Paul David Hewson - BONO

Paul David Hewson was born on 10 May 1960, in Dublin, Ireland. The son of a Roman Catholic postal worker, Bono's Protestant mother died when the boy was just 14. He joined the band U2 in October 1976 when he was in high school, and was dubbed "Bono Vox" (good voice). He was made frontman for the Irish rock band, although his singing at the time was less compelling than his stage presence.

U2 began touring almost immediately and released their first album, 'Boy', in 1980. In 1987, they released 'The Joshua Tree', their sixth album and the one that catapulted the band and its outspoken frontman to stardom. Subsequent albums secured U2's reputation for range and innovation, including 1991's industrial-sounding 'Achtung Baby', 1993's funkier-edged 'Zooropa', and techno-influenced 1997's 'Pop'.

U2 returned to its modern rock roots with 2000's 'All That You Can't Leave Behind'. Creating simple, but powerful music, the group scored with such tracks as the soaring 'Beautiful Day', which won the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of Year. 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' (2004) also fared well, both commercially and critically. Its two leading singles, 'Vertigo' and 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own', made strong showings on the charts and won several Grammy Awards.

In March 2009, the band released 'No Line on the Horizon', which reached the top of the American pop charts. It featured such popular songs as 'Get On Your Boots' and 'Magnificent'. To support the album, Bono and the rest of the group have been touring extensively.

Suite101.com recently reported that while the band's manager, Paul McGuinness, was attending the Midem music conference in Cannes, France, he confirmed that U2's 13th studio album would be released in May 2011, although he stopped short of giving an exact release date.

The current title for the album is 'Songs of Ascent', but McGuinness reportedly said that this was likely to change before its May release. It is possible this latest album will take the band in another musical direction, as it is being produced by Danger Mouse, an artist most recently known for forming Gnarls Barkley with Cee-Lo Green.

The band's current tour, U2 360 Degrees, will have been seen by over 6.5 million fans by the time it reaches its final North American date on 30 July at the Magnetic Hill Music Festival in New Brunswick, Canada. Arcade Fire have been confirmed as special guest stars at the event.

McGuinness has said that the band is "really looking forward to bringing this now legendary 360 production into Atlantic Canada for the first time".

Throughout U2's career, Bono has written most of the band's lyrics, often focusing on untraditional themes like politics and religion. In fact, social activism has always been close to the singer's heart, and he continues to use his music to raise consciousness with performances at Band Aid, Live 8, and Net Aid, among others. In 2006, U2 joined forces with the punk-influenced band Green Day to record a cover of the Skids' 'The Saints Are Coming' to benefit the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The next year, Bono and the rest of U2 contributed the title track to Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

Outside of music, Bono has used his celebrity to generate awareness about many global problems. Over the years, he has met with world leaders and many U.S. politicians to discuss such issues as debt relief for developing countries, world poverty, and AIDS.

Bono has lobbied tirelessly on behalf of many causes, including two he helped create. DATA, which stands for Debt AIDS Trade Africa, is dedicated to fighting AIDS and ending poverty in Africa. Started in 2004, One is a nonpartisan campaign to "Make Poverty History" and is supported by more than 100 nonprofit organisations as well as millions of individuals, including many celebrities, such as Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Brad Pitt.

In 2005, Bono and his wife Ali Hewson established EDUN, a socially responsible clothing line. While it is a for-profit enterprise, its mission is to foster "sustainable employment in developing areas of the world, particularly Africa," according to its website. That same year, Bono was named one of Time magazine's Persons of the Year for his charitable work along with Bill and Melinda Gates. The singer was once again recognised for his charitable work in 2005 when he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Across the Atlantic, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary knight of the British Empire in 2007.

Bono and his wife Ali have been married since 1982. They have two daughters, Jordan and Memphis Eve, and two sons, Elijah and John Abraham.

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Donald Rankin