Bono

Bono (Paul David Hewson) is a famous singer, leader of the Irish band U2. Bono is a well-known rock personality, but he is also known for his political career and his commitment to humanitarian causes, particularly in Africa. A colourful character, who knows how to give voice in all circumstances!

Bono’s biography

Musical Career

Paul David Hewson was born in Dublin on 10 May 1960 to a family of modest means. He lost his mother at the age of 14, and led a turbulent adolescence marked by rebellion. In the 1970s, Paul joined the Lypton Village, a neighbourhood band that played music in public spaces. There he met Gavin Friday and Derrek Rown (Guggy).

Bad guitarist, he nevertheless manages to achieve good results on vocals and decides to push the experiment further. So he answered an advertisement published in his school, posted by Larry Mullen Jr. to form the band U2. He then joined The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton, and decided to call himself Bono.

Bono becomes the official lyricist of the band, and occasionally accompanies his songs on guitar. Soon, Bono and his band multiply the small stages, get noticed by producers and record companies, and sign their first contract. They then recorded their first albums, and were a dazzling success.

Bono is a particularly charismatic character who does not hesitate to break his image with the media at every opportunity. His voice, stiff and marked by his consumption of cigarillos, has made him one of the most beautiful voices in rock.

During his career, he did not hesitate to sing alongside the greatest, whether it be Pavarotti, Beyoncé, the Corrs…etc. Eclectic choices, which allow him to constantly renew himself.

His political career

Bono has always used music to promote his political commitment through causes he considers important. One of his first commitments was revealed through the song Sunday Bloody Sunday, where he strongly condemned the conflicts in Northern Ireland.

He has also been involved in humanitarian causes concerning Africa, and has thus contributed to cancelling the debt of certain African countries thanks to his “DATA” programme. The same goes for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, where Bono is still campaigning today for the delivery of generic drugs to Africa to treat those suffering from these deadly viruses.

Bono’s political commitment is so strong that his presence on the music scene has sometimes been diminished, much to the regret of fans. Moreover, some of his interventions have at times provoked negative reactions from the public, judging Bono as a rough draft on political issues. What’s more, his megalomania, coupled with his deep relationship with religion, made him a controversial figure.

So much more to discover...