Bono Charts His First No. 1 Hits Without U2

Bono is one of the most immediately recognizable rock stars on the planet, thanks to his signature look, which has included shades for decades, but he’s known almost entirely for his musical endeavors with his groupmates in U2. The Irish frontman rarely strays from the band that made him a global superstar, but this week in the United Kingdom, he earns his first hit songs under his own name, without the help of his groupmates. The track, however, is a U2 classic.

Bono Scores His First Solo No. 1s

Bono debuts his updated version of “Desire” on a trio of rankings in the U.K. The tune is an instant top 10 on all three tallies, becoming a quick bestseller across a variety of formats.

“Desire” launches at No. 1 on both the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles charts at the same time. It also arrives at No. 7 on the all-encompassing Official Singles Sales list. In each instance, “Desire” earns Bono his first placement as a soloist, as he opens at No. 1 on his first try on two of the three tallies.

Bono’s Updated Take on “Desire”

Bono released “Desire,” which he has titled in some instances “Desire (Stories of Surrender Version),” to coincide with the release of his new documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender. The film follows in the wake of his bestselling memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.

The tune is featured on an EP that accompanies the documentary, which is exclusive to Apple TV+. Just a trio of tracks — “Desire,” “The Showman,” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” — are included on that short project, and “Desire” has become the standout success.

U2’s “Desire”

U2 released the original version of “Desire” in 1988 as a single from the group’s album Rattle and Hum. Written by Bono, the tune was a huge hit around the world, topping the main singles list in the U.K. and peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in America. It earned U2 the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and is still regarded to this day as one of the band’s biggest smashes.