Dik Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dik Evans
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Evans performing in November 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard G. Evans |
| Born | 1957 (age 67–68) Barking, Essex, England |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Art rock, post-punk, gothic rock, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Associated acts | The Screech Owls |
Dik Evans, born in 1957, is a musician from Britain and Ireland. He helped start two bands: Virgin Prunes and U2. He was an early guitarist for U2. He is also the older brother of The Edge, who is the guitarist for U2.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Dik Evans was born in Barking, England, in 1957. His parents were from Wales. When he was young, his family moved to Ireland. Dik and his younger brother, David, who is known as The Edge, both learned to play guitar. They shared an acoustic guitar that their brother bought.
Starting the Band U2
The band that later became U2 started in Dublin on September 25, 1976. Dik and his brother Dave were two of six people who answered a note. Larry Mullen Jr. had put the note on a board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School. He was looking for musicians to start a new band.
The group first met in Larry Mullen Jr.'s kitchen. The Evans brothers played guitar. At this first meeting, they shared one homemade guitar. Soon, the group became five members. They decided to call themselves "Feedback." This name was one of the few technical words they knew.
Most of their first songs were cover songs. These were songs made famous by other artists. The band later said that playing covers was not their best skill. Some early bands that influenced them were punk rock groups. These included the Jam, the Clash, Buzzcocks, and Sex Pistols. The popularity of punk rock showed the group that you did not have to be a perfect musician to be successful.
From The Hype to U2
In April 1977, Feedback played their first concert for people who paid to see them. This show was at St. Fintan's High School. Soon after, the band changed their name to "The Hype."
Dik was older than the other band members. He was also going to college at this time. The rest of the band started to feel that a four-person group would work better. In March 1978, the group changed their name again to "U2."
That same month, U2, as a four-person band without Dik, won a talent contest. This contest was in Limerick and was sponsored by Harp Lager and the Evening Press newspaper. Winning this contest was a very important step for the new band. It showed them they were on the right track.
A few days later, Dik officially left the band. They had a farewell concert for him at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Howth. During the show, the group played cover songs as "The Hype." Dik then walked off the stage in a special way. The remaining four band members came back later in the concert. They played their own original songs as "U2."
Other Music Projects
After leaving U2, Dik Evans helped start another band in Dublin. This band was called The Virgin Prunes. He was their guitarist from 1977 to 1984.
He also helped create a band called The Kid Sisters. This band later became known as The Screech Owls. He started this group with an American musician named Deborah "Debbie" Schow.
More recently, Dik Evans has worked on solo music. He contributed to a project called Snakes & Ladders – A Festival of New Irish Music. This project was put together by Daniel Figgis, who was also a member of The Virgin Prunes.
