Legendary Drummer & U2 Founder – Larry Mullen Jr.

Have you ever just sat, listened and been mesmerized by the drum solo from U2’s Sunday, Bloody Sunday? Yes, that very drum riff was influenced by Irishman Larry Mullen, Jr. – founder of the band U2.

Laurence Joseph Mullen Jr. was son of Laurence Joseph Mullen Sr. and Maureen (née Boyd) Mullen, was born on October 31, 1961 in Artane, Dublin, Ireland. His father was a civil servant and his mother a homemaker.

History

He has an elder sister, Cecilia, and had a younger sister named Mary, who died in 1973. Mullen’s Mother died tragically in a car accident in 1978 just shy of his 17th birthday and Mullen was so distraught he told the band he was going quit. Bono persuaded Mullen to stay with U2 and lent him a lot of support over the death of his mother because Bono lost his own mother, Iris when he was only 14 years of age.

Mullen attended the School of Music in Chatham Row to learn piano at the age of eight and then began drumming at the age of 9, under the instruction of Irish drummer Joe Bonnie. After Bonnie’s death, that man’s daughter Monica took over teaching drum lessons, but by this time Mullen had decided he had progressed enough and began practicing on his own.

Mullen’s first band was a Dublin marching band called the Artane Boys Band which he joined at the suggestion of his father. Mullen has said that the band’s focus was more on learning to read sheet music, whereas he preferred to continue to refine his prowess on the drums. Then at some stage he was asked by the band to cut his long hair, and so after Mullen lopped off a few inches, he was asked to shorten it even further. Mullen suggested otherwise and quit after only a few weeks with the band. Despite that rocky start, Mullen was inspired by the musicality of that marching band.

With help from his father, Mullen joined the local Post Office Workers Band for a couple years, a band which played a bit of orchestral pieces and marching band standards. During this time Mullen had already been practicing with U2 and attending Catholic school. It was a handwritten note Mullen pinned to the Mount Temple school bulletin board that seared into the world’s zeitgeist the music legend U2.

Mullen’s note read “drummer seeks musicians to form band.”

U2 was founded on 25 September 1976 in Mullen’s kitchen in Artane where his bandmates Paul “Bono” Hewson, David “The Edge” Evans and Adam Clayton. Then in 1978 that U2 signed up and won a talent contest in Limerick, Ireland. From that day forward the band was unstoppable.

Mullen left school in 1978 and went to work for an American oil exploration company based in Dublin. He worked in the purchasing department while banging out band practice sessions in the evenings and gigging at pubs on the weekends. His drumming technique is characterized by precision, energy, and intensity. Mullen’s ability to create delectable rhythms and charismatic fills has made him one of the most respected drummers in the music industry.

For Mullen and his band it wasn’t until U2’s breakthrough album, “The Joshua Tree,” released in 1987, that the band was launched into superstar status. Larry’s drumming prowess conspicuously stands out on tracks like “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” And If you’ve never experienced the grandiosity and the sheer uncompromising level of dazzle U2 provide their audiences then you owe it to yourself to do so – that is of course as soon as Mullen is healthy enough to return and play on stage with his band again.

Personal Projects

In 1996 Mullen and U2 bass guitarist Clayton contributed to the soundtrack for the Mission: Impossible film providing the theme song their own unique twist so it became more danceable and radio-friendly to a new generation. Their version of “Theme from Mission: Impossible” reached number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist) in 1997.

In addition to music, Larry Mullen Jr. has always had a strong appreciation for acting. He has starred in films like Man on the Train (2011) and L’Épreuve (A Thousand Times Good Night) (2013), where he appeared along side storied actress Juliette Binoche.

On May 13th, 2015 after a brief illness, Larry Mullen Senior passed away at the age of 92 in the Bon Secours Hospital in the Glasnevin neighborhood of Dublin.

U2 has since September 2023 been in residence in Las Vegas at the completely new Sphere. Mullen, who has been recovering from neck surgery had to sit it out for U2’s christening of Sphere performances. Bono, guitarist The Edge and bassist Adam Clayton were shored up by the Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg. This was the first time Larry missed a U2 show since 1978, when he broke his foot in a motorcycle accident.

It is estimated that Mullen’s net worth today is an eye-watering $350 million. And there have been books written about Mullen’s back injuries and methods of recovery. In a book titled U2 At The End of The World (a best seller), author Bill Flanagan relates the story of how Larry has bull’s blood injected into his spine. While this treatment was probably not recommended and highly unethical, nothing says rock n’ roll more than bull blood coursing through your veins.

Personal Life

Mullen is well known for his contributions to philanthropy and involvement with charities. He stands 5’7″ tall and has three children with girlfriend Ann Acheson whom he also met at school back in 1976. They couple have homes in Howth, N. Dublin as well as Nyack, New York. Their children include: Aaron Elvis (October 3, 1995) Ava Elizabeth (December 28, 1998) Ezra (February 2001). Mullen has aged quite well which may reflect why his nickname in the band is Babyface Mullen. We wish the Mullen family and U2 continued success!