MALIBU— U2’s main backing vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist, David Evans, also known as “The Edge,” faces opposition by celebrity locals in Malibu, who oppose the rock star’s proposal to construct five homes on a high hill in the seaside community, due to the environmental issues that they may raise.

“It is a big controversy here in Malibu,” Malibu City Councilman Jefferson Wagner told Canyon News.  “There is local opposition against the size and scale of the houses, and the actual duration of their construction, which could take months to complete.  The amounts of truckloads of soil that may be used also impacts the environment.

“There is a driveway leading past a number of people’s homes to the home site,” Wagner continues.  “The size of the infrastructure and the amount of soil that will be used, along with the water and electrical sources that are required, will also create a complexity.  Three of the houses are for speculation for potential buyers, and two of them are for profile, so he [Evans] will keep them for himself.  This raises environmental awareness because two homes would be more reasonable for the community, but five are a bit much."

“A wealthy individual can afford to hold on to homes on this type of financial feat,” Wagner adds.  “European actors and actresses often move to America because the tax rules are more favorable and rewarding than they are in Europe.”

The Edge became named as #24 in Rolling Stones Magazine in 2003 on the list as “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”  He wrote “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and is the lead vocal on “Van Diemen’s Land” and “Numb.”  He also created the theme song for the first two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning American animated television series "The Batman."

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