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Bono, President Obama Got Drunk Together in the White House

Bono and President Barack Obama apparently got drunk together in the White House. However, both of them allegedly remember events of the evening a little differently. This story was shared…

Bono and President Barack Obama
Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images

Bono and President Barack Obama apparently got drunk together in the White House. However, both of them allegedly remember events of the evening a little differently.

This story was shared by Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner in an appearance on The Tonight Show. Wenner was on the late-night talk show to promote his new memoir Like a Rolling Stone. Host Jimmy Fallon shared a photo of Wenner interviewing President Obama in the Oval Office which led to the funny anecdote.

"Well, I had just been with Bono the night before," recalled Wenner. "I said I was going down there [to interview Obama]. He said, ‘Oh, I stayed the night two weeks ago at the White House...and I drank him…we went mano a mano with drinks until like 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning. I just stayed with him.'"

Wenner continued, "And I’m seeing Obama the next day, so I said, 'You know, I saw Bono last night. He said that he drank you under the table.' He says, 'You're kidding. I put him away! I had to carry him to the Lincoln Bedroom!'"

Fallon let out a laugh and said, "That's not true!" Wenner responded, "It's the truth. I'm not supposed to say that. That's totally discreet." Fallon playfully replied, "No one's watching. Don't worry."

Wenner isn't the only big name in this story releasing a memoir this year. Bono is releasing his long in the works memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, on November 1. Bono's memoir is using a unique structure. It contains 40 chapters, and each story in the chapter centers around a different song. The book is available for pre-order at SurrenderMemoir.com.

Bono turns 60 today (May 10), and after being active with U2 for 40 years, he remains one of the best frontmen in rock.

While traditional concerts are currently on hold, that doesn't mean we can't go back and enjoy some of Bono's best live moments. In honor of Bono's birthday, enjoy these seven performances below.

“Bad” – Live Aid (1985)

U2 is able to make a stadium show feel like a club show. They proved that during their now-legendary set at Live Aid in 1985 where Bono jumped from the massive stage to dance with one lucky audience member.

“Where The Streets Have No Name” – 1987 Joshua Tree Tour

This performance from the first Joshua Tree tour was prominently featured in U2 concert/documentary film Rattle & Hum. Simply put, Bono’s vocals here are perfection.

“Even Better Than The Real Thing” – 1992 MTV Video Music Awards

In the thick of their ZooTV tour, U2 performed live via satellite with Dana Carvey as Garth Algar during the 1992 MTV VMAs. It was both comically and technologically awesome.

“Lemon” – ZooTV (1993)

If you’re making a list about live Bono and you don’t bring up any of the personas from the ZooTV tour, frankly, your list is incomplete. This writer’s personal favorite was MacPhisto, a gold-clad demon of sorts that liked to prank call the White House. Here he is performing “Lemon.”

“With Or Without You” – Elevation Tour (2001)

Remember how we said U2 has a way of making big concert settings feel intimate? For this one fan picked from the crowd, Bono made this performance of “With Or Without You” really intimate.

“Beautiful Day/MLK/Where The Streets Have No Name” – 2002 Super Bowl Halftime Show

With 9/11 still fresh in the minds of all Americans, U2 took to the Super Bowl Halftime Show and gave one of the most moving performances of their career. From Bono emerging from the crowd to him running laps on the heart stage, it’s a moment fans certainly haven’t forgotten over the years.

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For/Desire” – NYC Subway (2015)

If only more bands busked on subway platforms!  In perhaps one of the coziest sets U2 performed in recent years, Bono has no shame in mugging for all the cell phones out capturing this once-in-a-lifetime performance.

U2 and Other Band Origin Stories

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights