A SONGWRITER and guitarist from Newcastle is suing U2 and its frontman Bono claiming the band stole one of his songs for their 1991 album Achtung Baby.

In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, rock musician Paul Rose said U2 lifted multiple elements of his song Nae Slappin for their track The Fly while they were looking for new inspiration.

The lawsuit says that U2 heard his song after signing with Island Records in 1989, the same year Mr Rose provided a demo tape to recording studio executives. 

He is seeking songwriting credit for The Fly and $5m (£4m) in damages and lawyers’ fees.

“An ordinary lay observer would reasonably find that the songs are substantially similar and that an infringement has occurred,” Rose claims in his Manhattan federal court lawsuit.

A biography on Mr Rose’s website describes him as “one of the most unique and talented guitarists in the world today”.

It says: “Born in Newcastle, North East England in July 1966, Paul’s natural gift shone through at an early age.

“He was already being hailed as one of the best guitarists in the region by the age of 16, playing regularly on the Newcastle live scene with the most popular local bands of the day.”