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Paul McGuinness

Producer, Actor, Additional CreditsBorn June 15, 1951 (74 years)
Paul McGuinness (born 16 June 1951) is an Irish talent manager. He was the founder of Principle Management Limited, a popular music act management company based in Dublin, Ireland. He was the manager of the rock band U2 from 1978 to 2013.

McGuinness was born in a British military hospital at Rinteln, Westphalia in Germany, where his father, Philip McGuinness (a Liverpudlian) was serving with the Royal Air Force. His mother Sheila McGuinness née Lyne, was a schoolteacher from County Kerry, Ireland. There were three children in the family: Paul, Niall, and Katy.

McGuinness received his early formal education in Ireland at the private Jesuit boarding school Clongowes Wood College. From there he went on to Trinity College Dublin, where he directed plays, edited the magazine T.C.D. Miscellany, and promoted gigs, but dropped out without a degree.

Before becoming involved with U2, he worked as a film assistant director on productions such as John Boorman's Zardoz. For a time, he also managed folk-rock group Spud.

McGuinness first met U2 at a Dublin gig on 25 May 1978 where they were supporting the Gamblers. Following this meeting, McGuinness became U2's manager, having been introduced to the band by Bill Graham, a journalist with Hot Press magazine

He founded Principle Management Limited on 29 March 1984.

In 2002, McGuinness was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Meteor Music Awards at Point Theatre Dublin and U2 won the best Irish Band Award.

Noted for his business acumen, he has been responsible for U2 3D concert films, U2-branded iPods, sponsorship from BlackBerry and the first-ever concert streamed live on YouTube.

Known For

  • Riviera
  • U2: Rattle and Hum
  • Elevation 2001: U2 Live from Boston
  • U2: Zoo TV Live from Sydney
  • U2: A Year in Pop

Paul McGuinness Filmography

2023
Kiss the Future · as Self - Manager, U2 1978 - 2013
2017
Dare to Be Different · as Self - Manager, U2
2013
1999
1997
1997
Classic Albums (TV Series) · as Self
1989
The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Paul Mcguinness

2017
Riviera (TV Series) · as Executive Producer
2011
From the Sky Down · as Executive Producer
2010
U2: 360 Degrees at the Rose Bowl · as Executive Producer
2007
U2 Live from Paris: Concert · as Executive Producer
2006
U2 - Vertigo 2005: Live from Milan · as Executive Producer
2006
2005
Vertigo 2005: U2 Live from Chicago · as Executive Producer
2002
U2: The Best of 1990-2000 · as Executive Producer
2001
Elevation 2001: U2 Live from Boston · as Executive Producer
1999
U2: The Best of 1980-1990 · as Executive Producer
1997
U2: PopMart Live from Mexico City · as Executive Producer
1997
U2: A Year in Pop · as Executive Producer
1994
U2: Zoo TV Live from Sydney · as Executive Producer
1988
U2: Rattle and Hum · as Executive Producer
1984
Screen Two (TV Series) · as Executive Producer

2002
U2: The Best of 1990-2000 · as (segment: Numb)

2025
Lockerbie: Our Story · as Archive Producer
2017
Riviera (TV Series) · as Based On An Original Idea By
1983
U2: Under a Blood Red Sky · as Executive Producer: Red Rocks Associates

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