Bono is a name recognized all around the world. Given to Paul Hewson, the lead singer of one of the biggest bands of all time, U2, the nickname is undoubtedly iconic and the only name the frontman wants to be called by fans.
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“I’ve been called a lot of things over the years,” he told Virgin Radio UK. “I was 3 years old, [my friend] was 4, and we had a sort of street gang into our teens and I had many nicknames. I’m very pleased that I qualified to Bono, though even that is tricky in some quarters.”
The frontman continued on to share that his fans calling him Bono over the years has created a special bond and unity. The same goes for U2 lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist, David Howell Evans, AKA The Edge.
“The really significant thing is, I suppose, that we decided to be called by those names when we went out into the public because it implies a kind of intimacy with your audience, which is nice.”
He continued, “Some people will occasionally come up to me and say, ‘Hey, Paul, how are you doing, Paul?’ as if that’s getting close. The last person to call me Paul was my dad, and he’s dead. So don’t call me Paul.”
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