Bono and The Edge of U2 Entertain Ukrainian Soldiers with Concert in Bomb Shelter

2021-05-09

Story by Anne Erickson

Two members of U2 surprised soldiers in a Kyiv bomb shelter with a concert to show their support for Ukraine

Bono and The Edge showed their support for the people of Ukraine with a special, surprise acoustic performance from a Kyiv bomb shelter on Sunday (May 8). The move to show solidarity for the Ukrainian people during their ongoing war with Russia.

U2 took to Twitter to announce the news, stating, “President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do. — Bono and The Edge #StandWithUkraine.” They tweeted out right before the surprise set, which happened in the converted Kryschatek metro station.

As The Irish Times reports, the two performed a range of U2 songs, including “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Angel of Harlem,” “Desire” and “With or Without You.” Then, they went on to perform a version of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” with an incredible Ukrainian soldier singing along.

Bono and the Ukrainian soldier sang together the lines, “Stand by Ukraine/ Oh whoa, stand by Ukraine/ Won’t you stand, won’t you stand by Ukraine/ Oh darlin’, darlin’, stand by Ukraine.” Watch footage from the surprise concert below.

This isn’t the first time U2 has addressed the war in Ukraine. A few days ago, U2 gave a plug on social media to “Reverberate Ukraine,” the NFT aid fundraiser for Ukraine organized by Island Records UK and Kyiv musician Alexey Kondakov. The fundraiser will raise money for World Central Kitchen’s Chefs for Ukraine fund and run through Thursday (May 12).

In other news, J.J. Abrams is also creating a scripted series for Netflix about U2, penned by Anthony McCarten, the writer behind “Bohemian Rhapsody.” No word yet on how involved U2 will be with the series, but rumor has it the band will lend their discography to the program.

President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do. — Bono and The Edge #StandWithUkraine

— U2 (@U2) May 8, 2022

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.