Guggi

This week I had a very special dinner with Guggi aka Derek Rowan, the avant-garde Irish artist who is also best friends with U2's Paul Hewson aka Bono.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

Artist Guggi is showing at John Rocha Store from 19 September (020 7495 2233)

John Rocha: five things I know about style 2010

Guggi is also a professional Bearded Dragon breeder - possibly the first and last Bearded Dragon breeder I'll ever meet.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

Young Paul thought Guggi sounded like an artist name and young Derek thought Bono sounded like a rock star name.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

If you want to check out some of the amazing and creepy creatures Guggi breeds, visit his lizardly website.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

Once I stopped giggling about silly names, Guggi told me about his Shar-Pei named Shamus, whose name exemplifies artistic alliteration.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

In addition to being friends for over 200 dog years, Guggi and Bono have had their nicknames for almost as long as they have been friends.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

Guggi told me about Bono so I thought I would report it in my little "pet" blog.

Wendy Diamond: Bearded Dragons, Chihuahua Named Lou, A Bag of Flour, and the Obama Family Dog 2008

It looks like Bono did name the Edge, and it was Guggi from the Virgin Prunes who named Bono, not Gavin Friday of the same band.

NAMM: Bono designs vile, expensive guitar 2005

Your friends Gavin and Guggi went on to become serious artists: one is a painter, the other an avant-garde conceptual artist.

Bono On Bono Assayas, Michka 2005