a groundbreaking concert residency titled "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere" in Las Vegas. This series of 40 shows inaugurated the state-of-the-art Sphere venue, featuring immersive video and sound technologies. Notably, U2's longtime drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., did not participate in the residency due to recuperating from surgery, with Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg filling in. The residency was a massive success, grossing $244.5 million from 663,000 tickets sold.

Following the success of his memoir and the Sphere residency, a documentary film, "Bono: Stories of Surrender," premiered on Apple TV+ on May 30, 2025. The film, which captures the intimate storytelling of his one-man show, was also released as the first feature-length film in Apple Immersive Video for the Apple Vision Pro headset. An accompanying 3-track Live EP was also released. In October 2025, Bono and The Edge accepted the Woody Guthrie Prize on behalf of U2, recognizing their significant contributions to music and social justice.

Looking into 2026, Bono has continued his engagement in both music and global issues. In January 2026, he contributed an article to The Atlantic titled "What Peaceniks Like Me Get Wrong About Peace," offering an Irish perspective on possibilities for Israeli-Palestinian peace. On February 18, 2026, U2 surprised fans with the release of a six-track EP, "Days of Ash," featuring politically charged new songs addressing contemporary global issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the killings of activists. This EP marked the return of Larry Mullen Jr. to the studio with the band. A second surprise EP, "Easter Lily," followed in April 2026. Bono has confirmed that a full-length studio album with a more joyful and celebratory tone is expected later in 2026, with approximately 25 songs under consideration. Additionally, the African Well Fund is running its 24th Annual "Build a Well for Bono's Birthday" fundraiser throughout May 2026, honoring his 66th birthday and continuing his legacy of supporting clean water projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.