When I heard 'Boy' I remember seeing the front cover, relating to him as he was the same age – and trying to recreate the cover with my brothers. I didn’t know what it was I was listening to, but I couldn’t stop listening to it!

If Ireland were a musical darts-board, U2 would be the bullseye. God forbid the day when they stop making music, it will leave an immeasurable crater in both music and philanthropy. The extent of U2’s charity work around the world has been incredible and the true scale of U2’s musical and philanthropic influence around the globe will only be truly discovered in years to come.

U2 speak the truth on their own behalf – but also for every individual who has feelings, in Ireland, the UK and indeed globally.

Their bravery in running towards the fire of emotion with the water of truth is what makes most musicians want to grow up to be firemen, to fight fires with truth, to fight fires with music, to fight fires with emotion. Most of the world is on fire right now.

Personally, and professionally, they have been there as friends at every level, on every stage, helping us walk the path. Nobody else understands what it is to be Irish, and what music means to an Irishman. It’s our shield, it’s our history, it’s our honour!

I was a very scared young man fresh off the plane in New York to do one of the biggest TV shows in history... so far away from home. I walked into the David Letterman backstage and there – waiting for us – was a crate of Guinness!

The note said, “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us so I’m out of here...” Classiest thing anyone has ever done for me as a young artist.

With two anniversaries rolled into one, 2020 is an important moment for U2 – marking 40 years since their extraordinary debut album Boy, and 20 years since their marvellously resonant All That You Can’t Leave Behind. To celebrate, we released the Hot Press U2: 80-00-20 Special – out now!