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Bono

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For other uses, see Bono (disambiguation).
Bono

Paul David Hewson is the frontman and principal lyricist of the Irish rock band U2. Bono is also widely known for his work as an activist on behalf of Africa.

What's the difference between Bono and God? God doesn't wander the streets of Dublin thinking He's Bono.

Biography

Paul Hewson was raised in Glasnevin (Northside of Dublin) by his mother, Iris Rankin Hewson, a Protestant, and his father, Brendan Robert "Bob" Hewson, a Roman Catholic. Bono was 14 when his mother died on 10 September 1974 of a cerebral aneurysm at her father's funeral.[1] Many songs from U2's albums, including "I Will Follow", "Mofo", "Out of Control", and "Tomorrow", focus on the loss of his mother.

Personal life

Bono is married to Alison "Ali" Stewart, a relationship that started in 1975. They were married on 21 August, 1982 in an Anglican ceremony at a chapel on the Guinness family estate. Adam Clayton, U2's bass player, was Bono's best man. The couple have four children: daughters Jordan (born 10 May 1989 which incidentally was Bono's 29th birthday) and Memphis Eve (born 7 July 1991); and sons Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q (born 18 August 1999) and John Abraham (born 21 May 2001).

Bono lives in Killiney in south County Dublin, Ireland, with his family and shares a villa in Èze in the Alpes-Maritimes in the south of France with U2 bandmate The Edge, as well as an apartment at The San Remo in Manhattan.[2] Bono is a Protestant and has asked the church to help with much of his philanthropy.[citation needed]

Bono is almost never seen in public without wearing sunglasses. During a Rolling Stone interview he stated:

"[I have] very sensitive eyes to light. If somebody takes my photograph, I will see the flash for the rest of the day. My right eye swells up. I've a blockage there, so that my eyes go red a lot. So it's part vanity, it's part privacy, and part sensitivity."[3]

Stage name

Hewson attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School, an Ecumenical school that was the first of its kind in Dublin. During his childhood and adolescence, Hewson and his friends were part of a surrealist street gang called "Lypton Village," which had a ritual of nickname-giving. He had several names: first, he was "Steinvic von Huyseman", then just "Huyseman", then "Houseman", then "Bon Murray", "Bono Vox of O'Connell Street", and finally just "Bono".[1]

"Bono Vox" is an alteration of Bonavox, a brand of hearing aid. The phrase in Latin translates to "good voice". "Bona Vox" was the name of a hearing aid shop they regularly passed in Dublin. It is said he was nicknamed "Bono Vox" after the shop by his friend Gavin Friday, of later Virgin Prunes fame, because he sang so loudly he seemed to be singing for the deaf. Initially, Bono did not like his name. However, when he learned it loosely translated to "good voice", he accepted it. Hewson has been known as "Bono" since the late seventies, even prior to formation of U2. Although he uses Bono as his stage name, close family and friends also refer to him as Bono, including his wife and fellow band members.[1]

Bono and U2

File:N10913011 30810296 4098.jpg
"The Fly" and "Mr. MacPhisto".

In 1976, Bono responded to an advertisement by fellow student Larry Mullen, Jr. to form a rock band, as did The Edge (David Howell Evans), Dick Evans, and Adam Clayton. After Dick Evans left the group, the remaining four officially changed the name from "The Hype" to "U2". Initially Bono sang, played guitar, and wrote the band's songs. When The Edge's guitar playing improved, Bono was relegated mostly to the microphone, although he occasionally still plays rhythm guitar and harmonica.

Bono writes the lyrics for almost all U2 songs, often rich in social and political themes.[4] Bono's voice has at least been partially responsible for setting the tone of U2's albums. During the band's early years, Bono was known for his rebellious tone which turned to political anger and rage during the band's War, The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum eras.[4] Following the Enniskillen bombing that left 11 dead and 63 injured on 8 November 1987, the Provisional IRA paramilitaries threatened to kidnap Bono. IRA supporters also attacked a vehicle carrying the band members. These acts were in response to his "fuck the revolution" speech.[1] The singer had been advised to cut his on-stage outburst from the Rattle and Hum film, but it was left in.[5]

U2's sound and focus dramatically changed with their next album, Achtung Baby. Bono's lyrics became more personalized, inspired by experiences related to the personal lives of the members of the band.[4][1] During the band's Zoo TV Tour several of his stage personas were showcased; these included "The Fly," a stereotypical rock star, the "Mirror Ball Man," a parody of American televangelists, and "Mr. MacPhisto," a combination of a corrupted rock star and the Devil.[4][1]

File:Bono04.jpg
Bono in the PopMart Tour.

During performances he attempts to interact with the crowd as often as possible and is known for pulling audience members onto the stage or moving himself down to the physical level of the audience.[1] This has happened on several occasions including at the Live Aid concert in 1985 where he leapt off the stage, over a security barricade to the floor of the arena, and pulled a woman from the crowd to dance with her as the band played Bad, and in 2005 during U2's Vertigo Tour stop in Chicago, where he pulled a boy onto the stage during the song An Cat Dubh.[1][6]

Bono has won numerous awards with U2, including 22 Grammy awards and a Golden Globe award for best original song, The Hands That Built America for the film Gangs of New York.[7][8] In 2005, the U2 band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in their first year of eligibility.[9]

Equipment

File:G6136I-Bono-Irish-Falcon-lg.jpg
Bono's Irish Falcon guitar.

Bono is credited on each album with guitar work, and plays a fair amount of rhythm guitar during live shows. He has typically been seen with a Gibson ES-175, Gibson ES-335, Gretsch Country Club and Gibson Hummingbird. As of 2001, Gretsch produces his signature guitar model, the Gretsch Irish Falcon. In many ways identical to a Country Club, it comes with an exclusive emerald green paintjob, gold hardware and an inscription on the pickguard reading "The goal is soul."

Bono has additionally been spotted using a Fender Telecaster Deluxe, Gretsch Chet Atkins, Fender Lead, Gretsch Black Falcon, Gibson L-7 and 2 Gibson Les Paul customs. He uses a Vox AC-30 amplifier like The Edge. Additionally, he plays piano on the studio version of City of Blinding Lights (although Adam Clayton does during concerts), and played piano during Elevation Tour performances of The Sweetest Thing. The song Window in the Skies reportedly features him on some piano parts. He also plays harmonica on the studio and live versions of Desire and Running To Stand Still, and recently live on Angel of Harlem.

Other endeavours

In addition to his work with U2, he has written songs either for or with, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Luciano Pavarotti, Sinéad O'Connor, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, and BB King. He has recorded with Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Clannad, The Corrs, and Wyclef Jean, as well as reportedly completing an unreleased duet with Jennifer Lopez. On Robbie Robertson's 1987 eponymous album, he plays bass guitar and vocals. On Michael Hutchence's 1999 posthumous eponymous album Bono completed a recording of Slide Away as a duet with Hutchence.

In 1992, together with The Edge, Bono bought and refurbished Dublin's two-star 70-bedroom Clarence Hotel and converted it into a five-star 49-bedroom hotel that quickly became one of the city's most stylish (and expensive) hotels. The hotel's basement was also home to the now defunct nightclub, The Kitchen. Edge and Bono have also recorded several songs together, exclusive of the band.

Bono is on the board of the Elevation Partners private equity firm, which attempted to purchase Eidos Interactive in 2005 and has since gone on to invest in other entertainment businesses.

Bono is a known Celtic FC fan,[10] and in 1998 it was rumoured that Bono was going to buy shares in the Scottish club.[11] However, it was reported on 28th April 1998 that this was not the case with Bono saying "its Rubbish, i've been to a couple of games and i'm a fan, but i've got no financial connections".[12]

Humanitarian work

In a 1986 interview with Rolling Stone magazine Bono explained that he was motivated to become involved in social and political causes by seeing one of the benefit shows staged by Monty Python's John Cleese and producer Martin Lewis for human rights organization Amnesty International in 1979. "I saw 'The Secret Policeman's Ball' and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed..." In 2001 Bono arranged for U2 to videotape a special live performance for that year's Amnesty benefit show. Introducing the performance, Bono referred to The Secret Policeman's Ball as "a mysterious and extraordinary event that certainly changed my life..."

Bono and U2 performed on Amnesty's Conspiracy Of Hope tour of the United States in 1986 alongside Sting. U2 also performed in the Band Aid and Live Aid projects organised by Bob Geldof. In 1984, Bono sang on the Band Aid single "Do They Know it's Christmas?/Feed the World" (a role that was reprised on the 2004 Band Aid 20 single of the same name). Geldof and Bono later collaborated to organise the 2005 Live 8 project where U2 also performed.

Bono with President Lula da Silva of Brazil
File:20060202 p020206pm-0095-515h.jpg
Bono & U.S. President George W. Bush

Since 1999, Bono has become increasingly involved in campaigning for third-world debt relief and raising awareness of the plight of Africa including the AIDS pandemic. In the past decade Bono has met with several influential politicians including United States President George W. Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.[13] During a March 2002 visit to the White House, after President Bush unveiled a $5 billion aid package, he accompanied the President for a speech on the White House lawn. He stated, "This is an important first step, and a serious and impressive new level of commitment. ... This must happen urgently, because this is a crisis."[13] In May of that year, Bono took US Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill on a four-country tour of Africa. In 2005 Bono spoke on CBC Radio alleging Prime Minister Martin was being slow about increasing Canada's foreign aid.[14]

Bono spoke in advance of President Bush at the 54th Annual National Prayer Breakfast, held at the Hilton Washington Hotel on 2 February, 2006. In a speech peppered with biblical references, Bono encouraged the care of the socially and economically depressed. His comments included a call for an extra 1% "tithe" of the United States' national budget. He brought his Christian views into harmony with other faiths by noting that Christian, Jewish, and Muslim writings all call for the care of the widow, orphan, and stranger. Bono continued by saying much work is left to be done to be a part of God's ongoing purposes.[15]

Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa was established in 2002 by Bono and Bobby Shriver, along with activists from the Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt Campaign. Some of DATA's goals are to eradicate poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa. DATA encourages Americans to contact senators and other legislators and elected officials to voice their opinions.

In early 2005, Bono, his wife Ali Hewson, and New York-based Irish fashion designer Rogan Gregory launched the socially conscious line EDUN in an attempt to shift the focus in Africa from aid to trade. EDUN's goal is to use factories in Africa, South America, and India that provide fair wages to workers and practice good business ethics to create a business model that will encourage investment in developing nations.[16]

Product Red is an initiative begun by Bono and Bobby Shriver to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Bobby Shriver has been announced as the CEO of Product Red, whilst Bono is currently an active public spokesperson for the brand. Product Red is a brand which is licensed to partner companies such as American Express, Apple Computer, Converse, Motorola, The Gap and Giorgio Armani. Each company will create a product with the Product Red logo and a percentage of the profits from the sale of these labelled products will go to the Global Fund.[17][18]

Praise and criticism

File:TIME cover Persons of the Year 2005.jpg
Bill Gates, Bono, and Melinda Gates on the cover of Time Magazine.

Recognition

Criticism

In June 2006, Bono and the other members of U2 moved part of their multi-million euro song catalogue from Ireland to a tax shelter in Amsterdam, six months before Ireland ended a tax exemption on musicians' royalties.[26] Until then U2 benefited from the artists' tax exemption introduced by the late Irish prime minister Charles Haughey. Future income will fall under Dutch tax law, which charges bands like U2 very low to nonexistent tax rates.[26] By moving its major assets to Amsterdam U2 no longer pays substantial tax in their native Ireland. Such resources could have been used by the Irish government to combat poverty. Moving their taxable status to a nation with a lower tax rate, U2 may have also placed a greater tax burden on others in their homeland.[27][28] U2's manager, Paul McGuinness, stated that the arrangement is legal and customary and businesses often seek to minimize their tax burdens. He also stated that the vast majority the band's revenue is earned outside Ireland.[26]

Bono has also drawn some criticism from newspaper columnist George Monbiot, political activist Bianca Jagger and others for getting too close to those in power and therefore running the risk of legitimizing their actions and "trying to patent the language of poverty reduction."[29][30]

With 4500 other artists, Bono has signed a petition advertised in the Financial Times to extend the copyright on sound recordings of artists' songs from 50 to 95 years.[31]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Assayas, Michka (2005). Bono on Bono: Conversations with Michka Assayas. London: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-83276-2.
  2. ^ Scott, P. (2006, August 11). St Bono the hypocrite? Daily Mail. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=400188&in_page_id=1879
  3. ^ Bono (Speaker). (2005). Interview with J. Wenner. Bono: The Rolling Stone Interview. Rolling Stone, New York, New York.
  4. ^ a b c d Byrne, K. (Unknown last update). U2 biography: Bono (from @U2). Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/index.html
  5. ^ Hamlyn, M. (Producer), & Joanou, P. (Director). (1988). Rattle and Hum [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.
  6. ^ O'Hanlon, N. (Producer), & Hamish, H. (Director). (2005). Vertigo 2005//U2 Live From Chicago [Motion Picture]. United States: 3DD Entertainment.
  7. ^ GRAMMY Winners List grammy.com. Retrieved October 15 2006.
  8. ^ HFPA. (Unknown last update). HFPA Awards Search. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/28459
  9. ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (2005) Inductee Detail. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=2348
  10. ^ http://imdb.com/name/nm0095104/bio
  11. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/100432.stm
  12. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/bono/256
  13. ^ a b Denny, C., & Black, I. (2002, March 15). US and Europe boost aid to poorest countries. The Guardian. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,667739,00.html
  14. ^ Harris, K. (2005, April 23). Bono Upset at PM. Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2005/04/23/1009529-sun.html
  15. ^ Bono. (2006, February). Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast. Speech presented at Hilton Washington Hotel at Washington, D.C.
  16. ^ EDUN. (Unknown Last Update). FAQs. Retrieved Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.edun.ie/faq.asp
  17. ^ Smykil, J. (2006, November 4). Update: The Other Red meat "charity". Message posted to http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2006/11/4/5856
  18. ^ Macintouch Reader Reports. (2006, November 7). Fraud Reports: Jack Campbell. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/fraudreports/topic4449.html
  19. ^ Langlois, F. (2004, September 23). John Ralston Saul awarded the Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honour. Governor General of Canada. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4267
  20. ^ Unknown Author. (2003, February 18). Bono Among Nobel Peace Prize Nominees. WNBC. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.wnbc.com/entertainment/1986984/detail.html
  21. ^ Unknown Author. (2005, February 25). Bono given chance for Peace Prize. The Scotsman. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=596&id=214402005
  22. ^ Mellgren, D. (2006, February 24). Bono Among Nobel Peace Prize Nominees. Associated Press. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/02/24/international/i082615S45.DTL
  23. ^ [Unknown Author] (2006, December 23). Honorary knighthood for U2's Bono. BBC News. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6206063.stm
  24. ^ [Unknown Author] (2006, December 23). Bono gets honorary knighthood. RTÉ News. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1223/bono.html
  25. ^ http://www.naacpimageawards.net/PDFs/Bono_Receives_38th_NIA_Chairmans_Award.pdf
  26. ^ a b c Browning, Lynnley (2007-02-04). "The Netherlands, the New Tax Shelter Hot Spot". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  27. ^ Peterkin, Tom (August 8, 2006). "U2 move their assets out of Ireland". Telegraph. Telegraph Group Limited. Retrieved 2007-01-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Strom, D. (2007, January 8). Kudos for Bono. Townhall.com. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DavidStrom/2007/01/08/kudos_for_bono
  29. ^ Monbiot, George (June 21, 2005). "Bards of the powerful". Guardian Unlimited. Guardian Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2006-10-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Jagger, Bianca (July 15, 2005). "Why I don't trust them, or Sleeping with the enemy". Retrieved 2006-10-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Hyde, Marina (February, 2007). "They live like aristocrats. Now they think like them". Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2007-02-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to U2.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Bono.


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