David Howell Evans ( born 8 August 1961 in London , England ) , more widely known as The Edge , is an English-born musician . He is known best as the guitarist , keyboardist , and backing vocalist for the Irish rock band U2 . David Howell Evans ( born 8 August 1961 ) , more widely known by his stage name The Edge ( or just Edge ) , is a musician best known as the guitarist , keyboardist , and backing vocalist of the Irish rock band U2 .