Adam Clayton, the most "smart" of U2 - Rolling Stone
Adam Clayton, bassist of the famous Irish rock band, turns 56 today.
Adam Clayton was born on March 13, 1960 in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England. He has kept his British nationality although he has lived in Dublin since the age of five.
In the early 80s, the other members of the group contemplated the destiny of the spiritual group, and posed the problem of religion, which did not interest Adam Clayton at all. However, he always devoted himself with ardor and optimism to the group in which he believed.
In August 1989, the musician was embroiled in a dark drug story. He was arrested in Dublin and charged with possession of cannabis with intent to sell. He narrowly avoided sentencing, which would have disrupted the band's tour schedule, by making a sizable donation to charity. His apology, a few years later, was not about the nature of the crime but about the fact that he had broken the law: “It was only my fault. And I'm sure I wasn't totally in my normal state. It's serious because it was illegal. »
During the Zoo TV period, Adam finally asserts himself as a full member of the group. The very pop star phase of the group suited his lifestyle perfectly and Adam totally absorbed it: flashy clothes, bleached hair, cigarettes and the company of top models to boot.
When he joined the band, Adam Clayton barely knew how to play his instrument. He took professional lessons in 1996 with Patrick Pfeiffer. Often described as the "smartest" of the group by Bono, Adam Clayton is best known for his bass playing in songs like "New Year's Day", "One", "With or Without You" or "Until the End of the World”. His laid-back tracks contrasted harmoniously with Larry's very precise drumming, two fundamental aspects of U2 that run through each of their songs and which allowed Bono and The Edge to express themselves unhindered by their instruments. .
By joining U2, he realized a childhood dream of playing in a band and making a living from his music.
“New Year’s Day”, War – 1983
“With or Without You”, The Joshua Tree – 1987
https://youtu.be/XmSdTa9kaiQ
