"Stories of Surrender" - Bono

EP

Track Listing:

iTunes / Apple Music Bonus:

  • Stories of Surrender 2D Trailer (Video) (02:10)

Background Information

On May 30, 2025, Bono’s film documenting his one man show, Bono: Stories of Surrender debuted on Apple TV+. To accompany the release of the film, a three track “Stories of Surrender” EP was released, featuring songs taken from the film. The recordings are done with the The Jacknife Lee Ensemble (Gemma Doherty, Kate Ellis, and Jacknife Lee) who accompanied Bono on the Stories of Surrender tour. The third song, “The Showman” was recorded during rehearsals for the show, again with The Jacknife Lee Ensemble. Although it was never performed on the Stories of Surrender tour, it is seen in the film over the end credits, as Bono performs the song in the Italian opera house where the tour ended.

“The Showman” was released in digital as an advance preview of the EP, on May 16, 2025. The EP itself was released in full on May 30, 2025, to digital services, as well as a physical 7-Inch vinyl single on black vinyl available direct from Universal Records, or via U2.com. (In some countries the physical release was June 13 instead, see below.)

The EP has been released in a number of configurations digitally, depending on the service used:

  • A single track version of “The Showman” released on services that do not allow a user to pre-order / pre-save a full album
  • A three track version of the “Stories of Surrender” EP, released on services that do allow pre-orders (Only “The Showman” is initially available)
  • On Apple Music / iTunes, the 3-track EP is accompanied by the trailer for the Stories of Surrender film being shown on Apple TV+
  • For the single track version and the three track version, the tracks are available in high resolution audio formats, as well as at CD quality and below. The high resolution audio files are released at 48kHz, and 24-bit recordings.

Although the film has been mixed in Dolby Atmos, there is not a Dolby Atmos version of the EP available at this time. When initially launched the EP was only available under Bono’s name, but has since been updated so you can see it when searching for U2 as well in most online shops.

As well as the digital releases, a 7-Inch record is also available, containing the same three tracks. The EP will be on black vinyl, and is exclusively being sold through Universal Records online shops, and U2.com. (We suggest you shop around for prices as the ones we have seen online at this time vary quite a bit for pricing.) Universal’s online shops include Musicstation.be (Belgium), Muzyka.sklep.pl (Poland), Platenzaak (Netherlands), The Record Hub (Ireland), Recordstore.co.uk (UK), The Sound of Vinyl (UK and USA), Vinyl Collector (France) and UDiscoverMusic (UK, US). In other regions the shop is usually listed under the local Universal Records, and local shops exist for Canada, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Germany and more. (Our list may not list all shops worldwide.) Universal shops do list that the vinyl will ship later from some shops than others. Shops in the UK, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany list a May 30, 2025 shipping date. In Canada, Poland, France, Spain and Italy the date of June 13, 2025 is listed instead. In Brazil, Universal Music lists the date of September 26. The 7-Inch record will not be available via all record shops, and is an exclusive to Universal and U2.com.

Along with the physical EP, U2.com is also selling new merchandise relating to the release of the film / EP, including a poster, a tote bag, two T-shirt designs, and a hoodie. In the US store, one of the T-shirt designs is only available when bundled with the EP and the new abridged Stories of Surrender book, but in the UK / EU stores this T-shirt is available separate from the bundle.

The EP was further promoted with the upload of videos to U2’s YouTube account. One set are visualizer videos, which sees a slightly animated version of the cover of the EP while the song plays. The other incorporate Bono reading from his audiobook, mixed with animated drawings, and the song. These can be found below:

Liner Notes

Performed by Bono and the Jacknife Lee Ensemble
Written by Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr.
Produced by Jacknife Lee. Mixing Engineer: Jacknife Lee. Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty.

Drum Kit, Keyboard: Jacknife Lee.
Cello: Kate Ellis
Background Vocalist: Gemma Doherty
Vocals: Bono
Music Director: Jacknife Lee

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