U2’s Larry Mullen Jr. Reveals He’s Diagnosed with Dyscalculia: “I Struggle with Counting and Addition”

U2 Drummer’s Diagnosis

U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. has disclosed his diagnosis of dyscalculia.

Understanding Dyscalculia

The musician discussed his recent diagnosis in an interview with the publication Times Radio, stating that it explains why he often makes a “suffering” face while performing, as he experiences significant difficulties with counting to music.

“I always knew there was something off with the way I dealt with numbers,” Mullen Jr. mentioned. “I have a numerical challenge ahead of me. Recently, I realized that I have dyscalculia, which is a form of dyslexia. That’s why I struggle to count and add.”

“It hurts because I’m trying to count bars,” he expressed. “I had to discover ways to handle it—counting pillars feels like climbing Mount Everest.”

According to the British Dyslexia Association, dyscalculia is defined as a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers, which can lead to various challenges with mathematics. It affects people across all age groups, education levels, and abilities, impacting approximately 6 percent of the population.

Mullen also mentioned that U2 is currently working on new material that will mark a significant shift in the band’s sound, with hopes of touring in 2026. “I don’t think it’s going to be something we typically do,” he stated. “I hope it will be something different. However, I’m very pleased to be back in some capacity.”

Last month, The Edge, the guitarist, revealed that the band was back in the studio with Mullen Jr., who had to leave their historic Las Vegas Sphere residency due to an injury and recovery from surgery.

The Edge added: “Definitely U2, with Larry, and it’s fantastic that we have him in the studio… he’s doing well, he’s handling it coolly, and he’s back playing drums, still recording with us, so we’ll do a bit more before the year ends.”

This update follows Mullen Jr. mentioning injuries to his “elbows, knees, and neck” that he “got a chance to assess” during the COVID pandemic. Due to drumming-related injuries, which he referred to as “travel damage,” Mullen noted that he “would like to take some time…to heal.” It was later reported that he underwent surgery to repair his injuries.