INSPI(RED) BY BONO

Paul David Hewson (aka BONO), musician, singer-songwriter, activist, philanthropist, and main vocalist of the Irish rock band U2, was born and reared in Dublin, Ireland, in the sixties. A review of Bono’s six earliest memories reveals his activist’s roots – even to the extent of pinpointing when it all began. (note: see the previous post, entitled BOY BONO to read the memories on which the following commentary is based.)

Briefly, Memory #1 is like a singular Cliff Note for Bono’s entire life. Here he describes himself as a screaming child from the time he was born, because of something "to do with my heart." Yes! … and now he is singing about, and speaking out about (and also taking action about) the causes, ideals, and principles that ignite his passion (his heart) and capture his attention, his enthusiasm, and his resources toward making a difference.

Memory #2 is a pivotal memory; because it represents the day he stopped screaming and started taking action….started correcting an ill. He recalls not tolerating a bully who “bit his [friend’s] ear,” that most critical of body parts for a musician.

Memory #3 contains a symbolic picture of one who hangs himself out on the ledge for his beliefs…calling out to his mates below, damning his father, the “absolute ass” who got it all wrong (i.e., the authority figure who gets it all wrong).

Memories #4 gives us a picture of Bono’s dad seeming to be on stage – standing at the top of the stairs screaming (much like U2) while Bono and is mother take the role of audience members. Bono is fascinated by the dramatic event, and his mother, laughing hysterically, is completely amused, despite being aware of her husband’s pain (...similar to the global audience witnessing pain around the world, yet ignoring it).

Memory #5 reveals his mother to be one who gave Bono license to do whatever he wanted.

And finally, Memory #6 shows us that Bono does not like to stand still (i.e., do nothing, be apathetic, ignore an injustice, etc.). In this recollection, he takes the rap for his eleven-year-old brother, the only one tall enough to have taken the leopard now missing from the mantel. Bono, at three, recalls his indignation at being blamed...and he doesn’t like it (or like being pictured that way either).

In Bono, we have an extremely talented, principled-driven activist who continues to use his enormous talent to step on an even larger stage than the one he shares with U2 …in order to raise awareness about third-world debt and the plight of Africa, including the AIDS pandemic. As one of the world’s most well-known philanthropic performers, Bono’s worldview certainly is I have something to say... and, of course, the most authentic way...in fact, the only indisputable way "to say something" is with one's behavior.

BOY BONO

Known by his stage name Bono (pronounced BAH’-NOH, meaning good voice), Paul David Hewson, born May 10, 1960, is the lead singer for the Irish rock band U2. Of course, a person does not have to be interested in U2 to become fascinated by Bono and his work (but more about that in the next post). In the meantime, see if you can determine Bono’s worldview by looking over his early memories reproduced here. Take a good look and then choose the worldview that fits him best from the list at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Memory #1. “I have a vague memory of being in the hospital, aged three, for tests to find out what was wrong with the screaming child (I cried from the day I was born). It was a strange thing; they seemed to think it might be something to do with my heart.”

Memory #2. “The crying stopped on the first day I went to school. I remember that day. A boy came up to my new best mate, James Mahon, and bit his ear, and I took that kid’s head and banged it on some iron railings. It is terrible, but that is the sort of thing I remember.”

Memory #3. “I have a memory of one particular row with my father, and he locked me in the box-room (a tiny room about the size of a cupboard). So I went up; I pulled up the blind, opened the window, and I was sitting on the window sill with my feet out, talking to my mates who were down the street below. I was telling them what an absolute ass my father was and suddenly they fell very quiet. The old man was standing right behind me listening to my abuse, yards and yards of expletives, cruel descriptions all now on his record. As I think about it now, he had a lot to put up with.”

Memory #4. “My father used to make things. He was good at DIY (do-it-yourself projects) and he’d be building presses and wardrobes and whatever. I remember he was upstairs in the bedroom, and he was using an electric drill and there was a scream, a wild, mad sound. Mother and I ran out to the bottom of the stairs and we looked up. My dad had been drilling a piece of wood while holding it between his legs and the electric drill had slipped out of the wood and gone right into his crotch. He was standing and holding it with the ‘I’ve castrated myself’ kind of look on his face, and I remember my mother literally crying with laughter. At that point, of course, we didn’t know if he had castrated himself or not, but as serious as she must have known it was, she couldn’t stop laughing. She had a real dark sense of humor.”

Memory #5. “I remember my mother chasing me with a wooden cane after I had done something bad. I was running away from her, terrified, but when I looked around I saw her laughing her head off. She couldn’t take discipline that seriously.”

Memory #6. “I remember having a photograph taken with my brother, Norman (who is eight years older than me) and not liking it. I was around three years old. We had two little china leopards standing as ornaments on the mantel and at the end of the session, there was only one leopard left, and I was put away for that!"
(All 6 memories are taken from the 2006 book entitled U2 by U2, written by U2 and Neil McCormick.)

Please select Bono's worldview from the following 4 and cast your vote in the poll to the right. Thank you for participating! (Note: The Bono poll is now closed. Results by percentage of votes are listed below.)

The correct answer is...
1. I have something to say. (100%) ...wow!!
2. I scream the pain away.
3. Women are music.
4. Men make noise.