Adam Clayton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Clayton
|
|
|---|---|
Clayton performing in 2018
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adam Charles Clayton |
| Born | 13 March 1960 Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels |
|
Adam Charles Clayton (born 13 March 1960) is an English-Irish musician. He is best known as the bass guitarist for the famous rock band U2. Adam was born in Oxfordshire, England. When he was five years old, his family moved to Malahide in County Dublin, Ireland in 1965.
Adam went to Mount Temple Comprehensive School. There, he met the schoolmates who would later form U2 with him in 1976. He has been a member of the band since the very beginning. Together, they have recorded 15 studio albums. Adam's bass playing style is known for its "harmonic syncopation". This means he plays a steady rhythm that helps drive the music forward. He is famous for his bass lines in songs like "Gloria", "New Year's Day", "With or Without You", and "Mysterious Ways". Adam has also worked on other music projects. For example, he worked with U2 bandmate Larry Mullen Jr. on the 1996 version of the "Theme from Mission: Impossible". As a member of U2, Adam has won 22 Grammy Awards. He was also welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Adam Charles Clayton was born on 13 March 1960 in Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England. He was the oldest child of Brian and Jo Clayton. His father was a pilot, and his mother was a flight attendant. When Adam was four, his family lived in Nairobi, Kenya, for a short time. In 1965, his family moved to Malahide, Ireland. There, they became friends with the Evans family, whose son David Evans ("The Edge") later joined U2.
When Adam was eight, he went to a boarding school called Castle Park School. He wasn't very interested in sports, but he liked pop music. Students were not allowed to listen to pop music at school. He briefly took piano lessons. His interest in popular music grew around age 10. He listened to rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair.
At 13, Adam went to St Columba's College. He made friends who loved rock music from bands like the Who and the Beatles. He bought an acoustic guitar and started learning chords. A friend encouraged him to play bass guitar in a school band. When Adam was 14, his mother bought him a bass guitar. He promised to learn to play it seriously. Later, Adam moved to Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. There, he met future U2 bandmates Paul Hewson ("Bono") and Larry Mullen Jr.. He also reconnected with his childhood friend David Evans.
Musical Journey with U2
In September 1976, Larry Mullen Jr. put up a notice at school. He was looking for musicians to start a band. Adam Clayton, The Edge, his brother Richard Evans, and Bono all showed up for the first meeting. Two other friends joined briefly but left soon after.
At first, the band was called "Feedback." Then they changed it to "The Hype." After Richard Evans left, they became "U2." In the very early days, Adam helped manage the band. In May 1978, Paul McGuinness took over as their manager. Around 1981, when U2 released their album October, there was a small disagreement. Bono, The Edge, and Larry had joined a Christian group. They wondered if rock music fit with their spiritual beliefs. Adam had different views and was less worried about this.
In 1995, after a big tour and album, Adam and Larry Mullen Jr. went to New York. They took formal lessons to improve their bass and drum skills. Before this, Adam had taught himself to play. During that time, Adam also worked on an experimental U2 album called Original Soundtracks 1. On this album, Adam even spoke the last part of the song "Your Blue Room". This was one of the few times he used his voice on a U2 recording. Before this, he mostly sang backing vocals in live shows. Since 1997, Adam has not sung live for the band.
Other Music Projects
Adam has worked on several other music projects. He played on Robbie Robertson's 1987 album. He also performed with singer Maria McKee. Adam joined U2 producer Daniel Lanois and Larry Mullen Jr. on Lanois's 1989 album Acadie. He played bass on two songs, "Still Water" and "Jolie Louise." Adam also played on Sharon Shannon's song "The Marguerita Suite" in 1991. In 1994, Adam and Larry played on Nanci Griffith's album Flyer.
Adam and Larry also helped create music for the 1996 movie Mission: Impossible. They reworked the famous "Theme from Mission: Impossible". They changed its rhythm to make it more danceable. This song became very popular, reaching number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997. Adam also played on Steven Van Zandt's 1999 album Born Again Savage.
Adam Clayton's Musical Style
.jpg)
Adam Clayton's bass playing style is known for "harmonic syncopation". This means he plays a steady rhythm, often focusing on the eighth note of each musical bar. He also "anticipates the harmony" by changing the sound before the guitars do. This makes the music feel like it's always moving forward.
When he first started, Adam didn't have formal music lessons. Bono once joked that Adam pretended to know how to play bass. He used music words that confused them. Since Adam had the only amplifier, they didn't argue. Later, they realized he wasn't always playing the right notes! In U2's early years, Adam played simple bass parts. Over time, he learned from styles like Motown and reggae. His playing became more melodic and his timing improved. One writer said Adam often plays with a deep, vibrating sound, like a Jamaican dub bassist. He fills a lot of sound space with fewer notes. This style matches Adam's relaxed personality.
Adam trusts his own feelings when creating basslines. He decides whether to follow the guitar chords or play a different tune. He also chooses when to play higher or lower notes. He looks up to bassists like Paul Simonon and Peter Hook. He says Jean-Jacques Burnel inspired him to choose the bass guitar. Adam heard Burnel's bass in a song and knew it was the instrument for him. Adam works closely with U2's drummer, Larry Mullen Jr.. Adam says, "Larry's drums have always told me what to play, and then the chords tell me where to go." One of Adam's most famous bass lines is from "New Year's Day". He came up with it while trying to play another song called "Fade to Grey".
Adam has sung on a few songs. He sang on "Endless Deep," a B-side song from 1983. He also sang backup vocals on "I Will Follow" and "Twilight." Sometimes, he sang backup for "With or Without You" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" during live shows. He also spoke the last part of "Your Blue Room". You can hear Adam speaking on "Tomorrow ('96 Version)," a song he helped arrange. He plays guitar sometimes, especially on the song "40", where he and the Edge swap instruments. He also plays keyboards on "City of Blinding Lights" and "Iris (Hold Me Close)".
Musical Equipment
Adam Clayton's first bass guitar was an Ibanez Musician Bass. He used it a lot when recording U2's early albums. When he was 16, he asked his father to buy him a second-hand Precision bass. He felt he needed a better guitar to master the instrument. For most of his career, he has used different Fender Precision and Jazz basses. Adam's Precision basses have been changed to have a Fender Jazz neck. He likes the Jazz bass neck because it feels more comfortable in his hand.
In 2011, Fender made a special limited-edition Precision Bass designed by Adam. Only 60 of these were made. In 2014, Fender announced a special Adam Clayton Jazz Bass guitar. It was based on a green 1965 Jazz Bass he used during a tour. In 2023, Fender released a bass guitar amplifier called the ACB 50. Adam helped design this amplifier. It's a 50-watt amplifier that helps create a special mid-range sound.
Adam's basses include:
- Fender Precision Bass
- Fender Jazz Bass
- Ibanez Musician Bass
- Warwick Adam Clayton Reverso Signature Bass
- Warwick Streamer Bass
- Warwick Star Bass II
- Gibson Thunderbird Bass
- Gibson Les Paul Triumph Bass
- Gibson Les Paul 70s Recording Bass
- Gibson Les Paul Signature Bass
- Lakland Joe Osborn Signature Bass
- Lakland Darryl Jones Signature Bass
- Auerswald Custom Bass
- Epiphone Rivoli bass (seen in a music video)
- Rickenbacker 4001 Bass (used in U2's early days)
- Status John Entwistle Buzzard Bass
- Gibson RD Bass
For his sound, Adam first used Ashdown amplifiers. Later, he switched to Aguilar amplifiers.
- Aguilar DB 751 bass amp
- Aguilar DB 410 and 115 cabs
Personal Life
Adam Clayton was the best man at Bono's wedding in 1982. He became a citizen of the Republic of Ireland in 1989, but he also kept his British citizenship.
Adam remained unmarried for many years. On 4 September 2013, he married Mariana Teixeira de Carvalho in Dublin. Mariana, who is from Brazil, works in the art world. In 2024, the couple announced their divorce. On 25 July 2017, Adam and his wife announced the birth of their daughter.
In April 2024, Adam was featured on a BBC show called Gardeners' World. He showed off his collection of beautiful plants at his home in Dublin. Adam will also be a presenter on a TV show called Ballroom Blitz. This show will explore the history of Irish showbands.
Helping Others
In 2011, Adam Clayton became an ambassador for a program called "Walk in My Shoes." This program is part of St Patrick's Hospital in Dublin. It helps young people with their mental health. Adam supports this cause to help others.
Awards and Recognition
Adam Clayton and U2 have won many awards. They have received 22 Grammy Awards. These include awards for Best Rock Duo or Group, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rock Album. In March 2005, Adam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of U2. This happened in their very first year of being eligible for the honor.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Clayton para niños
- List of bass guitarists
- Timeline of U2
- U2 discography
