NWR: U2

Caught an interview with the four members of U2 last night on BBC Radio 4 arts programme Front Row (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/frontrow/past_programmes.shtml). As these interviews go, it was a good one. I particularly liked the was the interviewer asked about the way that Larry and Adam (the lower-profile members of the band) felt about Bono travelling round the world meeting presidents, prime ministers and people of power in his campaigns to cancel third world debt and combat AIDS/HIV.

I know that we're all supposed to be cynical about people who try to make a difference, but I'm tremendously impressed by Bono's efforts. I'm also impressed by U2, both musically, and also because they've stuck together for 30 years and haven't done the rock and roll thing of falling out, changing personnel, and crashing and burning at an early age.

The other day I listened to The Joshua Tree again. It has to be their best album? I remember when it came out - it made a huge impact. And listen to the first three songs: I can't think of a stronger opening to an album ever. The Edge's guitar work is economical, innovative and just brilliant. He doesn't use many notes, but listen to the tones he gets, and his clever use of delay (it's this, more than anything, that defines his style).

But one thing puzzles me. What do his friends and family call him? Does he insist on the 'The' being used in conjunction with 'Edge'? And does he let people use nicknames (e.g. 'Edgy mate, what are you drinking?')? When he's being addressed formally, are people supposed to call him 'Mr Edge'?