Beat Goes On

09 June 2008
The great Bo Diddley passed away earlier this month and Edge recalls the influence of one of the 'very few true originals in rock'n'roll'.

Speaking to the New York Times, Edge said, "There are very few true originals in Rock and Roll, Yves Klein had a colour named after him, Bo Diddley had a beat, West African in origin, but honed to perfection by the man from McComb Mississippi.
'Bo Diddley and his beat exerted a huge influence on the development of early rock and roll and beyond, from The Stooges' 1969 to U2's Desire. He will be greatly missed, but his beat will go on.'

Listen to Desire.

More on 'The Originator'.

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