Born in 1960, Adam Clayton was the eldest son of Brian and Jo Clayton. Birthplace was Oxfordshire, England, but not for long however. Brian Clayton was a pilot, so the family moved around a bit, before finally settling down in Malahide, Ireland. Adam was now 5 years-old. He spent some time playing with neighborhood kids. Including the Evans' kids, Dave, his brother Dick and sister Gillian. If you don't know already or if you read the other bios, Dave Evans would later become Adam's U2 bandmate, the Edge. The two families parted ways and the inevitable would have to wait until Adam would read Larry's note on Mount Temple's bulletin board.
At 8 years-old, Adam began school at Castle Park, a British-style boarding school. The main goals here were academics and sports. Adam was not that good at either. Discouraged from listening to popular music and watching television, Adam was miserable there. His only artistic outlet came twice a week at the Gramophone Society. Here, he could listen to classical music, which he enjoyed. He began piano lessons, but with no coordination and little ambition, this was short-lived. Adam turned his interest, instead to the guitar. When reaching his teens he bought a second-hand guitar for 5 pounds and began learning to play songs with new friend, John Leslie. He then, switched to bass, when he and John tried to get a band together. His parents purchased his very first bass guitar. Adam was now attending Columbia Middle School, but was kicked out because of poor grades. It was then he began attending school at Mt. Temple High School. Within a month of completing his first term, he was in Larry's kitchen for auditions.
He showed up at the auditions wearing an Afghan coat and sunglasses. It must have been his taste in fashion, as well as owning a bass, (a bass he did not play well at all), that got him into the new group, known then as 'Feedback'. The fledgling band practiced every Wednesday after school. They got their first gig in a talent show at the school. Adam acted as manger of the group until Paul McGuiness took over. Not only was Adam devoted to the band, but also to his instrument. It wasn't long before he had gained his style and was able to make his presence known. Examples of this, washis bass lines in the songs, "Gloria", from second album, 'October', and "New Years Day", from the album that catapulted them to stardom, 'War'. Adam definitely had developed an unmistakable flair.
In 1989, Adam was busted for simple possession of marijuana in Dublin. To avoid a conviction, he was ordered by the judge to donate 25,000 pounds to the Dublin's Women's Aid Refugee Center. He expressed regret for the trouble but was all too happy to pay the donation. Unfortunately, this would not be the last time Adam would have a problem with substance abuse.
Soon after, Adam began to get that 'ultimate rockstar' phase. This suited his bachelor and 'Playboy' lifestyle. He would often be seen in public wearing brightly-colored clothes, peroxide bleached blonde hair, smoking cigarettes, and a supermodel, always on his arm. But Adam's bass playing was phenomenal. Outside influences did not seem to be distracting him, until the end of the tour when he had miss a show because he was under the influence of alcohol. The rest of the band was in a near panic, as the first Sydney show was a test run to a live show that was going to air around the world. Canceling the show was not an option, and the decision was made to have Adam's guitar tech, Stuart Morgan, fill in for him. After the missed show, Adam admitted he had a problem and went sober then and there.
After the madness of the Zoo TV tour, Adam returned to New York with friend and fellow band-mate, Larry Mullen. He collaborated with Larry on the Mission Impossible soundtrack, which was very successful in the U.K. He seemed to go through a personal growth, emerging with a new and more positive outlook on his life and career. Adam took this new outlook and kicked ass on his next project outside of U2. The "Pop" sessions gave him a chance to show his talent, not only as a bassist, but an artist and musician.
Adam has stated that he didn't feel destined for fame and fortune, before U2. But you better know that joining U2 was the "best decision" he ever made. He will be a part of rock 'n' roll history, and he knows this. But he looks forward to the near future, knowing that eventually it must end. But Adam is optimistic and has said, that as long as "people are able to make that commitment, then it's worth doing."
At 8 years-old, Adam began school at Castle Park, a British-style boarding school. The main goals here were academics and sports. Adam was not that good at either. Discouraged from listening to popular music and watching television, Adam was miserable there. His only artistic outlet came twice a week at the Gramophone Society. Here, he could listen to classical music, which he enjoyed. He began piano lessons, but with no coordination and little ambition, this was short-lived. Adam turned his interest, instead to the guitar. When reaching his teens he bought a second-hand guitar for 5 pounds and began learning to play songs with new friend, John Leslie. He then, switched to bass, when he and John tried to get a band together. His parents purchased his very first bass guitar. Adam was now attending Columbia Middle School, but was kicked out because of poor grades. It was then he began attending school at Mt. Temple High School. Within a month of completing his first term, he was in Larry's kitchen for auditions.
He showed up at the auditions wearing an Afghan coat and sunglasses. It must have been his taste in fashion, as well as owning a bass, (a bass he did not play well at all), that got him into the new group, known then as 'Feedback'. The fledgling band practiced every Wednesday after school. They got their first gig in a talent show at the school. Adam acted as manger of the group until Paul McGuiness took over. Not only was Adam devoted to the band, but also to his instrument. It wasn't long before he had gained his style and was able to make his presence known. Examples of this, washis bass lines in the songs, "Gloria", from second album, 'October', and "New Years Day", from the album that catapulted them to stardom, 'War'. Adam definitely had developed an unmistakable flair.
In 1989, Adam was busted for simple possession of marijuana in Dublin. To avoid a conviction, he was ordered by the judge to donate 25,000 pounds to the Dublin's Women's Aid Refugee Center. He expressed regret for the trouble but was all too happy to pay the donation. Unfortunately, this would not be the last time Adam would have a problem with substance abuse.
Soon after, Adam began to get that 'ultimate rockstar' phase. This suited his bachelor and 'Playboy' lifestyle. He would often be seen in public wearing brightly-colored clothes, peroxide bleached blonde hair, smoking cigarettes, and a supermodel, always on his arm. But Adam's bass playing was phenomenal. Outside influences did not seem to be distracting him, until the end of the tour when he had miss a show because he was under the influence of alcohol. The rest of the band was in a near panic, as the first Sydney show was a test run to a live show that was going to air around the world. Canceling the show was not an option, and the decision was made to have Adam's guitar tech, Stuart Morgan, fill in for him. After the missed show, Adam admitted he had a problem and went sober then and there.
After the madness of the Zoo TV tour, Adam returned to New York with friend and fellow band-mate, Larry Mullen. He collaborated with Larry on the Mission Impossible soundtrack, which was very successful in the U.K. He seemed to go through a personal growth, emerging with a new and more positive outlook on his life and career. Adam took this new outlook and kicked ass on his next project outside of U2. The "Pop" sessions gave him a chance to show his talent, not only as a bassist, but an artist and musician.
Adam has stated that he didn't feel destined for fame and fortune, before U2. But you better know that joining U2 was the "best decision" he ever made. He will be a part of rock 'n' roll history, and he knows this. But he looks forward to the near future, knowing that eventually it must end. But Adam is optimistic and has said, that as long as "people are able to make that commitment, then it's worth doing."
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