Larry was born on October 31, 1961 (yes, Mr. Mullen is a Halloween baby!) in Dublin, Ireland. He is the only son as the middle child of three. When he was eight years old, Larry gave up learning how to play the piano and turned to what would become his life's commitment: the drums. In 1973, Larry's oldest sister bought him his first drum kit for £17.
In the Autumn of 1976, Larry posted a message on the Mount Temple Comprehensive School's notice boards. The note read something to the effect of, "Did anybody else out there waste money on guitars, etc, and want to form a band?" Anyone interested was to meet at Larry's house for a first audition. Ultimately, six boys responded to the notice, including Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, and Paul Hewson. U2 would eventually grow up out of this first band meeting. Thus, Larry fondly calls U2 the "Larry Mullen Band." The drummer recalls the first rehersal, which took place in his parents' kitchen, as "God-awful." Larry took his music seriously. Bono recalls, "My earliest memory of Larry was when we were starting off. We were at our first rehersal in his kitchen and all these girls kept climbing over the walls and looking in the window at Larry. Larry just shouted at them and told them to go away. And then he turned the hose on them! Larry likes to play drums."
Bono owes Larry a lot since the drummer gave Bono his first job. However, Bono has proved his friendship on more than one ocassion. Tragedy struck Larry hard in 1978 when his mother died in a car crash. The drummer tried to distance himself from the rest of the band, but Bono would not their friend drift away. He consolled him, knowing full well from experience how the young man was feeling. From the worst situations, the bond of the band members grew even stronger. Larry joined the Shalom group for Charismatic Christians with Bono and the Edge and eventually left when he had to choose between living what others thought was a "Christian life" and the band. Of course, the band still continues to reflect on their Christianity through their music. Who says you can't be a rock star and still have a relationship with God?
U2's drummer is a big fan of Elvis Presley and Harley Davidson. In the band's movie Rattle and Hum, Larry actually got to sit on Elvis's motorcycle and have his picture taken. The American influence in U2's music can be heard in their early albums "The Unforgettable Fire" and "The Joshua Tree." During the Lovetown tour, Larry realized he was tired of playing in the hectic manner in which the band toured. He went to Bono and told him he felt that he wasn't enjoying the job anymore, that he only felt they were at hard work. This led to the end of the "Biggest Band of the 80's," but U2 would eventually go on to become the "coolest band of the 90's."
Larry has been going steady with his lifetime partner, Anne Acheson, since the band's early days in Ireland. The pair have three children, and Larry is known to love his dogs, as well. The personal life of Larry Mullen Jr. is a little mysterious due to his quiet presence and public profile. Unlike Bono, who loves being the center of attention at a concert, Larry is more than happy to hide behind the drums. The man acts as U2's body guard and helps the others keep their good image, even as wild as their personalities sometimes venture. However, as serious and dedicated as he can be, Larry also has a great sense of humor and likes to play pranks on others.
He's had his hardships, acquiring tendonitis from his job and being forced to use specially-made drumsticks. Nothing seems to slow him down for long, and Larry looks forward to many more years with U2. As for the status of the drummer today, Larry never wants the experience to end.