INTERNET/FILE: Bono says he's ready to come back after sustaining a back injury which forced U2 to postpone European and North American tour dates.

Record ID: 574873

  • Title: INTERNET/FILE: Bono says he's ready to come back after sustaining a back injury which forced U2 to postpone European and North American tour dates.
  • Date: 16th July 2010
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (FILE - MAY 25, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE OF HOSPITAL ENTRANCE (2 SHOTS) WHERE BONO WAS TREATED SIGN POINTING TO MAIN ENTRANCE
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAAXDJLTHXIIDPL1US7H32HOKGC
  • Story Text: Bono appears in video on the band's website saying he's ready to return to the stage after suffering a "major" back injury in May, which forced the cancellation of European and North American shows.
    Bono appeared for the first time since his "serious" back injury in May, apologising to fans for cancelling show dates and saying he was looking forward to returning to touring.
    The band appeared in a video on their official website U2.com with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. filming himself, The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and eventually Bono in their recording studio.
    Bono looked somewhat coy when the camera came to him but the U2 frontman insisted he was "fighting fit" after being confined to a hospital bed for two months:
    "I can stand. I can move around a bit. Feeling strong, feeling confident, you know what I'm saying. And I'm ready, rebuilt by German engineering, better design I'm told and I'll be fighting fit next year in the U.S., looking forward to this summer in Europe.
    And I really wanted to actually apologise for the trouble that this injury has put you all through, those of you who bought tickets, organised hotels and travel plans. It's a very big deal and people go through a lot of trouble to get U2 tickets and we don't take it for granted. Thank you for standing by us in our hour of need.
    It was not a lot of fun for me. The injury was quite serious. It happened the day after my birthday. And staring at the ceiling has some advantages, forced indolence. We got some great songs, which you can see we are recording, and hoping to play them on stage. Anyway, there's no other place we want to be."
    On Tuesday (July 13) the band have rescheduled the dates for the North American leg of their 360 tour for Spring/Summer 2011 with all tickets valid for the new performance dates, their concert promoter said Tuesday.
    The North American leg will kick off on May 21 next year at Invesco Field in Denver and end on July 23, 2011 in Minneapolis , music concert company Live Nation Entertainment said. The 2010 European tour will begin on time on August 6, 2010 in Turin.
    The North American tour dates were cancelled and U2 missed a date with Glastonbury music festival after frontman Bono underwent emergency surgery on his back in May.
    With hits like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Where the Streets Have No Name," U2 are one of the world's biggest bands and have sold over 150 million records, according to unofficial estimates.
    The 50-year-old singer's injury was a blow to the band and the millions of fans who were hoping to see U2 this year on the second leg of their world U2 360 Tour.
    It was also expected to hit music concert company Live Nation, which signed a 12-year deal to handle merchandising, digital and branding rights as well as touring.
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