The group U2 has its history like any band. From meager beginnings in Dublin, Ireland, to global fame and stardom. If you know anything about U2, you know that charismatic lead singer Bono has been the focal point of the group. With their energetic and soulful live performances for his many charitable causes, when you hear U2, you probably think of him first. Guitarist The Edge, with his inexplicable sound and style, has also been a focal point in the band. But did it ever occur to you that if it weren’t for drummer Larry Mullen’s desire to start a band, U2 would never have formed?
Larry Mullen Jr. was born on Halloween in 1961 in Artane, on the north side of Dublin. Born with the original name, Larry Mullen, he added Jr. later to distinguish himself from his father, Larry Mullen Sr. Larry Jr.’s musical career began when he was 8 years old with piano lessons. Soon, however, the boy grew bored with studying piano scales and music theory, so in 1971 he turned to playing drums. Larry was able to take lessons under Joe Bonnie, Ireland’s best known drummer. However, just a year later, Bonnie passed away and his daughter, Monica, took over the lessons. Larry has always felt that his style was ‘unteachable’. He prefers to play by instinct and spirit, saying that he ‘sometimes just wanted to hit it’. In ’73, his sister, Cecelia, bought Larry his first drum kit. All of this led to September 25, 1976 posting on the Mt. Temple bulletin board, calling on his fellow musicians to come to his house to audition for a band. The auditions took place in Larry’s kitchen. The original lineup of the group was as follows: Bono-Vox on vocals, David Evans (The Edge) and his brother Dick on guitar, Adam Clayton on bass, and of course Larry Mullen Jr. on drums. Larry claims that the band’s real name is actually ‘The Larry Mullen Band’.
But dark clouds loomed on the horizon. Her mother, Maureen Mullen, was tragically killed in a car accident in 1978. Her death affected Larry greatly. But he was also a driving force in his growing commitment to U2, which was questioned by his bandmates due to his absences from concerts and photo shoots. Often him forcing the other members of the band to get a stunt double for the drummer. Larry had dropped out of school and was working while U2 was trying to get a record deal. That’s why there were problems with his and the group’s schedules. But the loss of his mother would catapult him into the band.
He has been with his partner, Ann Acheson for nearly 30 years. The two met at Mount Temple, Larry’s first year there. Together they have two sons and a daughter. He is also an avid dog lover. The family has two Labradors. He is very protective of his family when he gets to be in the limelite, and had done a successful job of keeping his life private, just that. However, a strange thing. Larry, you’ve had tendinitis and back pain for years. He has consulted many doctors for these problems, but none of them had the answer for the pain. Then he saw a doctor in Germany who practiced holistic medicine. This doctor started giving him injections of bull’s blood… and it works, he says!
Larry has worked on many side projects with artists such as BB King, Robbie Robertson, and Emmylou Harris. He has won 22 Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe. He also worked on one of the Mission Impossible soundtracks.
The drummer loves his Harley Davidsons, which have clocked over 10,000 miles while driving from gig to gig. He loves the King… the King of rock n roll, Elvis Pressley, (for younger readers). Larry Mullen, a 15-year-old boy who posted a note on a bulletin board and made music history. He is now a multi-award winning artist and a critical success. I think he made the right move.
