Drumming News
U2’s iconic drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., is known for his rhythmic precision and pivotal role in the band’s success. However, despite his legendary status, Mullen has been silently wrestling with a significant challenge that has impacted his ability to perform on stage: dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects his ability to process numbers and perform basic arithmetic.
In a candid interview with The Times, Mullen shared that, for most of his life, he struggled with counting and understanding numerical patterns. “I’ve always known that there’s something not particularly right with the way that I deal with numbers,” he admitted. “I’m numerically challenged. And I realized recently that I have dyscalculia, which is a sub-version of dyslexia. So I can’t count [and] I can’t add.”
Dyscalculia, often referred to as “math dyslexia,” is a learning disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to understand number-based information, perform calculations, or even grasp the concept of time or spatial relationships. For Mullen, this has meant a constant battle while playing music, where counting bars or keeping time is crucial. “When people watch me play sometimes, they say, ‘you look pained,’” he explained. “I am pained because I’m trying to count the bars. I had to find ways of doing this — and counting bars is like climbing Everest.”
For a drummer, this is more than just a minor inconvenience. Mullen’s role in U2 requires him to keep precise time and navigate complex rhythms, both on stage and in the studio. His condition has forced him to find alternative methods to cope, making his performances a constant mental struggle.
The impact of dyscalculia isn’t just practical; it also takes an emotional toll. According to the Cleveland Clinic, individuals with dyscalculia often experience anxiety, stress, and even depression, particularly when confronted with tasks involving numbers. Mullen’s admission that counting bars during a live performance feels akin to “climbing Everest” underscores the intense mental effort required to overcome the disorder.
In his case, the diagnosis came late in life, despite dealing with the condition for years. While dyscalculia often becomes apparent in childhood, it is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially in individuals like Mullen, whose abilities in other areas — such as music — overshadow the struggles they face with numbers.
Mullen’s revelation about his dyscalculia is not just a personal story; it is part of a larger effort to raise awareness about neurodiversity. The drummer is actively involved in a new documentary, Left Behind, which explores the efforts of a group of mothers who fought to create the first public school in New York City for children with dyslexia. In addition to producing and composing music for the film, Mullen has drawn on his own experiences as a father of a dyslexic son, making the project particularly personal.
“Making the music through the eyes of my dyslexic son felt personal and visceral,” Mullen shared. His involvement in the film highlights his commitment to advocating for those with learning disabilities, particularly as someone who has faced similar challenges in a public and high-pressure career.
Mullen is not alone in his struggle with dyscalculia. Other musicians, such as Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, Cher, and Robbie Williams, have also opened up about their experiences with the disorder. Welch, for example, revealed how she developed a system to identify coins by their geometric shapes when she struggled to count change while working as a bartender.
These stories are crucial in normalizing the conversation around learning disabilities in creative industries, where talent often overshadows the personal challenges that musicians face behind the scenes.
By speaking openly about his diagnosis, Larry Mullen Jr. is helping to shed light on dyscalculia and its impact on musicians and others in creative fields. His willingness to share his experience serves as a reminder that even the most accomplished individuals may face hidden battles that shape their lives and careers.
Mullen’s openness also sends a message of resilience and adaptation. Despite the challenges presented by his condition, he has continued to perform at the highest level for decades, demonstrating that success is not defined by the absence of struggle but by how one adapts and perseveres in the face of it.
As Mullen continues to raise awareness about dyscalculia and neurodiversity, his story stands as a testament to the importance of understanding and supporting individuals with learning disabilities, both in the music industry and beyond.
