Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelganger

by Neil McCormick

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Longtime friend and reporter, Neil McCormick, reveals childhood and present day stories about Bono and his band, U2. Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them. And some have the misfortune to go to school with Bono. Everyone wants to be famous. But as a young punk in Dublin in the 1970s, Neil McCormick's ambitions went way beyond mere pop stardom. It was his destiny to be a veritable Rock God. He had it all worked out: the albums, the concerts, the show more quest for world peace. There was only one thing he hadn't counted on. The boy sitting on the other side of the classroom had plans of his own. Killing Bono is a story of divergent lives. As Bono and his band U2 ascended to global superstardom, his school friend Neil scorched a burning path in quite the opposite direction. Bad drugs, weird sex, bizarre haircuts: Neil experienced it all in his elusive quest for fame. But sometimes it is life's losers who have the most interesting tales to tell. Featuring guest appearances by the Pope, Bob Dylan, and a galaxy of stars, Killing Bono offers an extremely funny, startlingly candid, and strangely moving account of a life lived in the shadows of superstardom. "The problem with knowing you is that you've done everything I ever wanted to," Neil once complained to his famous friend. "I'm your doppelganger," Bono replied. "If you want your life back, you'll have to kill me." Now there was a thought... show less

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5 reviews
This book was a hoot. Neil McCormick captures the Dublin music scene as punk took hold, and young men formed bands in search of fame, money and sex. The trials and tribulations faced by McCormick and his cohorts are contrasted against the rise of U2. Although there is a sense of McCormick wondering why it wasn't his band that rose to the top, his story is not really one of envy, but rather a picture in time told with grace and humor.
Apparently, Neil McCormick has the worst luck of any human being ever (or else the music business really is that cruel). Luckily, he has a sense of humor about it, and this book, which is more about McCormick's attempts to "make it" than the band that did, is incredibly witty and, when necessary, self-effacing. When the subject does turn to U2, McCormick presents a unique and balanced view of them--appreciative but not worshipful, and willing to recognize their flaws as you would a friend's. Which, appropriately, he is.
"Some are born great
Some achieve greatness
Some have greatness thrust upon them
And some have the misfortune
to go to school with Bono"

This tagline says it all really EXCEPT Neil McCormick sells himself short. As someone who has revered Bono for more than 25 years. I don't feel pretentious to say I ADORE this book (even though your jealousy stands proud it is absolutely understandable! *lolol*).

Read it - you know you should.
This book was a very entertaining read, and I found it very easy to stay interested. Also a must-read for any rock fan.
I was led to believe that some of the music made by the author and his various bands was quite good,after visiting the websits mentioned in the book I found that there is probably a very good reason he never made it big,try listening to some of it and draw your own conclusions.

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3 Works 168 Members

Common Knowledge

Important places
Dublin, Ireland

Classifications

Genres
Music, Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
782.42166092Arts & recreationMusicVocal Music, SingingSecular forms of vocal musicSongsGeneral principles and musical formsTraditions of secular songs {genres}Rock songsmodified standard subdivisionsHistory, geographic treatment, biographyBiography
LCC
ML420 .M34122 .A3MusicLiterature on musicLiterature on musicHistory and criticismBiography
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160
Popularity
202,728
Reviews
5
Rating
(3.94)
Languages
English, Finnish, German, Italian
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
10
ASINs
1