Latest U2 News / Sightings

CANNES, France (Reuters) - U2 lead singer Bono has undergone emergency surgery on his back in a Munich hospital after being injured while preparing for the next leg of the band's world tour, a spokesperson said Friday.

The 50-year-old from Ireland had been preparing for the North American leg of the "360 Degree" world tour which is due to kick off in Salt Lake City on June 3.

"Bono has today undergone emergency back surgery for an injury sustained during tour preparation training," his spokesperson said.

"He was admitted to a specialist neuro surgery unit in a Munich hospital.

"Bono will spend the next few days there, before returning home to recuperate. Once his condition has been assessed further, a statement will be made regarding the impact on forthcoming tour dates."

After North America, the tour was scheduled to travel to Turin in Italy on August 6. It was not immediately clear how badly the injury would disrupt the group's tour.

The tour earned around $109 million in 2009, according to music journal Billboard, making it the world's most lucrative, and the publication also predicted it would end up being the highest-grossing tour in history.

By some measures the band, with hits like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Where the Streets Have No Name," is the world's most successful. They have sold more than 150 million records, according to unofficial estimates.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)

Originally posted by germcevoy:Oops for Bono

Originally posted by Irish
Bono was 'saved from possible paralysis'
U2 singer's back injury forces band to delay US tour dates

By Louise Hogan

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Bono suffered a severe compression of the sciatic nerve injury could see him out of action for at least eight weeks. Picture: PA

Wednesday May 26 2010

BONO was saved from possible paralysis, it was revealed yesterday, as full details of his emergency back surgery emerged for the first time.

U2 manager Paul McGuinness said the superstar singer was deeply concerned he had badly let down more than a "million ticket buyers" as it emerged the band was postponing the North American leg of their tour and cancelling next month's Glastonbury appearance.

The rock icon is now on doctors' orders to start a rehabilitation programme and to recuperate for the next eight weeks at least.

Only emergency surgery saved the singer from possible paralysis after he injured his back during rehearsals for the second leg of the lucrative U2 360 Tour.

Bono, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, was yesterday discharged from the Ludwig Maximilians-University (LMU) Hospital in Munich, Germany, after undergoing the vital emergency surgery on Friday.

The two-month rehabilitation programme and rest means the postponement of 16 shows from Salt Lake City on June 3 through to New Jersey's Meadowlands Stadium on July 19.

It has also ruled them out of playing next month's 40th anniversary of the Glastonbury Festival.

"I'm heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special -- we even wrote a song especially for the festival," Bono said on the band's website yesterday.

Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis last night said it was too early to comment on possible replacements for the headline act as he wished Bono a speedy recovery.

Tour promoters Live Nation confirmed the 16 North American shows would be rescheduled for 2011. Fans have been told to hold on to their tickets.

U2 manager McGuinness, speaking at the hospital in Munich, said Bono and the rest of the band members -- the Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton -- were all devastated as they believed what was their biggest and best tour had been interrupted.

"For a performer who lives to be on stage, this is more than a blow. He feels robbed of the chance to do what he does best and feels like he has badly let down the band and their audience. Which of course is nonsense," Mr McGuinness said.

"The most important thing right now is that Bono makes a full recovery."

Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, a world-renowned sports injury specialist, also employed as the club doctor at Bayern Munich, yesterday painted a full picture of the paralysis-threatening injury.

"Bono suffered severe compression of the sciatic nerve. On review of his MRI scan, I realised there was a serious tear in the ligament and a herniated disc, and that conservative treatment would not suffice," he revealed.

On his recommendation Bono was then taken for emergency surgery with expert neurosurgeon Professor Jeorg Tonn at the Munich hospital.

Prof Tonn revealed Bono presented late last week with a sudden onset of the injury.

"He was already in severe pain with partial paralysis in the lower leg," he said. The exact details of the injury revealed the ligament surrounding the disc had an 8mm tear and during surgery it was discovered fragments had travelled into the spinal canal. "This surgery was the only course of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis. Bono is now much better, with complete recovery of his motor deficit. The prognosis is excellent but to obtain a sustainable result, he must now enter a period of rehabilitation," Professor Tonn cautioned.

Rehabilitation

Doctors' appeared to be warning that the singer may be laid up for longer than the two-month rehabilitation period.

"In our experience, this is the minimum time," Dr Muller-Wohlfahrt said.

Band management refused to reveal the precise financial implications of the postponement of 16 shows and the cancellation of their Glastonbury appearance.

Figures from 'Billboard' magazine revealed the band earned €80m from touring, record sales and other royalties in the US last year.

It is also expected to impact on promoters Live Nation who have signed a 12-year deal with the band.

- Louise Hogan

Irish Independent

Originally posted by LikeASong:Not exactly a U2 sighting, but... It's pretty funny


For those who don't know, the guy in the photo is Muse's drum player, Dominic Howard. The picture represents the future regarding the title of "Kings Of Live Rock", which will go from U2's to Muse's property in a few years (if it has not done yet, as some people suggest).


http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/5205/kzwj9pbhi68kajrtlaz0.jpg

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Originally posted by vanquish:With the whole back surgery thing, what's the effect on the tour? Is it just going to start like it was supposed to two months later, or are they skipping the entire US leg and starting in Europe?

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
Where have you been?

Yes, the whole US has been postponed (as well as their swho @ Glastonbury festival), and they'll restart the tour in Europe (not sure about Turin, they might postpone the first shows of the Eur. leg too, depending on how is Bono's rehabilitation going ).

Originally posted by vanquish:[..]

I know - there hasn't been much U2 news since Bono's surgery so i've fallen out of the loop a bit.

So what happens to all the people who bought tickets to the US show?