Judy: Now, part two of our
profile of rock star and
activist, Bono, on his new
memoir, surrender, which details
his early life, the evolution of
one of the biggest rock bands in
history, his own spirituality,
and his quest for purpose in
life as well as in music.
As Jeffrey brown reports, Bono's
activism has led to the
cancellation of some $130
billion of debt in struggling
countries.
That part of the u2 frontman's
story picks up here as part of
our arts and culture series,
canvas.
Jeffrey: Bono credits in 1983
song Sunday bloody Sunday about
the massacre of Irish protesters
by British troops -- troops of
giving u2 a sense of purpose, to
give their lives larger purpose
and meaning.
>> That song told us what to do.
Songs are like that.
Songs are not like your children
, they are much more like your
father and mother, they boss you
around and tell you what to do.
>> Williams responded,u2 has
sold an estimated 170 million
records.
Songs like "One" have become
generational anthems.
There spectacular live shows
have attracted loving prongs for
decades.
This is a band that takes its
mission seriously.
Some say to seriously, with
lyrics that reach for heavenly
light.
Bono pleads partly guilty.
For decades, I think critics
sayu2 is either the most honest
and committed band out there are
the most pretentious and
self-righteous.
>> Not self-righteous, but
pretentious, well, yeah.
Sometimes, for sure.
And also Ernest, and still in
pursuit of those early beliefs,
to be a man of the world, but
not this one.
Jeffrey: That pursuit led Bono
to be a highly visible
activists.
We met recently at red, the
organization he founded to
prevent AIDS in sub-saharan
Africa.
>> These are salespeople for the
idea that they should not decide
where you live.
Quickstep help distribute some
$700 million to date.
Is part of his 20-year-old one
campaign which enlist people
from all walks of life,
individuals, philanthropist,
celebrities, to lobby world
leaders to support programs to
fight global property -- poverty
and diseases.
>> Not just getting a nice seat
in a restaurant, but see what
you can do with it.
You've got a spotlight, see
where you can shine it.
So we started to learn that
activism can really lead to
actions.
There's a term in the book,
actual-ism.
I want to get stuff done, I'm
pragmatic, all work with the
left and the right.
You don't have to agree on
everything, if the one thing you
agree on is important enough.
>> Earlier this year, he and the
edge performed in front of
president zelenskyy.
>> ♪♪ With or without you
with or without you
and you give yourself away ♪♪
>> And this spring he accepted
the Fulbright prize for
international understanding.
>> Is the sound of liberation,
political, spiritual, sexual, it
is liberation.
>> And tying the power of music
to the very idea of freedom.
>> You might swap out the word
freedom for the idea of
liberation.
I think we are all agreed on the
concept.
We are all agreed it is not just
under siege in Ukraine.
>> Did you everything in your
life, Jeffrey, that democracy,
having to explain itself to a
jury that is not sure, the world
is now dividing into autocracies
and democracies.
Freedom is on trial, and we have
to demonstrate now what freedom
can do, what it can accomplish,
that we are with these amazing
countries in Africa, I think a
third of all the worlds youth
will be in concert, innovative,
smart, brilliant people.
We want to show them, this is
the direction, not the direction
of lies and propaganda and
autocracies.
Jeffrey Coto -- Jeffrey colon,
in his book and in conversation,
Bono, a son of Dublin, makes it
clear how much she has learned
from his experiences in this
country.
Not ask about his own
motivations, he cited the great
Irish poet, Shamus Heaney.
>> Creeping privilege.
We've been given this life, and
the only way through privilege
is to give thanks or to be
grateful.
Just not to expect it.
Challenge it.
People have this relationship,
buying your album, buying your
tickets, buying your book.
In return, just make sure you
give us the best of you.
I feel kind upon to do a little
bit, hunted, you might say, by
that feeling of just not wanting
to blow this.
>> ♪♪ Where the streets have no
name ♪♪
>> In the meantime, he says
there is plenty of more music to
come for u2.
Bono is on the road singing and
talking about his new memo,
surrender.