08.11.2022 USA, New York, Ed Sullivan Theatre Bono - The Late Show With Stephen Colbert HDTV PRO-SHOT Total Running Time: [20:10] Our staffer Kay watched the show. Here is his report: “Last night Bono has been guest at the Stephen Colbert show on CBS broadcasted at Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City. Normally, Stephen Colbert invites two celebrities per show but this event was fully dedicated to Bono besides the funny controversy stories about Republicans & Democrats. The introduction was held while both were standing which is never the case as each person normally sits either on the moderator’s chair or on the visitor’s couch. Stephen Colbert mentioned that it is actually the second time they meet as he attended a Joshua Tree Tour concert in Chicago, IL back in 1987 and he was cheering from the 25th row and had a lighter. Bono commented funnily that with the lighter he put himself under fire! Band formation Afterwards, they started talking about the book and Bono gave basically the same comments about how his impression was from the first meeting and how each band member was looking like for him, e.g. that Edge’s head had the shape of a guitar and that Larry Mullen Jr. was the only one looking like a proper rockstar from day one and that Larry got his first drum set as a gift from his father who thought Larry may be interested more in Jazz music. Actually, this was his most important week ever as during the week of the first rehearsal with his band members this was also the week when he met his wife Ali the first time! Improvisation The next topic was about songwriting and improvisation. Bono mentioned Peter Jackson’s The Beatles documentary “Get Back” from 2021 as the producer had plenty of audio material from that time and Bono commented “wo ever thought that The Beatles had already Reality TV at that time as you could hear in that documentary how certain songs and words of the lyrics developed in a funny way. U2’s Songwriting is done by Bono and The Edge. Larry and Adam give their contribution by improvisation. As Bono started talking about improvisation he mentioned about the early days when he tried to write a song. Since he is so small he couldn’t see the piano well and reach hardly the piano keys. Once had had a note to tried to find some matching notes which can follow but that took some time at the beginning. Another funny story he mentioned was the visit of a national TV producer who visited Mount Temple school and Bono wanted to come on national TV of course. The producer asked if the can improve a song for him and all four team members looked into each other’s eyes knowing that this wouldn’t work but they played “Glad To See You Go” from The Ramones and the producer didn’t realize it was a cover and brought them afterwards on TV where they played an own song. “This is also sort of improvisation” Bono said. Midterms elections Stephen asked Bono about his view of democracy in light of the upcoming Midterms elections in the USA next week. Bono stated that “the USA are the greatest song in the world which hasn’t been heard yet” The United States of America are the greatest idea in the world and that there is no DNA test to prove that you’re American as Americans are always a bit of everything and Americans are creative. He also said that he is interested in every part of the USA and he has friends across this country who are both, liberals and conservatives. Both types of people have to talk more and especially also listening to each other. Even himself, who talks all the time, has also to listen. Referring to the attack with a hammer on Nancy Pelosi’s husband two weeks ago, thinking of it, it makes him rage. Bono said that “fly-over America” doesn’t exist for him. Live performance At the end of the show Bono went on stage to recite from his book to describe Ali’s and Bono’s firs house before he sang With Or Without You in the version of his current reading tour. Also his musicians Jacknife Lee (Percussion, Keyboards), Kate Ellis (Cello) and Gemma Doherty (Backing Vocals, Harps) were present.”