I did find a certain profundity in how Neil was struggling with Bono's religious convictions throughout. Bob Dylan does demonstrate this subtle genius. Sinead O'Connor seems like she was nutty since the beginning. I feel some sorrow in saying that I was less interested in the fate of Neil and more interested in the Bono stuff. He had passion, but I think he lacked the mind-numbing, world-spinning, CRAZY passion that Bono might possess. He REALLY wanted to be a famous rock star too.īono never stood in his way. Neil wanted to be a famous rock star too. The British publication is sold as I WAS BONO'S DOPPELGANGER and, though I like the drama of the American title, the British title might describe the book better. Neil McCormick went to high school with Bono and the rest of U2 in good ole' Dublin. McCormick, though, is a genuine writer-so it's very nice writing. I bought this book because the cover and title were cool, and I thought it was a graphic novel. “If you want your life back, you'll have to kill me.” “The problem with knowing you is that you've done everything I ever wanted to,” Neil once complained to his famous friend. But sometimes it is life's losers who have the most interesting tales to tell.įeaturing guest appearances by the Pope, Bob Dylan, and a galaxy of stars, Killing Bono offers an extremely funny, startlingly candid, and strangely moving account of a life lived in the shadows of superstardom. Bad drugs, weird sex, bizarre Neil experienced it all in his elusive quest for fame. As Bono and his band U2 ascended to global superstardom, his school friend Neil scorched a burning path in quite the opposite direction. Killing Bono is a story of divergent lives. The boy sitting on the other side of the classroom had plans of his own. There was only one thing he hadn't counted on. He had it all worked the albums, the concerts, the quest for world peace. It was his destiny to be a veritable Rock God.

But as a young punk in Dublin in the 1970s, Neil McCormick's ambitions went way beyond mere pop stardom. Longtime friend and reporter, Neil McCormick, reveals childhood and present day stories about Bono and his band, U2.Įveryone wants to be famous.

Neil mccormick killing bono