MIKE:

Hi all,

 

Hello to all you lovely U2 fans!

Mícheál here (that’s Michael, in English 😊)

Born in Dublin to my parents who were from Chancery Street, in the North Side of Dublin, and Ballyfermot in the South Side… no readers… not the seven towers, that’s Ballymun as you all know!

Our family moved to the UK when I was about three years old. Sadly, I don’t remember much of Dublin, but I can assure you my blood is very much of the emerald green variety!

I was first introduced to the sensation that is U2 when my mother sat me down to watch Live Aid. I was instantly transfixed on the man they call Bono Vox. The incredible vocal range he exhibited in Bad, coupled with the sincerest of emotion I had ever seen in a front man, got me instantly hooked. Bono was like a roaring lion on that stage. And the entire band were a powerhouse, like nothing I had ever heard or seen.

Move forward a few years, and I of course became a frontman myself in the end. I was in originals bands, playing the UK circuit pretty much like the rest of U2-2 and I did a US tour.  The only problem (which it was back then when I was trying to get that elusive record deal) was the never-ending references and comparisons to Bono that I kept getting. Well now folks its not a problem anymore, it’s a blessing!

In terms of some parrallels…Well….

Bono and I actually share the same birthplace; The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin; we also share the same vocal training technique (Bel Canto) and rather oddly… we used to share the same ear nose and throat specialist in London… The same doctor. I kid you not! My Grandad was a post man in Dublin and worked with Bono’s father Bobby. I also have lots of aunts and uncles that went to Mount Temple School, many who knew Paul Hewson (as he was then) very well. There are lots more – so buy me a pint at a gig and Ill tell you the rest.

Being in U2-2 is totally amazing, as I get the chance to be my hero every night. Im a very lucky man. To me, every gig when I’m fronting U2-2, is an ‘event’. A moment in time between us four, and you, the audience. So, if there is a scaffold, or balcony in the venue… I’m sure you’ll see me roaring into my mic on top of it waving that white flag! See you down the front…..

 

GEAR

The Valan Atlas PMS microphone stand. I should stop collecting these, I’m running out of room.

All the sunglasses, the jackets, and the boots!

Shure SM58 Beta wireless mic.

 

FAVOURITE SONG.

Bad. What else could it be?

 

FAVOURITE ALBUM

Well, all of them of course. But I am a sucker for early U2 Ill admit.

 

 

"Rock and Roll Doggy!!"

 

GEAR:

I have seven infamous 1970s straight mic stand with a sure sm58 wireless mic.

Of course I have all his sunglasses used on every tour and photo shoot U2 have done, Oliver Peoples, Black Fly's, Givenchy, Purple Hearts, my favourite being the limited edition Popmart tour in Orange.

I feel like a sunglasses rep turning up to gigs these days!

Finding the Bono's designer clothes are the thing that causes me the most grief spending hours contacting the right people in U2 land.