2.1.1 Who started U2 and when? How did they get those wacky nicknames? (U2)
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This article is from the U2 FAQ, by Maryann Stump stumpm@juno.com with numerous contributions by others.
2.1.1 Who started U2 and when? How did they get those wacky nicknames? (U2)
[SL] Larry Mullen, Jr. was born on October 31, 1961 on the south side of
Dublin. He was two years behind
Bono in high school but both noticed each other. It was Larry who posted
an ad on a bulletin board at school
about starting a band.
Paul Hewson (Bono) was born on the 10th of May, 1960 in Dublin. He was
a very outgoing person in high
school who responded to Larry's note saying that he could play guitar and
sing. He really couldn't do either.
Adam Clayton was born in Oxfordshire on March 13, 1960 and moved to
Dublin after his father got a job
flying for Aer Lingus . Although he was not a very good student, he was
always very polite to everyone. He
was the only bassist to respond to Larry's note.
Dave Evans (the Edge) was born on August 8, 1961 in East London. His
family moved to Dublin a year later.
He was often known as a loner early in high school. He took piano and
guitar lessons and often played with his
brother, Dick. Both showed up to "U2's" first little gathering.
[P] First meeting at Larry+s house (60 Rosemount Avenue); set up in
Mullen+s kitchen, and played Rolling
Stones -Brown Sugar+ and -Satisfaction+ (UF, p. 61); entire group
includes Larry, Dave and Dik Evans, Adam
Clayton, Paul Hewson, Peter Martin, and Ivan McCormick .
[CB] Larry was born on the *north side* of Dublin, Artane.
Bono, which is a shortening of Bono Vox, got his name through a group of
friends of his who were known as
the Village. The name, which means "good voice" in Latin, was the name of
a hearing aid shop in Dublin. Edge
was named by Bono because Dave was always on the fringe of things.
[GB] I heard on a TV show that Bono gave this name to Evans because of
the sharp lines in his face. This could
also apply to his clear, clinging guitar playing.
[CB] The thing in Lypton Village about naming people was that: 1) they
thought it strange that you should go
by a name given to you by your parents, when that name might not really
suit you. 2) the nicknames were often
associated with a facial thing and it would then also apply to the
person's character. So The Edge had this
prominent jaw line & was always on the edge of things: like an observer.
Bono's first Village name was:
Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbangbang (!) Paul McGuinness became known
as 'The Goose'.
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