I have always had a passion for singing which stems right back to when I was a boy. As far back as I can remember I was always around music. Coming from a family that liked the odd tipple the local boozer was more like a playground to me. Some of my fondest memories are of not playing football but of my step dad taking his guitar down the local and playing after hours to the early hours with everybody singing. At the time it seemed like the normal thing to do. And it was wasn't it? The lock-ins where much more appealing than being tucked up in bed at 9pm like all my other mates.
As I got older I carried on with the singing at the pub in the form of karaoke where I won several prizes and competitions. It was here where I was approached by my first band to be their lead singer. Which of course I accepted. And this was to be the start of my musical journey. Since then I have played in several bands, original and covers music. But unfortunately we never seemed to get to where we wanted to be. Where was that you ask? Not where we were!!
Anyway time moved on and so did I down south to broaden my horizons.
I then joined a covers band where I gigged twice week sometimes three times. It was heavy going but loved every minute of it, for the first couple of years. The highlight being, playing ‘Stuck in a Moment’ at my wedding. But then over time I began to get restless not playing enough of the music I was really in to. With lack of commitment from the other band members and my dwindling enthusiasm for the music we were playing, we decided to split.
I was then approached to be part of a tribute band for ‘Bon Jovi’ and ‘Queen’ Which on the surface looked exciting but it never really got off the ground as much As I like Bon Jovi, I was never really a massive Queen fan and I think to be in a true tribute band you need to be 100% in to what you do other wise it’s not worth doing!
Timing couldn’t have been better because out of the blue, Ady (u2uk) called me, having obtained my number from a printer i had previously contacted about doing some posters, telling me about this great tribute band he was in called U2UK and that they were looking to replace the singer as he had other comitments. As I have always been a massive U2 fan I didn‘t need to think about it!!
So here I am Bono (Tony) doing what I have always wanted to do, playing the music I have Always wanted to play. Looking forward to an exciting future with U2UK.
- Tony Higginson
I started playing in bands about the age of 15, firstly playing drums in a few local bands and then onto playing guitar. My first electric guitar was a blue Tokai, which I started to learn the ‘licks’ that would eventually feature in U2 UK. I have been a massive fan of U2 since the BOY album. I love the early U2 songs, they have power, passion and energy and they are great to play!
My favourite U2 album is Achtung Baby, and in particular the tracks ‘Acrobat’ ‘Love is Blindness’ and 'Heartland’ off Rattle and Hum. I am currently really into the new album at the moment and really enjoying playing some of these songs in our show, particularly Blinding Lights and Love & Peace.
I have seen U2 live a few times now, most recently on the vertigo tour in Cardiff. What a show! Loved it! I even got asked for my autograph by a U2UK fan that was sitting beside me!! A real surreal moment!!! Whilst in U2UK there have been loads of highlights for me. Every show seems to be different, but a few moments that stick in my mind are when we played in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Stadium in front of an 8000 strong crowd, and when we played in Amsterdam in the summer of 2005 at the U2 after party celebrations. In the UK the U2UK our fans are brilliant, the best there is! Real appreciative and also very dedicated.
I take real pride in my personal gear. I am using 5 guitars at the moment, still 34 to go :) My favourite is Blacky (Black Fender) I have customized this one similar to the Edge adding a bridge humbucker. I also play a Les Paul, Explorer, acoustic and most recent addition is my own design Vertigo Stratocaster! I use it for a couple of songs, as it's got a great tone very close to the Edge's!!
I use a vintage Fender Amplifier, similar to the ones used by Edge on the Vertigo tour. FX wise, well he's got lots of em! I favour Korgs for my delays, Boss for my Overdrives and a little compression. Mix it all up a bit and hopefully it comes out the other end sounding a bit like the Edge!!!!!!
- Simon Pellecchia
My favourite U2 album is Achtung Baby, and in particular the tracks ‘Acrobat’ ‘Love is Blindness’ and 'Heartland’ off Rattle and Hum. I am currently really into the new album at the moment and really enjoying playing some of these songs in our show, particularly Blinding Lights and Love & Peace.
I have seen U2 live a few times now, most recently on the vertigo tour in Cardiff. What a show! Loved it! I even got asked for my autograph by a U2UK fan that was sitting beside me!! A real surreal moment!!! Whilst in U2UK there have been loads of highlights for me. Every show seems to be different, but a few moments that stick in my mind are when we played in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Stadium in front of an 8000 strong crowd, and when we played in Amsterdam in the summer of 2005 at the U2 after party celebrations. In the UK the U2UK our fans are brilliant, the best there is! Real appreciative and also very dedicated.
I take real pride in my personal gear. I am using 5 guitars at the moment, still 34 to go :) My favourite is Blacky (Black Fender) I have customized this one similar to the Edge adding a bridge humbucker. I also play a Les Paul, Explorer, acoustic and most recent addition is my own design Vertigo Stratocaster! I use it for a couple of songs, as it's got a great tone very close to the Edge's!!
I use a vintage Fender Amplifier, similar to the ones used by Edge on the Vertigo tour. FX wise, well he's got lots of em! I favour Korgs for my delays, Boss for my Overdrives and a little compression. Mix it all up a bit and hopefully it comes out the other end sounding a bit like the Edge!!!!!!
- Simon Pellecchia
The idea of playing a guitar was a dream to me, I could never afford one! Then at the age of 14, my brother brought me a Bass guitar, a cheap nasty one at that! Still that was the beginning of the dream, sore fingers and loads of frustration! I was introduced to U2 by a friend of mine, who told me of a friend of his who would throw himself against the wall listening to the U2 song ‘End of the World’!! When he played it to me I was hooked.
U2 for me play a major role in my life, not only that our band is a tribute to them, but also in the shaping of how I think and feel about everything. As for Adam Clayton, “is he the coolest f….ing dude that has ever played bass or what!”?
My personal aim in this band is to make it as authentic, but yet as exciting as possible, I want any member of U2, if not all, to come and see us and be blown away by what they first created. I guess for them the best thing about being in U2 is standing on top of the mountain, the bad thing is who else can you look up to!
The greatest thing about being in a tribute to them is you know how it feels to stand there with them, but I still get to worship them and their music! – “U2 Forever”
- Ady Aslam
U2 for me play a major role in my life, not only that our band is a tribute to them, but also in the shaping of how I think and feel about everything. As for Adam Clayton, “is he the coolest f….ing dude that has ever played bass or what!”?
My personal aim in this band is to make it as authentic, but yet as exciting as possible, I want any member of U2, if not all, to come and see us and be blown away by what they first created. I guess for them the best thing about being in U2 is standing on top of the mountain, the bad thing is who else can you look up to!
The greatest thing about being in a tribute to them is you know how it feels to stand there with them, but I still get to worship them and their music! – “U2 Forever”
- Ady Aslam
I first joined U2UK back in 2002, during some time out from my degree in Computer Graphics at Staffordshire University. I had always been a drummer foremost, but having taken the advice of my drum teacher who I had been under the wing of from the ages of 12 to 15, I had chosen what at the time was considered a ‘more stable’ career path.
I had always been in bands since the age of 16, covering a wide range of styles from pop, indie, rock and funk-hybrid, to such technical drumming legendaries as Dave Weckl, whose work I enjoyed emulating at showcases. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I had the honor of being in a band that was good enough to be supported by an upcoming Staffordshire based band known as ‘The Editors’, who have since rocketed to fame, as well as playing alongside ‘Hips Like Cinderella’ at a Signal One Battle of the bands in front of some big record labels including Sony BMG. I would always find myself playing with musicians older than myself; I guess for my age my playing ability both as an individual and in a band environment was already ahead of my years.
I spent two years touring with U2UK initially, before having to make the tough decisions to go back to University and finish my degree. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I learned a large amount of what I now do for the band (alongside playing the drums for them). Such skills included video production, website design and coding, flash graphics and 3D animation. (I hope you like the website by the way…)
I returned to U2UK two years later, and took on the jobs of lighting and video director. I spent just under a year preparing the videos, programming the lighting and perfecting the show system that would control all these aspects before returning as Larry Mullen Jr at the start of 2008.
With U2 having ‘a song for every occasion’ the set list can become so varied in style and approach – it is the contrast of the simplest and lightest touches on the delicate songs such as ‘no line on the horizon’ – and the driving raw power of ‘out of control’ and ‘I will follow’ that makes playing the part of Larry Mullen Jr exciting every time I’m on stage.
- Nathan Griffiths
I had always been in bands since the age of 16, covering a wide range of styles from pop, indie, rock and funk-hybrid, to such technical drumming legendaries as Dave Weckl, whose work I enjoyed emulating at showcases. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I had the honor of being in a band that was good enough to be supported by an upcoming Staffordshire based band known as ‘The Editors’, who have since rocketed to fame, as well as playing alongside ‘Hips Like Cinderella’ at a Signal One Battle of the bands in front of some big record labels including Sony BMG. I would always find myself playing with musicians older than myself; I guess for my age my playing ability both as an individual and in a band environment was already ahead of my years.
I spent two years touring with U2UK initially, before having to make the tough decisions to go back to University and finish my degree. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I learned a large amount of what I now do for the band (alongside playing the drums for them). Such skills included video production, website design and coding, flash graphics and 3D animation. (I hope you like the website by the way…)
I returned to U2UK two years later, and took on the jobs of lighting and video director. I spent just under a year preparing the videos, programming the lighting and perfecting the show system that would control all these aspects before returning as Larry Mullen Jr at the start of 2008.
With U2 having ‘a song for every occasion’ the set list can become so varied in style and approach – it is the contrast of the simplest and lightest touches on the delicate songs such as ‘no line on the horizon’ – and the driving raw power of ‘out of control’ and ‘I will follow’ that makes playing the part of Larry Mullen Jr exciting every time I’m on stage.
- Nathan Griffiths