Reviewed by Graeme Crawford

As the title suggests, this is an exploration of the faith of the Irish rockers, as seen through their lyrics, image, activities, lifestyle and their on-off relationship with the Church. Although there are no direct interviews with the band or any associates, the material has been impeccably researched from a myriad of books, articles and interviews. It is obvious that Stockman - Greenbelt behind-the-scenes man and talented poet - is a huge fan of the band, and this is reflected in his writing. Some of the points being made become theologically convoluted, such as in the chapter Reinvention, but overall Stockman manages to communicate these effectively enough for most with a grounding in Scripture to understand. He is not afraid to tackle the more controversial moments in their journey, such as Bono's McPhisto character on the Zoo TV tour, and the apparently selfish line "Tonight thank God it's them instead of you" that Bono sings in the Live Aid singles. The chapter on Bono's work with AIDS charities sounds like a manifesto with its plethora of statistics, but this aside it is a balanced and objective read. Providing thought-provoking and interesting insights into one of the most famous and influential bands of all time, anyone who likes U2 will find this, the revised edition of Scockman's tome, an enjoyable and informative read.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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It's the book everyone is still talking about. This revised and expanded version of Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 tackles the issues and questions everyone desires to know about the world's most popular rock band.

One of the world's leading voices of faith and social activism also happens to be one of its biggest rock bands.

This revised version of WalkOn: The Spiritual Journey of U2 picks up where the first edition left off - amid the cathartic atmosphere of the post-9/11 Elevation tour that ushered in the aggressive spirituality of 2005's Vertigo tour. It explores the controversy surrounding the deep-rooted religious themes of the band's music and the outspokenness of their lead singer, Bono. Moreover, it is a spiritual companion to their albums, exposing the real meaning behind many of their songs and performances.
From the group's beginnings in Dublin's Shalom Christian Fellowship to their arrival as the world's greatest rock band. 'Walk On' shines a spotlight on the very real struggles and triumphs of the band members' Christian faith. How has Bono transformed from a rock god to a key ambassador on the world stage? Why is the Church that once shunned U2 now claiming them as its own? More than two decades into worldwide success, have the boys from Ireland actually found what they're looking for? Join author Steve Stockman in pouring over more than 20 years of interviews, analysis and insight in an unparalled quest to answer the burning questions everyone wants to know.