Larry Mullen Biography

Larry Mullen, Jr.
(b. October 31, 1961)
(Alias: Duke Dalton, Babyface Mullens)

Larry was born and raised in Artane, located the north side of Dublin, at 60 Rosemount Avenue. He had to add the "Junior" to the end of his name to distinguish himself from his father, Larry Mullen, Sr. As Larry's career blossomed, so did his tax bills and his father was the unlucky recipient of them. Larry's past gigs included playing drums for the Post-Office Workers Union Band and the Artane Boys' Band. He even played at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in O'Connell Street.

Larry began drumming in 1971, taking classes with Ireland's best-known drummer, Joe Bonnie and afterward by his daughter Monica. However, Larry has said that his drumming style is "unteachable" and that spirit and instinct are what guides his drumming style. His sister, Cecilia, bought him his first drum-kit in 1973 for £17. He placed a notice at the infamous Mount Temple Comprehensive School in the fall of 1976, and his life has not been the same since. Although everyone knows the band as U2, Larry claims that the band's name is really "The Larry Mullen Band."

His award-winning career includes 14 Grammy Awards, the Rory Gallagher Musician of the Year Award from Hot Press Magazine, 8 Brit Awards, as well as many others. He has also served as a judge for the Shortlist Music Prize.

Although he has been plagued with a battle with tendonitis it has been curbed by specially-designed drumsticks from ProMark.

Besides U2, Larry has done some side projects with artists like Nanci Griffith, Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Robbie Robertson, Paul Brady and B.B. King among others. In honor of the Irish National Football team's bid for the World Cup in 1990, Larry co-wrote and co-produced the anthem "Put 'Em Under Pressure." He also worked with fellow band mate Adam Clayton on the theme to Mission: Impossible for the film's release in 1996. Larry and Adam also teamed up with Mike Mills and Michael Stipe to form the group "Automatic Baby" for Bill Clinton's Inauguration in 1993 at MTV's Inaugural Ball.

Known for his love of Harley Davidson, he has been known to drive his Harley from gig to gig, clocking over 10,000 miles on the Zoo TV tour alone. He is also known for his fandom for Elvis Presley. Other hobbies he has been interested in include practicing karate, following the Irish National Football team, playing pranks on people, as well as stealing the spotlight with a karaoke machine.

He has been with his partner, Ann, for over 20 years. Together they have 3 children, Aaron Elvis (born October 4, 1995), Ava (born December 23, 1998) and a son born in February 2001. He has also been a dog owner, thanking his Labradors JJ and Missy on past albums.