SONGS AND SCRIPTS AND DUNKING BISCUITS

Paul McGuiness was the legendary manager of rock band U2 from 1978 to 2013. He managed them from seeing them in an arts centre in Dublin when they were known as The Hype, to become the biggest rock band in the world.

He negotiated record and publishing deals that would stagger the rest of the industry, and oversaw some of the biggest concerts in the history of rock music, including their inclusion at Live Aid in 1985 which propelled them into the world’s consciousness.

Even though the vast majority of the bands songs have been written by Bono (Paul Hewson) and The Edge (David Evans), he persuaded them to share co-writing credits so help prevent divisions within the band. The band have been together, without any real rumours of acrimony, for 46 years.

But he also worked relentlessly and without compromise for the band to retain the rights to all of their music, not something that has ever been the norm in the industry. It represents an integrity to the band that has been part of the bedrock of their identity and image.

McGuinness’s personal worth is thought to be over 100 million pounds.

So, why am I telling you all this?

I was astonished to learn a few months ago, that Paul McGuiness lives not in the leafy affluent area of Oxfordshire or Surrey, or in a fashionable part of LA, but less than two miles from me in north-west England, about ten miles from Liverpool. I pass the road where he lives, most days. In fact, he goes to the same small, independent optician as myself in my home town. Last time I had an eye test, McGuiness had sat in the same seat as me just weeks earlier.

As a U2 fan in itself, this was mind-blowing to hear; that for all these years I have lived close by to the man who has been their guiding hand. In 1987 I travelled the highways and backroads of America while listening to the recently released Joshua Tree on my Walkman.

As mentioned in my blog The Glorious Moment I shared in The Sun With Elvis I was in Sun Studios in Memphis just a couple of weeks before they recorded ‘Angel of Harlem’.

I have seen them three times in concert, in Birmingham UK in 1987, Glasgow in 1993 and Dublin in 2006.

However, and as anyone who knows me or has read my blog knows, I am an even bigger fan of Bruce Springsteen. I have seen him 23 times in concert in the UK, Ireland, Spain, France and New Jersey.

Paul McGuiness is a friend of Springsteen. Bruce referred to his own manager, Jon Landau, as the American Paul McGuiness.

Given the theory that we are all no more than six social connections away from one another, and that McGuiness knows my optician, indeed sits in the same seat there as myself, I’m well within six degrees of separation from The Boss, right?

It’s a nice thought, and my eye test was good enough to help me see through any such illusion. If I saw Paul McGuiness locally – and yes I will be looking out – I would probably respect his space and privacy. But then again, the thrill might take over and you never know, I could blag myself a backstage pass for the Boss on his next tour!

And who knows, we might share the same chiropodist!