Independent.ie > Lifestyle > Independent Woman > Celeb News

U2 tour in doubt after Bono injury

Singer has emergency surgery after hurting back

Javascript is needed to use most of these tools:

Print
Text size

By Shane Hickey and Ed Carty
Saturday May 22 2010

THERE are fears for U2's world tour after Bono had to undergo emergency surgery following an injury he sustained to his back.

The lead singer, who recently turned 50, hurt his back during "tour preparation training" in Germany and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

He is now expected to stay in Munich, where he is in a specialist neuro-surgery unit, for the coming days before he returning to Ireland to recuperate.

The band's first date of their '360' tour this year in Salt Lake City has now been postponed.

An announcement on the band's website, U2.com, said he is under the care of two doctors. However, it is unclear what the long-term implications of the injury will be for the band.

They are due to tour the United States, Europe and Russia through this year in the latest leg of the tour, which came to Croke Park in Dublin last July.

"Once his condition has been assessed further, a statement will be made regarding the impact on forthcoming tour dates," stated the website.

U2's manager, Paul McGuinness, meanwhile, posted a message to inconvenienced fans saying that future dates will be rescheduled. In addition to the fans, there has been largescale disruption for the crew which put together the massive iconic 'claw' stages, he said.

"The band were really looking forward to getting back out on the road until the emergency surgery on Bono's back which took place in Munich," he said.

"We were due to start rehearsals on Tuesday in Salt Lake City and get the show ready for the next leg. There were going to be some changes, and some new material.

"It is unfortunate we're inconveniencing fans. We will make plans to reinstate these dates as soon as possible.

"Obviously, it's been very disruptive for our crew as well. We have over 400 people converging on Salt Lake City and some of those have been turned around and told to stay at home until we make our new plan."

Fans have been advised to watch U2.com to see how the issue will develop.

Live Nation, the company which promotes the band's concerts, said the Salt Lake City gig had been postponed and told people to hold on to their tickets until there is news of a replacement event.

The band are due to play Anaheim in California on June 6 and7 before progressing across the States, ending in New York on July 19.

Within this schedule, they are due to headline the centre 'Pyramid' stage at Glastonbury in the UK on June 25.

They will start the European leg of the tour in Turin at the beginning of August and complete it in Rome two months later in October.

- Shane Hickey and Ed Carty

Irish Independent