HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
By Devlin Smith
Contributing Editor
2004.08
Most people fantasize about having their name up in lights, the jet-set lifestyle, fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams. The great majority of the population never reaches that pinnacle, yet somehow they survive. But for someone with the talent, the drive and the determination, just missing the big time can be spirit crushing. This becomes even more frustrating when you?re life-long friends with one of the most famous men in the world.
Neil McCormick has somehow managed to cope with not achieving the star existence he envisioned for himself while watching his friend Bono become one of the biggest stars of the past quarter century. This wasn?t an easy road for McCormick, he?s struggled with jealousy as his career stalled and U2?s endlessly ascended. All of this, and so much more, is spelled out in ?I Was Bono?s Doppelganger.?
The book isn?t a biography of Bono, it?s McCormick?s memoir. Bono, and the other members of U2, are major characters, but the story is entirely McCormick?s, starting from his earliest childhood fixations on celebrity and ending up with him once again being faced with the possibility of ?making it.?
McCormick currently works as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph but originally saw himself becoming a famous actor. Those dreams were quickly dashed when, at a high school talent contest, his dramatic presentation was preceded by the debut of a new young band, a band that would become U2. The skit was cancelled and McCormick instead found a new path to superstardom?rock ?n? roll.
?I Was Bono?s Doppelganger? traces McCormick?s nearly-two decade struggle to make it in the music business, showing exactly how exhilarating and frustrating it can be, especially when it seems like everyone is becoming a star but you. Interspersed are anecdotes about the members of U2 (who McCormick met when they were all students at Mount Temple). Their paths continually cross; McCormick?s younger brother Ivan was at the first band meeting in Larry Mullen?s kitchen, his older sister sang back-up with the band early on and his younger sister eventually worked with U2 in the studio. McCormick himself lost a girl to young Dave Evans, was introduced to his first drummer by Larry, bought his first bass guitar from Adam Clayton and debated faith and religion with Bono - a discussion that continues to this day.
McCormick, now a known and accomplished journalist since giving up his pop star aspirations, is a fantastic writer and storyteller. Like so many of U2?s associates, he is intelligent and witty, qualities that helped him create a book that is nearly impossible to put down. The book also features a perfectly fitting ending, hilarious and painful all at the same time.
You don?t need to be a U2 fan to enjoy this book. McCormick?s themes of friendship, ambition, jealousy, acceptance and growing up are universal. That all this is explored using characters we know and admire just makes it all the more inviting.
Contributing Editor
2004.08
Most people fantasize about having their name up in lights, the jet-set lifestyle, fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams. The great majority of the population never reaches that pinnacle, yet somehow they survive. But for someone with the talent, the drive and the determination, just missing the big time can be spirit crushing. This becomes even more frustrating when you?re life-long friends with one of the most famous men in the world.
Neil McCormick has somehow managed to cope with not achieving the star existence he envisioned for himself while watching his friend Bono become one of the biggest stars of the past quarter century. This wasn?t an easy road for McCormick, he?s struggled with jealousy as his career stalled and U2?s endlessly ascended. All of this, and so much more, is spelled out in ?I Was Bono?s Doppelganger.?
The book isn?t a biography of Bono, it?s McCormick?s memoir. Bono, and the other members of U2, are major characters, but the story is entirely McCormick?s, starting from his earliest childhood fixations on celebrity and ending up with him once again being faced with the possibility of ?making it.?
McCormick currently works as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph but originally saw himself becoming a famous actor. Those dreams were quickly dashed when, at a high school talent contest, his dramatic presentation was preceded by the debut of a new young band, a band that would become U2. The skit was cancelled and McCormick instead found a new path to superstardom?rock ?n? roll.
?I Was Bono?s Doppelganger? traces McCormick?s nearly-two decade struggle to make it in the music business, showing exactly how exhilarating and frustrating it can be, especially when it seems like everyone is becoming a star but you. Interspersed are anecdotes about the members of U2 (who McCormick met when they were all students at Mount Temple). Their paths continually cross; McCormick?s younger brother Ivan was at the first band meeting in Larry Mullen?s kitchen, his older sister sang back-up with the band early on and his younger sister eventually worked with U2 in the studio. McCormick himself lost a girl to young Dave Evans, was introduced to his first drummer by Larry, bought his first bass guitar from Adam Clayton and debated faith and religion with Bono - a discussion that continues to this day.
McCormick, now a known and accomplished journalist since giving up his pop star aspirations, is a fantastic writer and storyteller. Like so many of U2?s associates, he is intelligent and witty, qualities that helped him create a book that is nearly impossible to put down. The book also features a perfectly fitting ending, hilarious and painful all at the same time.
You don?t need to be a U2 fan to enjoy this book. McCormick?s themes of friendship, ambition, jealousy, acceptance and growing up are universal. That all this is explored using characters we know and admire just makes it all the more inviting.
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