Every single person (more or less) who has a musical bone in their body has been influenced by The Beatles in some way, shape, or form. Frankly, if you play an instrument, it’s arguably impossible to avoid their influence. To many, The Beatles were trailblazers, pop culture astronauts, and in essence, a guiding light that made it clear anyone can follow their dreams. One band that holds the Fab Four in that high regard is Bono and U2.
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On the surface, The Beatles and U2 have quite a few similarities. They are both four-piece bands from working-class backgrounds who aimed to change the world through song. That being said, Bono viewed The Beatles as an archetype of success. And in addition to admiring their music, U2 and Bono seemingly viewed The Beatles’ path as similar to their own.
From Three Years Old to Now: Bono Has Always Followed the Beatles
In a letter published on U2’s website, Bono divulged the magnitude The Beatles had on him and U2. As a matter of fact, Bono stated that listening to The Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is his “earliest memory of music.”
“I was three years old and in the back garden of 10 Cedarwood Road…” said Bono. “I associate the song with the smell of freshly cut grass as I was lying on my back on the damp green patch after my Da had cut the lawn.”
“The song on the radio felt like life force…” he continued. “Like I was for the first time conscious that I was alive and that being alive was a really, really great idea.”
From that moment on, it seems Bono knew The Beatles would always play a crucial role in his life. They did, and helped him and U2 achieve what they set out to achieve.
In addition to that letter, Bono told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell that they “still look to [The Beatles] as models of what can be achieved when four people get into a room and start experimenting.”
“If you come from a neighborhood in Dublin or Liverpool and you come to America, and you discover the roots of soul music and blues and stuff, that may or may not have influenced you, but certainly has opened your ears and eyes up,” Bono said. “They were the first to do that.”
It seems The Beatles not only inspired Bono but also gave him hope. A hope that encouraged him and U2 to pursue their wildest dreams despite the daunting chance of failure.
Photo by Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis via Getty Images
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