Born in Oxfordshire and raised in Ireland, Adam Clayton, 64, co-founded U2 in 1976. Since then, the band has sold more than 170m albums and won 22 Grammys. The 20th anniversary edition of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and the outtakes album How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb are out now. Clayton is divorced, has two children and lives in Dublin.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
Gabor Maté. He is very eloquent and articulate about the role of trauma in our lives.
Aside from property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
In 1992 I was in New York, and somebody showed me a work by Louise Bourgeois. I never realised that sculpture could move me, and I was so affected by this piece that I bought it. It was a lot of money.
Describe yourself in three words
Kind, insubstantial and dedicated.
What makes you unhappy?
I hate the cold.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I have rugby player’s legs and I hate big thighs.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A comedian, and I may have achieved that.
Have you ever said ‘I love you’ without meaning it?
I am afraid I have.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Watching television, it doesn’t matter what. I think it’s from spending a lot of time in hotel rooms, waiting.
What is the worst thing anyone’s ever said to you?
A headmaster said I was a complete washout and I would never be any good for anything.
To whom would you most like to say sorry and why?
To all my ex-girlfriends because I never turned into the person I thought I was. And to Naomi Campbell, for not being ready to deal with my addictions.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Do you know what I mean?
What does love feel like?
It feels like somebody giving you the keys to unlocking who you really are.
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What was the best kiss of your life?
When we received the album of the year Grammy for The Joshua Tree. Diana Ross was presenting it and I thought: “This is probably the only time I’m going to be able to kiss Diana Ross.” So I took the opportunity.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
That I never became a virtuoso musician.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
A few haircuts.
How often do you have sex?
Sometimes a lot and sometimes not very much at all.
What would you like to leave your children?
The best possible understanding of who they are and where they came from.
What is the closest you’ve ever come to death?
When I was drinking, there were many times when I was out for the night and didn’t come back for a week.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A good understanding of how to use a computer.
What keeps you awake at night?
The fact that I might wake up early.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who added to a situation rather than took away from it.
Source: theguardian.com
