|
Brakes of U2 Background: “People say, 'Why don't you do interviews? What do you think about this? What do you think about that?' My job in the band is to play drums, to get up on stage and hold the band together. That's what I do. At the end of the day that's all that's important. Everything else is irrelevant.” Larry Mullen Jr. Larry Mullen Jr. is widely known as the drummer and founding member of the highly successful Irish rock band U2, whose members also include Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals) and Adam Clayton (bass guitar). Along with his group, Mullen has enjoyed over 170 million record sales internationally and collected countless awards, including 22 Grammy Awards, thanks largely to such masterpiece albums as “The Joshua Tree” (1987), “Achtung Baby” (1991), “ All That You Can't Leave Behind” (2000) and “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” (2004). They were inducted into the Cleveland-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. On his own, Mullen, who once was named one of Stylus Magazine's “50 Greatest Rock Drummers,” is known for collaborating with several other artists like Michael Stipe and Mike Mills of R.E.M. to found the one-performance band Automatic Baby in 1993. He also joined band mate Adam Clayton to work for the theme of Tom Cruise's vehicle, “Mission: Impossible” (1996). Noted as the “brakes of U2,” Mullen has suffered from tendonitis problems throughout his career. He uses specially designed Pro-Mark drumsticks to cut down hurting and inflammation. He often avoids interviews and lets the other band mates to take the limelight of the events. In addition to drums, the youngest member of U2 also plays percussion, synthesizer and keyboards. 5' 7” Mullen is the father of three children, 13-year-old Aaron, 10-year-old Ava and 7-year-old Ezra, with his long-term girlfriend, Anne Acheson. He is an avid fan of Harley Davidson and has been recognized for riding his motorbike from tour to tour alone. Mullen is also a big admirer of King of pop Elvis Presley and enjoys karate. The Dublin, Ireland native currently resides in New York.
Babyface Mullen
Childhood and Family: Lawrence Joseph Mullen Jr. was born on October 31, 1961, in Artane, Dublin, Ireland, to Larry Senior and Maureen, who encouraged their son to learn music from an early age. Therefore, when Larry was eight years old, he started to take piano lessons. Before long, he found drums as his true passion and two years later, in 1971, he began his drumming lessons with Ireland's noted player, Joe Bonnie, and after following his death in 1974, he went on to study under the guidance of Bonnie's daughter Monica. The middle child and only son, Larry, experienced tragic episodes in his life when his younger sister, Mary, died as a child in 1973 and three years later, his mother was killed in a car accident. He has an older sister named Cecilia, who bought him his first drum outfit when he was nine years old. Larry Mullen Jr., whose nickname is Babyface Mullen, has three children with high school sweetheart Anne Acheson. Their first child, son Aaron Elvis Mullen, named after Larry's idol, Elvis Presley, was born on October 3, 1995. Their second and third children, Ava Elizabeth and Ezra, were born on December 28, 1998 and in February 2001, respectively.
The Joshua Tree
Career: Former student of the legendary Irish drummer Joe Bonnie, Larry Mullen Jr., who once worked as a messenger for a company, kicked off his musical career with the Artane Boys' Band, a Dublin marching band from which he developed a drumming style that now become the typical of U2's music. He played drums on many songs, including one “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” but was forced to depart the group after he rejected to cut his long hair. Upon leaving the band, he became interested in jazz music and started to learn how to play it. Mullen, however, did not set up his signature band until 1976. Through an infamous note he posted on the the Mount Temple Comprehensive School bulletin board, he met music partners Paul Hewson (Bono), Dave Evans (The Edge) as well as Adam Clayton and U2 was born. Four years after being founded, U2 launched their debut album called “Boy” on October 20, 1980. With the college radio hit “I Will Follow,” the four boys gained a buzz surrounding their debut. It was followed by such studio albums as “October” (1981), “War” (1983), “The Unforgettable Fire” (1984), but, in the meantime, the group were most famous for their live performances. It was confirmed with the success of their first live album, “Under a Blood Red Sky” (1983), which became a best-selling ever in UK. Eventually, Mullen and his group reached superstars status with their fifth album, “The Joshua Tree” (1987), which received 6-times platinum certification in UK. Consisting one of the band's most famous songs, “With or Without You,” the album debuted at No. 1 in the UK and also became an immediate hit in the U.S and . It was supported with sold-out concerts throughout the world. For their bright effort, “The Joshua Tree” won Mullen and U2 their first two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Duo or Group (both 1988). At the end of the decade, “Desire,” the lead single from the “Rattle and Hum” album (1988) that marked the group's first No. 1 hit single in UK, and the song “Where the Streets Have No Name” was handed Grammys for Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Performance Music Video, respectively. Returning to studio after two years absence, Mullen and U2 gained significant recognition with their album “Achtung Baby” (1991), which went platinum or multi-platinum in such countries as America (8X), Australia (5X), Germany, France and Netherlands, in addition to the UK (4X). A response to the dance and alternative rock changes and also their own sense of musical doldrums, the album won the group a 1993 Grammy for Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal. The follow-up “Zooropa” (1993) netted a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1994. A year later, they netted a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video for their “Zoo TV: Live from Sydney.” “Pop” (1997) marked their last studio album in the 1990s and is remembered for blending elements of long-standing U2 alternative guitar rock with popular 1990s techno. During the recording of the album, Mullen had to deal with terrible back problems that sent him to hospital for surgery. As a result, the recording was postponed. 2000 saw the release of U2's tenth studio album, “ All That You Can't Leave Behind,” which debuted at No.1 in many countries, except the U.S. where it peaked at No. 3. A hit with both critics and listeners, the album became their next masterpiece since “The Joshua Tree” (1987) and “Achtung Baby” (1991) and earned a total of seven Grammys in the categories of Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Beautiful Day,” Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal for “Elevation,” Record of the Year for “Walk On,” Best Pop Duo or Group with Vocal for “Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of” as well as Best Rock Album. Four years later, Mullen and his group launched “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” (2004) to massive critical praise and went straight to No. 1 in more than 30 countries, among them the U.S., the UK, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Australia. The lead song “Vertigo” won three Grammys for Best Short Form Music Video, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, while the third single “Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own” and the fifth single “City of Blinding Lights” picked up Grammys for Song of the Year and Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Rock Song, respectively. The album won two Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album. In 2006, U2 released a compilation album named “U218 Singles.” As of January 2008, the album has sold over 800,00 pieces in the US alone. Apart from Grammy Awards, Mullen and his band mates have also collected other honors, including The Meteor Music Awards, a World Soundtrack Award, an American Music Award, MTV Video Music Awards and BRIT Awards, among others. In addition to his impressive career with U2, Mullen has pursued a number of side projects throughout his career. He has worked with a number of artists, including B.B. King, Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Maria McKee, Robbie Robertson, Daniel Lanois and Paul Brady. In 1990, he co-produced and co-penned the anthem “Put 'Em Under Pressure” to respect the Irish National Football team's attempt for the World Cup, and later, joined forces with band mate Adam Clayton on the theme for the 1996 motion picture “Mission: Impossible.” Mullen and Adam also joined with Mike Mills and Michael Stipe from R.E.M. to establish the group Automatic Baby, with exclusively founded to perform the song “One” for the inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993 at MTV's Inaugural Ball. Mullen also has played drums on many of the songs on Emmylou Harris' album “Wrecking Ball” (1995).
Awards:
Grammy: Best Rock Song, “City of Blinding Lights,” 2006 Grammy: Song of the Year and Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, “Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own,” 2006 The Meteor Music: Best Irish Band, Best Irish Album (“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb”) and “Best Live Performance,” 2006 Grammy: Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” 2006 Grammy: Best Short Form Music Video, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, “Vertigo,” 2005 World Soundtrack: Best Original Song Written for a Film (“The Hands That Built America”), “Gangs of New York,” 2003 The Meteor Music: Best Group, 2003 Grammy: Best Pop Duo or Group with Vocal, “Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of,” 2002 Grammy: Record of the Year, “Walk On,” 2002 Grammy: Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, “Elevation,” 2002 Grammy: Best Rock Album, “All That You Can't Leave Behind,” 2002 American Music: Internet Fans Award, 2002 The Meteor Music: Best Irish Rock Band, Best Irish Rock Album (“All That You Can't Leave Behind”), Best Irish Rock Single (“Walk On”), Best Irish Video (“Elevation”), Best Irish Live Performance, 2002 Grammy: Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, Song of the Year and Record of the Year, “Beautiful Day,” 2001 The Meteor Music: Best Irish Band, Best Irish Rock Group Album (“All That You Can't Leave Behind”), 2001 MTV Video Music: Vanguard Award, 2001 ASCAP: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures (“Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me”), “Batman Forever,” 1996 Grammy: Best Long Form Music Video, “Zoo TV: Live from Sydney,” 1995 Grammy: Best Alternative Music Album, “Zooropa,” 1994 Grammy: Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, “Achtung Baby,” 1993 MTV Video Music: Best Special Effects in a Video and Best Group Video, “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” 1992 Grammy: Best Performance Music Video, “Where the Streets Have No Name,” 1989 Grammy: Best Rock Duo or Group with Vocal, “Desire,” 1989 MTV Video Music: Best Video from a Film, “When Love Comes to Town,”1989 Juno: International Entertainer of the Year, 1989, 1993 Grammy: Album of the Year and Best Rock Duo or Group, “The Joshua Tree,” 1988 MTV Video Music: Viewer's Choice, “With or Without You,” 1987 BRIT Awards: Best International Group, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2001 BRIT Award: Best Live Act, 1983
|
