I Was Bono's Doppelganger

by Neil McCormick

Book Overview

Longtime friend and reporter, Neil McCormick, reveals childhood and present day stories about Bono and his band, U2. Some are born great. Some achieve greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141013060
• ISBN13: 9780141013060
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 1.0" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Why do some rise and some fall?

First the basics. McCormick grew up with this guy named Paul. They both formed bands and played the circuits, making connections with the music industry big wigs and recording their songs. Paul is now better known as Bono. McCormick is now better known as the music critic for the Telegraph. So what happened? What makes one person become a star and another fail to break through the maze of the music industry? Talent? Fate? Luck? This book takes you on the whole journey, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, but always interesting. I blazed through its 384 pages in four days, and wish there were still more of it to read. Along the way I was treated to deep discussions of fame, fortune, misfortune, music, the music industry, religion, and life in general. McCormick weaves together several themes and keeps them all relevant and alive. If you've ever dreamed of being a rock star, read this book.

A Music Must Read

Sex! Drugs! Rock 'n roll! Who wouldn't want to live life as a rock star? But what happens to all the artists who never make it? Neil McCormick is one of these unfortunate souls- and on top of that, he grew up with Bono. Neil shares with us his bittersweet story in his fantastic book, Killing Bono. This is Neil's true story of watching Bono and his band, U2, rise to celebrity status, while Neil and his many unsuccessful and short-lived bands fall into the pit of anonymity. Killing Bono traces Neil's life, from his first thoughts of how he would become a star, all the way to the end of his "career", which proves his first ambitions to be futile. Neil struggles with his faith, his drug addiction, and simply surviving and striving to be a good person. Neil quickly earned my empathy- who can't pity a man who's life was stolen by Bono?- and was a very entertaining character to read about. The reader experiences the trials and tribulations of trying to stay afloat in a rough sea that is the music business right along with Neil, and endures his heartbreaks and happy moments (few, but present) with him as well. One thing about this book that I personally adored was being able to see rock stars as normal people, with the cameras turned off and before they were shoved into the limelight. I originally picked up this book hoping to read about Bono and the Edge, but I am very glad that my assumption was incorrect. I believe Mr. McCormick has led an equally, if not more, interesting life, even if he never really did achieve his goal of super-stardom. This book is a wonderful read for any musician, wannabe rock star, or U2 fan (myself included in all of those categories!) It is an amazingly well written novel. Mr. McCormick has a marvelous (and rare) quality of using clever insight and witty remarks that are both humorous and have very valid points as well. I desperately hope he writes again, because after reading this novel, I'm craving more, and you will too, if you read this incredible book.

We're with you Neil!

You don't have to be a U2 fan to love this book! However, it is a must read for any U2 fan! Neil McCormick has such an interesting story to tell, having known Bono and co. since before they assembled their band. Watching Bono and U2 ascend to global super-stardom was both frustrating and exciting for the aspiring rock star who seemed to receive a dose of bad luck for every bit of good luck that made U2 the most popular band on the planet. Going from band to band, Neil and his brother just couldn't seem to land a record deal that would enable them to match the success of their school buddies Paul, Dave, Larry and Adam. Through it all, Neil finds comfort in his continuing friendship with Bono and his wife Gloria, not to mention a promising career in journalism. The failed quest for fame and greatness, mixed with intense envy and frustration of the greatness of others, reminded me of the film "Amadeus," in which Salieri burns with envy at the greatness of Mozart. Neil is Salieri to Bono's Mozart, but what I think he has learned at this point in his life is that it isn't so bad being Salieri.

Best Music Book of 2004

Let's get something straight from the get-go: this is the best book on music for 2004. Darn-sure qualifies as one of the Top 5 of all time, for that matter. And speaking of the matter, this is the most painfully pleasant description of the music biz's sorry-ass state ever put on paper. Anyone who ever has even remotely dreamed of making it in a band (HELLO-OOO all you folks) must read this book. Mr. McCormick pulls no punches. He shovels the blame on incompetentcy, including his own. He documents the rise from gymnasium cover band to the most exhaulted level stardom by his school chums in U2, particularly Bono to whom he remains close. The comparison and contrast could not delineate a clearer gap. The writing reads as rapidly as a Ramones song: "onetotreefo" so you never get the slightest bit bored or anxious over the author's misguided efforts and tragicomic outcomes. How many ways can a band win in the music biz? Well, there's only one way things work when you're successful. How many ways can things get screwed up? Incalculable. A modern classic is what we got with this. Sadly, I don't know if the ol' boy has anything left for a follow-up of substance. But he certainly did provide plenty of insight in this book.