Born Dave Evans in East London, The Edge grew up in Dublin, Ireland. U2's guitar player and occasional singer, he also dabbles in songwriting for the group, writing the lyrics to "Wake Up Dead Man," "Van Diemen's Land" from Rattle and Hum, and "Numb" from Zooropa. U2 lead singer Bono has said that the Edge got his nickname because of his sharp mind.

Known as a loner in high school, the Edge took piano and guitar lessons and often performed with his brother, Dick, even building his own first guitar. His expert guitar playing led him to become a member of the Village. The band U2 was formed in 1980 after drummer Larry Mullen Jr. posted a sign asking for people to join a band. The band's first album, Boy, was released in 1980. The group received international fame with the release of subsequent albums like The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum.