Time Capsule: Oct. 31, 1961

U2 drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. was born 47 years ago in Dublin, Ireland.

Mullen (real name Lawrence Joseph Mullen, Jr.) began drumming at nine years of age. He played in a marching band in the 1970s before placing an ad on the Mount Temple Comprehensive School bulletin board looking for bandmates. Paul "Bono" Hewson, Dave "The Edge" Evans and his brother Dick Evans, Adam Clayton and two of Clayton's friends replied.

The band were originally known as the Larry Mullen Band and changed their name several times before settling on U2. They quickly became a quartet. When U2 signed to CBS Records, the label nearly refused to sign them unless Mullen was fired. Mullen's drumming was not very good at the time, but he later improved his playing and his drumming style has become well known and distinctive for the army-like beats he picked up playing in a marching band prior to his U2 days.

Mullen lives with his girlfriend, Ann Acheson, with whom he has three children.