Guest Columnist Biography: Bono

The lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, Bono was born Paul David Hewson in Dublin. He met the Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton in high school and in 1978 the band was formed. U2 has sold more than 140 million albums and won 22 Grammys.

Bono has been a leader in the fight against AIDS and poverty in Africa since 1998. He is the co-founder of ONE, a nonpartisan advocacy group backed by more than two million people that is dedicated to the fight against global poverty and disease. Through his activism, he has traveled extensively to Group of 8 and African capitals and worked directly with world leaders, as well as with influential religious and business figures involved in anti-poverty campaigning.

Bono also co-founded (RED), with Bobby Shriver, to encourage businesses to join in the fight against AIDS in Africa. In just over two years, (RED) has generated more than $120 million from some of the biggest brands in the world for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to finance AIDS programs in Africa.

Bono helped start EDUN, an ethically sourced clothing company run by his wife, Ali Hewson; EDUN produces clothing in developing areas of the world, particularly in Africa.

Bono has received a number of awards for his music and activism, including the Légion d'Honneur from the French government in 2003 and Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2005 (along with Bill and Melinda Gates). In 2007 he was awarded an honorary British knighthood and in 2008 he was given the Nobel "Man of Peace" prize at the Ninth Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

Bono lives in Dublin with Ali and their four children.