A member of U2 since its inception, famed musician the Edge watched as the band’s stardom helped the group sell over 170 million albums worldwide. And for the Edge, whose real name is David Howell Evans, his time with the band snagged him 22 Grammy Awards and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Enjoying every minute and milestone alongside U2, the Edge recently celebrated another accomplishment when he finally became a citizen of Ireland after six decades.
Back before the Edge showcased his talents with a guitar, he was just an infant when his family moved to Ireland. Although born in Essex, England, the Edge only remembered growing up in the area. But with the musician not born in Ireland, he needed to go through the proper steps to gain citizenship. And it seemed that the years quickly passed by before he got to the paperwork. He told RTE, “I’m a little tardy with the paperwork. I’ve been living in Ireland now since I was one year old. But the time is right. And I couldn’t be more proud of my country for all that it represents and all that it is doing.”
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Ireland’s Importance To U2 And The Edge
Although only becoming an official citizen of Ireland just a few days ago, the Edge insisted he always felt Irish. “I have always felt Irish, Ireland will always be home to me and I’m so grateful for that. It’s showing real leadership right now in the world and this couldn’t have come at a better moment for me. I am just so happy to be at this point, to be in even deeper connection with my homeland.”
While the Edge looked to celebrate the moment, the guitarist admitted he sat on the paperwork for some time. Even though he knew he needed to fill it out, it appeared he procrastinated for a few decades. “Honestly, there were many moments in the past when I could have done it with just the form to be filled out but I’m happy it’s now, it feels more significant.”
Besides growing up in Ireland, the country played a significant part in the Edge’s life. He not only called the country home, but he helped create U2 in Dublin with Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., and Bono in 1976. With Ireland holding such a special place in the musician’s heart, he was now an official citizen.
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