U2 frontman Bono has revealed that he sometimes "finds it hard to go out on stage" and feels that every time the Grammy-winning band perform "it has to be like New Year's Eve".
Speaking to RTÉ ahead of his book tour, set to take place following the launch of his memoir, Surrender, on 1 November, the Dublin-born rock star admitted that in recent years he has become used to being "backstage" and that it is harder than people imagine for him to go on stage, even with U2.
He said: "I am more used to being backstage these days. I like being backstage. It's hard for me, harder for me than you would imagine to be honest, even with Edge, Adam and Larry. To find that thing... the voice, the moment.
"When U2 play it can't just be a Tuesday night in Birmingham, every night has to be not just Friday night, it has to be like New Year's Eve. And that sometimes winds me. I find it hard to go out on stage."
Talking about his book tour, which comes to Dublin's 3Olympia Theatre on 21 November, Bono said it will be based on readings from his book, but that he also wants people to experience some of the music that goes with the words.
"We've ended up with Stories of Surrender. We don't quite know what it is yet - but I do have to be careful around the greasepaint so that I don't come off all 'luvvie' - my mates won't like that."
