U2’s Bono and the Edge hit headlines this week for performing a surprise gig in a Ukraine bomb shelter as the country remains besieged by a warring Russia.
Invited by Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, Bono and The Edge turned a metro station in Kyiv into a makeshift performance space.
Bono, 61, told the crowd: “Your president leads the world in the cause of freedom right now… the people of Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you’re fighting for all of us who love freedom.”
It was an intimate show, with just 100 people crowded into the small venue.
With just two of the band coming together, some questioned whether the group have broken up.
Fans have been also taking a deep dive into the U2 frontman’s life, including what he does away from the cameras.
Here is everything you need to know about Bono’s family and the future of U2.
Is Bono married?
Bono - whose real name is Paul David Hewson - has been married to Ali Hewson, 61, since 1982, with 2022 marking their 40th wedding anniversary together.
The pair were actually high school sweethearts, with Hewson telling the Telegraph in 2008: “He was my first real boyfriend.
“It was 1976 that we got together – the same year that the band formed. I saw their first gig in our school gym.”
In 2016, Bono echoed the same story, explaining at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards: “We were teenagers. We went to the same school, high school.
“It just so happens it was this afternoon [in 1976] I walked her to her bus – isn’t that mad?”
Hewson is a lifelong activist and businesswoman, even getting involved in anti-nuclear efforts and championing charities to help victims in Chernobyl in the 1990s.
Speaking to The Telegraph, she revealed what inspires her in her activism, saying: “I know how I want to try and live my life.
“I know I don’t want to leave any darkness behind me. I think we should all have a responsibility not to affect other people in a negative way. It starts with your children – you see how trusting they are, so small and so innocent.
“That’s why I got involved in the Chernobyl project, because of what happened to the children there.”
Today, she runs two eco-businesses, Edun and Nude.
Edun is a clothing company focused on bringing fair trade to the fashion industry, while Nude is an ethically conscious skincare brand.
Does Bono have children?
Bono and Ali have four children together.
Their first child, Jordan Hewson, was born on May 10, 1989 and their second, Eve Hewson, was welcomed into the world on July 7, 1991.
Elijah Hewson arrived on August 17, 1999 and John Hewson was born on May 21, 2001.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Ali said: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I am just so happy for them, each one of them, you just hope they find their way.”
Elijah fronts the band Inhaler, and Ali said. “This is his first love, and it is great to see him find his way.
“He is the shyest boy, and he turned into a frontman, and I don’t know how it happened. But he found his thing, and it is great to see each of them find their way because it is not easy for any kid to make his way through this complicated system that is going on.”
Eve, meanwhile, is an actress, starring in some major movie and TV releases.
Recently, she could be seen in Behind Her Eye and The Luminaries, and also appeared in Tom Hanks’ thriller Bridge of Spies.
Is U2 still together?
Yes, U2 are still together, something Bono has previously revealed he is very proud of.
When asked by The Edge what the best thing about U2 is, he replied: “The obvious thing is we're still together.
“Because it's been 40 years plus of four men working together in an extremely close and interconnected way. So that's pretty remarkable.
“Doesn't mean it's always easy, and we just finished five years of touring together, so we've all been enjoying a little bit of a break to pursue our own personal projects and just recharge our own batteries so then we come back together we're fully enthusiastic about the idea of working with U2. So that's great.”
All the band members have also gone on to explore solo projects and careers away from the band, something that Bono believes ironically helped them all stay together in the long run.
The Edge added: “I think the way that being in a very successful group opens doors for other projects. I'm thinking a lot to do with the advocacy work that Bono does and we all do. It means it is possible to get a meeting with a president or prime minister.
“And if you have something to say, if you've got a project that you really are passionate about, that's an incredible privilege, and I hope we've used that privilege well over the years.
“We've certainly tried to. So those are the obvious things.”
