| Bono (stage name Bono, born Paul David Hewson on May 10, 1960) is an Irish rock musician, vocalist of rock band U2, in which he also sometimes plays parts of rhythm guitar & mouthorgan. Apart from music, Bono is famous for his humanitarian activities in Africa & for his endeavours in promoting the cancellation of debts of poor Third World countries. Knighthood was bestowed on Bono in 2007.
Biography:
Bono was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Brendan Robert “Bobby” Hewson was a Roman Catholic, worked in post office & took great interest in opera, and his mother, Iris Rankin, was housewife & a Church of Ireland Anglican according to religion. Paul along with mother & elder brother Norman attended Church of Ireland. Childhood of the boy passed in rather poor area of Dublin - Ballymun. Paul’s mother died from cerebral aneurysm in 1974. Her death unsettled Paul: Bono was expelled from the St. Patrick's Cathedral School with the charge that Bone threw dog excrements on a teacher.
After expulsion from Anglican school, Hewson attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where he took great interest in Chess, learnt guitar and singing, took part in shcool theatrical performances. During school days, Paul was a member of street musical group “Lypton Village”: together with friends, Hewson performed in public places, for example in buses, mainly, attempting to startle the public. During those years, he got pseudonym - Bono, and completely sounded like Bono Vox of O'Connell Street (good voice of street O'Konnell).
All four of future U2 musicians studied at same school in Dublin. Here in 1977, they also formed their group. Their first albums “Boy”, “October” & “War” with single “Sunday Bloody Sunday” with Bono's vocal, spell casting themes of Edge’s guitars (David Evans; guitar) & Adam Clayton (bass) & powerful drums of Larry (Lawrence Mullen, Drums) tasted considerable commercial success.
New album U2 “No Line On The Horizon”, released in March, 2009, occupied first place UK hit parade.
Bono was bestowed with knighthood on April 7, 2007.
In 2007, Bono played the character “Dr. Robert Riley” in a film-musical “Across the Universe”. Dr. Robert was a character of 1960s, author of book about transcendental & driver of painted hippie bus. Bono sang two songs of “Beatles” – “I Am the Walrus” & “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” in the film.
Bono is a leader, vocalist and one of the founders of popular Irish rock band U2. Bono was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of U2 band and all the band members together won 22 “Grammy” awards. Bono is known for charitable works: supported the cause to forgive the debts of poorest states of Africa.
During the career, U2 band has released 11 albums, most popular of which are “Joshua Tree”, “Achtung Baby”, “Zooropa” & “Pop”. In 2004, the U2 band had released its last album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb”& release of new album is awaited in 2009, which, presumably would be named “No Line On The Horizon”. Critics stated that the U2 band has come a long way from post-punk to classical rock. In 1980s, U2 became one of the most popular rock bands of the world & in 1988, they won first two “Grammy” awards. From 1980 onwards till 2008, around 140 million copies of U2 albums were sold & revenue from the sale of albums was somewhere around half billion dollars already in 1990s. Firms “Universal Music” & “Live Nation” look after the distribution of U2 music.
Apart from U2, Bono worked with Brian Eno, Frank Sinatra & other musicians. In 1995, U2 together with Eno and Luciano Pavarotti, recorded experimental album “Original soundtracks 1” under the pseudo name “Passengers”, and the album, according to the concept, was a collection of soundtracks to fictitious movies.
Personal life:
Bono is married to Alison “Ali” Hewson. Bono and Ali Hewson knew each other from school days & Alison morally supported Bono after death of his mother. Bono & Alison tied the knot in 1982. Song “The sweetest thing” is dedicated to Alison; Bono composed the song in reconciliation after forgetting to wish his wife on her birthday. Like Bono, Alison also take active part in charity work. The couple have four children: two daughters Jordan (1989) & Memphis Eve (1991) and two sons: Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q (1999) & John Abraham (2001).
Sunglasses are one of the Bono's most well-known attributes: Bono himself admitted that he wears sunglasses to hide his eyes, which are constantly red because of an allergy. It is known fact that the musician has allergy to salicylic acid, which is an ingredient of wine.
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Bono is celebrating his 50th birthday today.
Irish rock star, global humanitarian and knight of the British empire was born as Paul David Hewson on May 10, 1960. He became internationally famous as the front-man of U2, going by his stage name of Bono. The rocker's nickname derives from the Latin word "bonavox" - meaning "good voice". His favorite food is fish and chips, and his favorite drink is Jack Daniels or tea. The singer's trademark sunglasses are not just a rock 'n' roll fashion statement - his eyes are over-sensitive to light.
