Bono Biography

Bono was born to Brendon Robert Hewson and Iris on May 10, 1960, in Dublin, Ireland. He and his younger brother were raised in the Northside suburb of Finglas and the duo regularly attended the Church of Ireland services with their mother.

In October 1976, when he was in High School, he joined the band U2, where his peers gave him the nickname, ‘Bono Vox’, meaning ‘good voice’.

After joining the band, soon he was made the lead vocalist for U2, and the band started touring and released its first album, ‘Boy’ in 1980.

In 1987, after releasing a number of albums, they finally gained international acclaim with their sixth album, ‘The Joshua Tree’. Their subsequent albums, which included ‘Achtung Baby’, ‘Zooropa’, and ‘Pop’, left an indelible mark on the hearts of music lovers.

The 2000s witnessed his return to the genre of modern rock with the album, ‘All That You Can't Leave Behind’.

The 2004 album ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ brought the band both commercial success and critical acclaim; its leading singles ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own’ reached the Billboard countdown and also won the band several Grammy Awards.

In 2005, along with his wife, Ali Hewson, he established ‘EDUN’, a mission to substitute "sustainable employment in developing areas of the world, particularly Africa”.

An ardent social activist, he used his music to convey philanthropic messages. On one such occasion in 2006, he collaborated with the band, ‘Green Day’ to record a cover of the Skids, ‘The Saints Are Coming’ as a part of the relief efforts in the wake of the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina.

In March 2009, the band released ‘No Line on the Horizon’, which topped the American charts, and the singles from the album such as, ‘Get On Your Boots’ and ‘Magnificent’ featured in the top 10 list.

In 2014, the band put out their thirteenth studio album ‘Songs of Innocence.’ The album received mostly positive reviews and peaked at number 9 on the ‘US Billboard 200’ while reaching number 6 on the ‘UK Albums Chart.’

U2 went on to release their fourteenth album ‘Songs of Experience’ in December 2017. While the album received a mixed response from critics, it topped several album charts including the ‘US Top Rock Albums,’ ‘US Billboard 200,’ and ‘Portuguese Albums.’

In March 2023, they released the album ‘Songs of Surrender’ which contained the re-recorded version of some of their old songs. The album received mixed reviews from critics.

Apart from his musical career, he met various world leaders and discussed various issues such as debt relief for developing countries, world poverty, and AIDS.

‘War’, his third studio album, released on 28 February 1983, was considered the band’s first political album. It received great critical acclaim and was ranked #1 in the UK and #12 on the Billboard charts in the U.S.

‘All That You Can't Leave Behind’, a studio album, released on 30 October 2000 won him and the band great critical acclaim. The album sold over 12 million copies and the album won a total of seven Grammy Awards.

In 2005, he was included in the list of ‘Time magazine's Persons of the Year’ along with Bill and Melinda Gates for his outstanding contribution to charitable work and public service.

An Honorary Knighthood of the British Empire was bestowed upon him in 2007.

Bono married Alison Hewson in August 1982. The couple have two daughters, Jordan and Memphis Eve, and two sons, Elijah and John Abraham.

In May 2010, he suffered a spinal injury during the course of preparations for the U2 tour and underwent neurosurgery for the same.

Bono's real name is Paul David Hewson, and he adopted the stage name "Bono" from a hearing aid store in Dublin called "Bonavox."

Bono is known for his extensive philanthropic work and activism, particularly in the areas of poverty alleviation and global health issues. He co-founded organizations like DATA, ONE Campaign, and (RED) to raise awareness and funds for these causes.

Bono has received numerous accolades for his musical contributions, including multiple Grammy Awards and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of U2.

Bono is also a successful businessman, having invested in companies like Facebook and Dropbox through his private equity firm, Elevation Partners.

In addition to his music career, Bono is a talented songwriter and has collaborated with artists from various genres, showcasing his versatility and creativity in the music industry.