Music
29 Aug 01

Bob Hewson 1925-2001

“Where were you last night?” asked the ol’ man. “We played a concert in Trinity College. “How did it go?” “Well,” I said, we had a bit of trouble from a few 16 year olds in the audience. “You weren’t very polite yourself at 16!” he replied.

It’s not often that rising rock stars namecheck their dads in music magazines but it was surely indicative of the close relationship between father and son that Bono chose to begin a 1980 article for hotpress by quoting Bob Hewson, who died last week at the age of 75.

Having flown back regularly to be with his Dad in the final days of his illness, Bono dedicated ‘Kite’ to him at U2’s concert in Earl’s Court, London. “I want to thank my old man, my father, for giving me this voice,” Bono said. “He was a fine tenor and always said that if I had his voice who knows what might happen.”

Again at Slane, as we report elsewhere this issue, the band performed ‘Kite’ for Bono’s father whose image later appeared on the huge screens during their version of ‘One’.

“The ol’ man” was laid to rest in Balgriffin Cemetery in Co. Dublin last Friday after mass in the Church of the Assumption, Howth. At the service, Bono and The Edge sang ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ and dedicated it to the singer’s father.

Paul McGuinness, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen were also present as were many other friends and colleagues from the music world.

Bono and his brother Norman led the mourners.

To them and to all of Bob Hewson’s extended family and friends, all of us at hotpress would like to extend our sincere condolences.