Members of Inhaler Band: Ages, Bios & Irish Roots

Elijah Hewson has spent his entire life in the orbit of rock royalty, but at 26 he’s building something entirely his own as frontman of Inhaler — the Irish four-piece that went from Dublin school corridors to topping their nation’s charts twice. The band formed in 2012 and has quietly assembled one of alternative rock’s most cohesive lineups, yet public knowledge about them remains surprisingly thin.

Formed: 2012 · Origin: Dublin, Ireland · Current Members: 4 · Lead Vocalist: Elijah Hewson · Average Age: 26

The table below consolidates the band’s core biographical data from multiple sources.

What band is Bono’s son in?

Elijah Hewson is the lead vocalist and guitarist of Inhaler, the Irish rock four-piece he co-founded with three school friends in Dublin. While his surname inevitably draws attention — his father is Paul David Hewson, better known as Bono, the iconic frontman of U2 — Elijah has carved out a distinct musical identity with a band that stands on its own merits. The group released their debut album It Won’t Always Be Like This on 9 July 2021, which debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart (Wikipedia).

Elijah Hewson profile

Elijah Hewson was born on 17 August 1999 in Dublin, Ireland, making him 25 years old as of 2025. He grew up in Killiney, a seaside suburb south of Dublin, alongside his parents Bono and Ali Hewson, a known activist. His musical pedigree extends beyond his father — his mother Ali has long been involved in activism and humanitarian work, while his godfather is famously Edge, U2’s guitarist. This upbringing placed him at the intersection of rock royalty and Irish cultural life from the start. He featured on the cover of U2’s Songs of Experience album in 2017, a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment that foreshadowed his own band’s rise (Wikipedia).

Role in Inhaler

Within Inhaler, Elijah handles lead vocals and guitar, serving as the primary voice and face of the band. His vocal style draws comparisons to classic rock and indie influences, while his guitar work anchors the band’s sound. The group describes their influences as artists like The Stone Roses and Joy Division — a lineage that places them firmly in the alternative rock tradition (Coog Radio). Elijah’s role extends beyond performance: as a founding member and school friend of the other three, he helped establish the collaborative dynamic that defines Inhaler.

Are all the Inhaler band members Irish?

Every member of Inhaler hails from Dublin, Ireland — a fact that underscores the band’s deep roots in one specific musical geography. This concentration is somewhat unusual for an international rock act, where members often scatter across cities or countries. Inhaler’s story, by contrast, is anchored in a single school, a single city, and a friend group that formed over a decade before they released their first record.

Nationality breakdown

The four core members — Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon, and Josh Jenkinson — are all Irish nationals, with their hometown listed as Dublin. The band’s Irish identity has played a significant role in their marketing and critical reception: both their debut album It Won’t Always Be Like This and their third album Open Wide reached number one on the Irish Albums Chart, a notable achievement that reflects domestic support (Wikipedia).

Dublin connections

Inhaler formed at St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin, where Elijah, Robert, and Ryan met as students. The school has produced other musical alumni, but this particular trio began playing together in 2012, initially without a formal band name. They were joined by Josh Jenkinson shortly after the group adopted the name “Inhaler” in February 2015. This timeline — three years of informal collaboration before the lineup solidified — speaks to a friendship that preceded the band’s professional ambitions (Wikipedia).

What are the ages of Inhaler band members?

The four core members of Inhaler are all approximately 26 years old, born in the mid-to-late 1990s. Elijah Hewson is the only member with a confirmed, publicly verified birth date: 17 August 1999. The other three members — Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon, and Josh Jenkinson — share an estimated age range, but their exact birth dates have not been widely published in reliable sources.

Robert Keating

Robert Keating serves as Inhaler’s bassist and keyboardist. Like his bandmates, he attended St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin, where he met Elijah Hewson and Ryan McMahon in 2012. He is a founding member of the band and has remained in the lineup through every release and major career milestone. His instrumental role — handling both bass and keyboard duties — gives the band’s live performances a layered quality that complements Elijah’s guitar and vocals.

Ryan McMahon

Ryan McMahon is Inhaler’s drummer, another founding member from St Andrews College. He has been behind the kit since the band formed in 2012, providing the rhythmic foundation for their indie rock sound. His partnership with Robert Keating in the rhythm section has been described as tight-knit, a description that applies to the entire lineup’s interpersonal dynamic. Drummers often serve as the tempo anchor in bands, and McMahon’s steady presence has been credited in live reviews for keeping the band’s performances grounded during their rise.

Josh Jenkinson

Josh Jenkinson plays guitar and keyboard for Inhaler. He is the most recent addition to the core lineup, joining in 2015 shortly after the band officially adopted the name “Inhaler.” His arrival coincided with a period of increasing ambition for the group, as they began playing larger venues and attracting industry attention. Jenkinson’s multi-instrumentalist role — shifting between guitar and keyboard depending on the song — adds versatility to their live setup and studio recordings.

What is Eli Hewson’s real name?

Elijah Hewson’s full birth name is Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Hewson — a name that carries deliberate references to his family’s creative circle. “Bob” honors his father Bono’s given name, while “Patricius” and “Guggi” reflect connections to U2’s inner circle. His mother Ali Hewson is a well-known activist, and his godfather is Edge, U2’s guitarist, making music something of a family business.

Full background

Born on 17 August 1999 in Dublin, Elijah grew up in Killiney, a prosperous suburb south of Dublin known for its scenic coastline and proximity to the Irish music industry’s nerve centers. His upbringing in Killiney placed him within easy reach of Dublin’s cultural venues and the touring schedules of his father’s band. However, his path toward Inhaler was not simply a matter of inheriting connections — he and his school friends formed the band through ordinary social channels, rehearsing and developing their sound independently of their family ties.

Family ties

The Hewson family’s influence on Elijah’s musical path is undeniable but multifaceted. Bono has publicly expressed pride in his son’s band, though Inhaler has been careful to establish its own identity. The band name itself has a personal origin: “Inhaler” derives from Elijah’s teenage asthma, with friends initially calling the group “The Inhalers” as a reference to his condition. This bit of personal history is a reminder that the band’s story includes ordinary human details alongside its more glamorous connections (American Songwriter).

“He’s found his own voice, his own band, his own thing — and that’s exactly what any parent hopes for.”

— Bono, on Elijah Hewson’s career with Inhaler

We wanted to sound like our influences but also like something new. That’s the balance we always try to strike.

— Elijah Hewson, on Inhaler’s musical direction (Coog Radio)

Why no photos of certain band members together?

Inhaler has maintained a notably private public profile despite their growing fame. The band formed in 2012 and operated for years without releasing official photos or pursuing heavy social media presence. This approach partly reflects the group’s personality — they are described as close friends who are more comfortable behind instruments than in front of cameras — but it has also led to speculation about why certain members appear less frequently in group photos.

Group dynamics

The band members met at St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin, and have remained friends for over a decade. This long history creates a solidarity that has kept the lineup stable through their gradual rise. Unlike some bands that assemble through open auditions or industry introductions, Inhaler grew organically from a circle of school friends. This origin story is part of their appeal, but it also means the interpersonal dynamics are deeply personal rather than purely professional — a factor that may explain their preference for privacy.

Public appearances

Inhaler’s touring keyboardist Louis Lambert has been a member since 2017, but he is not always included in promotional photos or appearances, which may account for some of the perceived gaps in group imagery. Lambert handles synthesizer and keyboard duties during live performances, supplementing the core four-piece lineup on stage. The distinction between core members and touring contributors is standard in rock bands, but Inhaler’s small roster makes even one absent figure noticeable in group shots (Wikipedia).

Is Inhaler an Irish band?

Yes, Inhaler is definitively an Irish band. All four core members — Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon, and Josh Jenkinson — were born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and the band formed at St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin, in 2012. Their Irish identity is reinforced by their consistent chart success in Ireland: both It Won’t Always Be Like This and Open Wide reached number one on the Irish Albums Chart (Wikipedia).

Who plays bass in Inhaler?

Robert Keating plays bass guitar and keyboards in Inhaler. As a founding member since 2012, Keating has been a constant presence through every phase of the band’s development, from their early rehearsals at St Andrews College to their recent stadium-support performances. His dual role on bass and keyboard allows the band to maintain a fuller sound with a smaller lineup.

What school did Inhaler members attend?

Inhaler’s founding members — Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, and Ryan McMahon — attended St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin. This school, a private co-educational institution in south Dublin, has produced a number of notable alumni across sports and arts. Josh Jenkinson also joined the band from similar Dublin circles, though records about his specific school affiliation are less documented in public sources.

Has Inhaler’s lineup changed?

The core four-piece lineup of Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon, and Josh Jenkinson has remained stable since formation. Josh joined in 2015, shortly after the band adopted their name, and since then the four have been the consistent core. Louis Lambert has served as touring keyboardist and synthesizer player since 2017, but he is not considered a core member and does not appear in all promotional materials or studio recordings.

What is Robert Keating known for?

Robert Keating is best known as Inhaler’s bassist and keyboardist, as well as a founding member of the band. His contribution to Inhaler extends beyond instrumental performance: as one of the original three members who met at St Andrews College, he has been involved in the band’s creative direction since its earliest stages. Bassists in indie rock often provide melodic counterlines to lead vocals and guitars, and Keating’s keyboard work adds harmonic depth during live performances.

Who is Ryan McMahon in Inhaler?

Ryan McMahon is Inhaler’s drummer and one of the three founding members who met at St Andrews College in 2012. His role as timekeeper gives the band’s live performances structural stability, a quality that has been noted in reviews of their shows. Drummers often serve as the least publicly visible member in terms of interviews or photos, which may contribute to the perception of certain band members as less frequently photographed.

Does Josh Jenkinson have siblings in music?

Public records do not provide detailed information about Josh Jenkinson’s family background, including whether he has siblings involved in music. What is confirmed is his role as guitarist and keyboardist in Inhaler and his arrival in the band in 2015, shortly after the group officially adopted their name. Jenkinson’s contribution adds the dual-instrument capability that rounds out Inhaler’s sonic palette.

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Frequently asked questions

For Irish music fans following the next generation of Dublin rock acts, Inhaler represents a rare case of a school-friend band that has sustained its original chemistry into a professional career — with two chart-topping albums and a third now on the way. The band shows no signs of slowing down as they build on their Irish success and expand their reach across the alternative rock scene.