Described by his peers and family as "a bloody exasperating child," Paul Bono got a reputation at an early age for both forgetting things and arguing a lot. He was also wickedly curious. From a strange cross of punk rock and blues music plus a bad attitude, a star was born. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, in 1960, Paul Hewson (known as his stage name Bono) is the second child of Bobby and Iris Hewson. Like any other person, Paul has suffered many ups and downs in his life. At age 14, Paul experienced the loss of his beloved mother. Some people say that she died at her father's funeral and others say it was a few days after. Whenever it was, it must have been a terrible thing for the young boy. It was not long after his mother's death that Paul got his new name. His high school mate, Guggi, gave him the name Bono Vox. Initially, Bono did not like the name; however, when he learned it translated to "good voice," he accepted it. Later, Bono Vox shortened his name to Bono. On 25 September 1976, Bono responded to an advertisement on a bulletin board at Mount Temple posted by a fellow student to form a rock band. This band later became known as "U2." Bono writes the lyrics for almost all U2 songs, which often have social and political themes. Known for his popularity, fame, and fortune, the controversial star was awarded the 1999 MTV Free Your Mind Award for his work with charities. Bono continues to contribute heavily to debt relief in Africa. With U2, Bono has won numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, Golden Globe Award, and so on. As the co-founder of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), Bono has given his commitment to end poverty in his lifetime. With his charm, and a sometimes unfavorable mix of politics and music, Bono continues to travel the world with dedication, making a compassionate contribution to future generations. In a word, "Bono," a name that echoes worldwide, has made his footprint in history.