Adam Clayton: A Birthday Tribute*

HelloAngel · 03-12-2004, 08:41 AM

[SIMG]http://bonovox.interference.com/band/adam-thmb.jpg[/SIMG]
By Debbie Kreuser
2004.03.13

We all know Adam Clayton. For over 25 years, this tall, handsome Englishman has been the bass player with U2. Laying down the rhythm patterns (along with Larry Mullen Jr.) upon which Bono and the Edge would build beautiful melodies and soul-stirring lyrics (Where the Streets Have No Name, Please, With or Without You, Beautiful Day, etc.), Adam Clayton has been an ESSENTIAL component of U2 from the beginning as Bono fully acknowledged (�Bono: In His Own Words�):

"Adam Clayton...if it wasn't for Adam Clayton I wouldn't be in U2. Adam Clayton found Paul McGuinness, our manager, Adam Clayton booked our first gigs. I owe so much to him. He's totally committed to being in U2." (March 1987)

"...Adam believed in the band before anyone else did - he'd made up his mind at 15 or 16 that rock 'n roll was what he was going to do." (1988)

So, in order to fully recognize him on his special day, I have listed below some the contributions that Adam Clayton has made to U2 through the years and some of the reasons why we celebrate his special day:

1) U2's FIRST MANAGER
From the beginning when the band was still known as Feedback, Adam believed that the group could become something BIG and set out to MAKE THAT BELIEF A REALITY. As first manager of the band, Adam relentlessly made the contacts within the Irish music industry at the time (Bill Graham, Phil Lynott, Paul McGuinness, etc.) that would eventually propel the group into superstardom.

2) INDIVIDUALITY and INDEPENDENCE
Adam Clayton has always been known by friends and fans alike as a reasonable, intelligent and humorous person, unyielding in his determination to be his own man. This was demonstrated early in his life when at 17 years old, Adam streaked across the mall of Mt.Temple high school in February 1978. This show of unabashed individuality and independence would result in Adam's expulsion from Mt. Temple the following month (March 1978). These same attributes have become essential qualities of U2 through the years and have helped them to create their own identity, without compromise, in a music industry which demands conformity.

3) TEAM PLAYER
Adam Clayton has always known and demonstrated that U2 is about the strength of the unit. Whether in times of closeness or separateness in U2, Adam has always stood by his bandmates whether he agreed with them or not. Most notable was Adam's allegiance to U2 during the difficult "October" period. Then there is the extraordinary story Bono told about how Adam potentially risked his life to support him (Bono)during one tense concert in Los Angeles.

"Now we get all kinds of racist jibes because we wrote a song for Martin Luther King, or pinko jibes because we did the Amnesty International Tour. Wherever you look we're a target for the loony fringe. So the second night, we're on stage and I'm singing "Pride" thinking 'If someone is going to do it it will be during this number.' So I crouched down on the stage, shut my eyes and for a moment the thought of death crossed my mind. When I looked up I just saw Adam standing over me, between me and the crowd. It was a good, good moment." (Bono)

Adam has also been very firm in his support of his bandmates' pursuits outside of U2. Here is what Adam told Rolling Stone magazine in 2002 about Bono's humanitarian activities:

"You can't deny the penetration he has achieved. And it makes the rest of us realize that what we do is important to the group. We need to keep it going forward, to allow him to come in and out. Bono has a legitimate reason not to be around all the time. And we have a legitimate reason to make sure that the time we are all together is used wisely."

So, for being a true friend to his bandmates and a real gentleman to U2 fans, and for giving us some of the most dynamic and sensuous bass playing around ( If You Wear That Velvet Dress), we at Interference.com CELEBRATE ADAM CLAYTON and thank him for providing us with over twenty-five years of GREAT MUSIC and MEMORIES!

Mullen-Girl · 03-12-2004, 09:03 AM

That was great! Happy Birthday Adam!

Inis · 03-12-2004, 10:57 AM

Happy birthday Adam! And may you have many, more.

**Headache in a Suitcase** · 03-12-2004, 11:11 AM

Jack In The Box · 03-12-2004, 04:56 PM

ILuvLarryMullen · 03-12-2004, 05:54 PM

happy birthday adam!

souLnation2002 · 03-12-2004, 09:17 PM

Happy Birthday Adam!

**Bonochick** · 03-12-2004, 09:37 PM

fah · 03-13-2004, 12:17 AM

Happy Birrthday, I'll be celebrating in your general direction!!!

Stories for Boys · 03-13-2004, 08:53 AM

adam, hope your birthday is as great as you are...you deserve it

verte76 · 03-13-2004, 09:33 AM

Happy birthday Adam!!

pianorocker · 03-13-2004, 10:02 AM

Happy Birthday to the bass man!!!!

Sue DeNym · 03-13-2004, 11:29 AM

What a wonderful, fitting tribute to our beloved Sparky!

Happy (belated) birthday, Adam, and may you see many, many more!

Edgespet · 03-13-2004, 06:45 PM

Beautiful tribute to a beautiful man!

03-12-2004, 08:41 AM	#1
HelloAngel ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: new york city Posts: 14,534 Local Time: 01:35 PM	Adam Clayton: A Birthday Tribute* [SIMG]http://bonovox.interference.com/band/adam-thmb.jpg[/SIMG] By Debbie Kreuser 2004.03.13 We all know Adam Clayton. For over 25 years, this tall, handsome Englishman has been the bass player with U2. Laying down the rhythm patterns (along with Larry Mullen Jr.) upon which Bono and the Edge would build beautiful melodies and soul-stirring lyrics (Where the Streets Have No Name, Please, With or Without You, Beautiful Day, etc.), Adam Clayton has been an ESSENTIAL component of U2 from the beginning as Bono fully acknowledged (�Bono: In His Own Words�): "Adam Clayton...if it wasn't for Adam Clayton I wouldn't be in U2. Adam Clayton found Paul McGuinness, our manager, Adam Clayton booked our first gigs. I owe so much to him. He's totally committed to being in U2." (March 1987) "...Adam believed in the band before anyone else did - he'd made up his mind at 15 or 16 that rock 'n roll was what he was going to do." (1988) So, in order to fully recognize him on his special day, I have listed below some the contributions that Adam Clayton has made to U2 through the years and some of the reasons why we celebrate his special day: 1) U2's FIRST MANAGER From the beginning when the band was still known as Feedback, Adam believed that the group could become something BIG and set out to MAKE THAT BELIEF A REALITY. As first manager of the band, Adam relentlessly made the contacts within the Irish music industry at the time (Bill Graham, Phil Lynott, Paul McGuinness, etc.) that would eventually propel the group into superstardom. 2) INDIVIDUALITY and INDEPENDENCE Adam Clayton has always been known by friends and fans alike as a reasonable, intelligent and humorous person, unyielding in his determination to be his own man. This was demonstrated early in his life when at 17 years old, Adam streaked across the mall of Mt.Temple high school in February 1978. This show of unabashed individuality and independence would result in Adam's expulsion from Mt. Temple the following month (March 1978). These same attributes have become essential qualities of U2 through the years and have helped them to create their own identity, without compromise, in a music industry which demands conformity. 3) TEAM PLAYER Adam Clayton has always known and demonstrated that U2 is about the strength of the unit. Whether in times of closeness or separateness in U2, Adam has always stood by his bandmates whether he agreed with them or not. Most notable was Adam's allegiance to U2 during the difficult "October" period. Then there is the extraordinary story Bono told about how Adam potentially risked his life to support him (Bono)during one tense concert in Los Angeles. "Now we get all kinds of racist jibes because we wrote a song for Martin Luther King, or pinko jibes because we did the Amnesty International Tour. Wherever you look we're a target for the loony fringe. So the second night, we're on stage and I'm singing "Pride" thinking 'If someone is going to do it it will be during this number.' So I crouched down on the stage, shut my eyes and for a moment the thought of death crossed my mind. When I looked up I just saw Adam standing over me, between me and the crowd. It was a good, good moment." (Bono) Adam has also been very firm in his support of his bandmates' pursuits outside of U2. Here is what Adam told Rolling Stone magazine in 2002 about Bono's humanitarian activities: "You can't deny the penetration he has achieved. And it makes the rest of us realize that what we do is important to the group. We need to keep it going forward, to allow him to come in and out. Bono has a legitimate reason not to be around all the time. And we have a legitimate reason to make sure that the time we are all together is used wisely." So, for being a true friend to his bandmates and a real gentleman to U2 fans, and for giving us some of the most dynamic and sensuous bass playing around ( If You Wear That Velvet Dress), we at Interference.com CELEBRATE ADAM CLAYTON and thank him for providing us with over twenty-five years of GREAT MUSIC and MEMORIES! __________________

03-12-2004, 09:03 AM	#2
Mullen-Girl Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: San Antonio/Austin, TX Posts: 4,951 Local Time: 12:35 PM	That was great! Happy Birthday Adam! __________________

03-12-2004, 09:37 PM	#8
Bonochick Halloweenhead Forum Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cherry Lane Posts: 40,820 Local Time: 01:35 PM	__________________ "Knight in shining Zubaz." Bonochick [at] interference.com

03-13-2004, 06:45 PM	#14
Edgespet Refugee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Foothills of East Tennessee Posts: 2,373 Local Time: 12:35 PM	Beautiful tribute to a beautiful man! __________________

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03-12-2004, 10:57 AM	#3
Inis The Fly Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 56 Local Time: 05:35 PM	Happy birthday Adam! And may you have many, more.

03-12-2004, 11:11 AM	#4
Headache in a Suitcase Forum Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: With the other morally corrupt bootlicking rubes. Posts: 73,366 Local Time: 01:35 PM

03-12-2004, 04:56 PM	#5
Jack In The Box Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: May 2003 Location: MX Posts: 7,700 Local Time: 11:35 AM

03-12-2004, 05:54 PM	#6
ILuvLarryMullen Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: in the sunshine Posts: 6,904 Local Time: 09:35 AM	happy birthday adam!

03-12-2004, 09:17 PM	#7
souLnation2002 Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 6,052 Local Time: 12:35 PM	Happy Birthday Adam!

03-13-2004, 12:17 AM	#9
fah Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In my house with the rest of fahs Posts: 20,147 Local Time: 09:35 AM	Happy Birrthday, I'll be celebrating in your general direction!!!

03-13-2004, 08:53 AM	#10
Stories for Boys Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: chicago Posts: 5,876 Local Time: 12:35 PM	adam, hope your birthday is as great as you are...you deserve it

03-13-2004, 09:33 AM	#11
verte76 Blue Crack Addict Join Date: May 2002 Location: hoping for changes Posts: 23,331 Local Time: 05:35 PM	Happy birthday Adam!!

03-13-2004, 10:02 AM	#12
pianorocker Acrobat Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: the cosmos Posts: 339 Local Time: 12:35 PM	Happy Birthday to the bass man!!!!

03-13-2004, 11:29 AM	#13
Sue DeNym Refugee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest! Posts: 1,608 Local Time: 10:35 AM	What a wonderful, fitting tribute to our beloved Sparky! Happy (belated) birthday, Adam, and may you see many, many more!