Bono and Edge brave weather

Bono and The Edge enjoyed a rare boys’ night out in Dublin - but were late because of the bad weather.

The U2 pair attended a special preview charity screening of Davis Guggenheim’s film It Might Get Loud at Temple Bar’s Irish Film Institute last night. The stars joined long- time friends, singer Gavin Friday and U2 manager Paul McGuinness, among others, to mark the involvement in the production of U2’s very own sculptor in sound, The Edge. To celebrate his achievement dad-of-five David Evans, better known as The Edge, took to the stage before the screening to officially open the film. Wearing his trademark black hat, the legendary musician paid a special tribute to his bandmates and friends of over 30 years.

“Obviously without Bono, Adam and Larry I couldn’t have done it at all so in their own way they are the wind beneath my wings,” he said. “It was great being involved and I was very proud to be invited to take part, I think it turned out very well. It’s great to be back in Dublin and I really appreciate so many people coming out in the bad weather to support me.” 

The film examines the interplay between three talented guitarists; modern traditionalist Jack White of The White Stripes, Led Zeppelin’s legendary Jimmy Page and, of course, our very own The Edge. The director of An Inconvenient Truth, Guggenheim’s aim was to show the three diverse artists’ attitudes towards music and their philosophies through various group and individual interviews and footage of the trio. But, according to The Edge, the three were more alike than he had first suspected, explaining that he had forged a close bond with his co-stars during filming. Speaking about White, The Edge described him as “a great showman”, revealing that the star had worn six-inch platform heels throughout filming.

He also joked with manager Paul McGuinness — who was seated in the audience — that he had yet to be paid for the charity venture, laughing that “we’ll have to discuss that later”. The star paid special tribute to his children during his speech, including model daughter Holly Evans, who was seated next to Bono. Showing his lighter side, the singer, wearing his signature dark glasses, gave his friend’s daughter a thumbs up. The Edge also gave some teachers from his former secondary school, Mount Temple Comprehensive School a special mention. “They were the leading force in getting the band going in the first place,” he told the packed cinema theatre. His words were met with rapturous applause as he left the stage to take his seat between Bono and Holly to watch the film. Other big names who stepped out to attend the special screening in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, included artist Guggi and designer John Rocha.