Bono meets Russian president Medvedev
The Russian president Medvedev met Bono for tea on the terrace of his holiday villa near the Black Sea resort town of Sochi. Besides their banter about Led Zeppeling the two spoke about the prevention of polio, which has resurged recently in Central Asian region south of Russia, and treatments to end the spread of HIV from mothers to their babies. The meeting lasted just over an hour, with Medvedev and Bono being filmed for around 15 minutes and then speaking off the record, according to a Kremlin spokesman.
Official Kremlin tweet and picture
(AFP report includes photos.)
More photos at NPR
Bono’s better by design and he’s coming to get ya
U2′s 2011 rescheduled dates were announced on Tuesday and the band made this little video to celebrate. That German surgeon has done wonders for Bono’s hairdo, let alone his back. Also: Larry speaks!
Here’s to your full recovery, Mr B. Get (and stay) fit.
“He promised me his car and various other valuables”
After calling KROQ-radio yesterday, today Edge posted a video-message on U2.com addressing Bono’s injury, surgery and recuperation. Inserting a bit of dry Edge-humour he talks for 5 minutes about the postponement of the U2360 tour.
Looking forward to resuming the tour, possibly in Turin, Edge confirms he’s working on new music and even states the band are “intending to play some new songs live”, before recording them.
We’ll have to see that last one to believe it.
Bono needs 8 weeks recovery, North American leg postponed
U2.com has announced that Bono has been discharged from LMU University Hospital in Munich. The physician, Dr Muller Wohlfart confirmed that Bono underwent emergency surgery on Friday after suffering severe compression of the sciatic nerve. To ensure a full recovery, he needs to start a rehabilitation program to recuperate for at least eight weeks. According to the doctors this is the minimum time.
Wohlfahrt: “On review of his MRI scan, I realized there was a serious tear in the ligament and a herniated disc, and that conservative treatment would not suffice. I recommended Bono have emergency spine surgery with Professor Tonn at Munich’s LMU University Hospital on Friday.”
Professor Tonn explained Bono had been in severe pain and was suffering partial paralysis in the lower leg:
“The ligament surrounding the disc had an 8mm tear and during surgery we discovered fragments of the disc had traveled 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.”
Paul McGuinness confirmed that the eight week recovery period sadly means the definite postponement of all 16 shows on the North American leg of U2′s 360 tour from Salt Lake City on June 3rd, through to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium on July 19th.
McGuinness: “‘Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we’re all devastated. 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 is of course nonsense. His concerns about more than a million ticket buyers whose plans have been turned upside down, we all share, but the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery.”
Live Nation is rescheduling the 16 American dates for 2011. U2′s planned show at Britain’s Glastonbury festival has also been cancelled. According to their website Bono is ‘heartbroken’:
Bono: “We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the Festival.”
On the brighter side, Dr Muller Wohlfahrt ensured Bono is in good care:
“We are treating Bono as we would treat any of our athletes”.
Bono undergoes surgery, tour start postponed
According to a statement on U2.com Bono “has today undergone emergency back surgery for an injury sustained during tour preparation training. He was admitted to a specialist neuro surgery unit in a Munich hospital, and is under the care of neuro surgeon Prof. Dr. Jorg Tonn and Dr Muller Wohlfahrt. 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.”
Another post announces the tour opener in Salt Lake city is postponed until further notice.
Update: Audio statement by Paul McGuinnes (mp3)
Get well, mr. B…
Half A Century Man
We don’t do birthday posts here too often, but we can’t let this one slip by unmarked. Bono turns 50 today. Fifty!
So, to our fearless leader, tireless activist, saviour of whales, honorary Frisbeetarian, keeper of the key to Dublin City, Knight Commander of the British Empire (ssssh!), don’t worry he’ll get that Nobel prize eventually, formerly Vox of O’Connell Street, the best singer in U2 (allegedly), one-third of the Funky Trinity, violater of indecency standards, the Pope of Lypton Village, 5’7”-ish creeper wearing hunk of Northside goodness: the Man that B…. Happy Birthday, Bono. Old souls stay young at heart.
Video: Bono at ACUS Awards Dinner 2010
Senator John McCain introduces Bono, speaking at the 2010 Acus Awards dinner. The the Atlantic Council presented its very first Humanitarian Leadership Award to Bono for his efforts in mobilizing resources and awareness in fighting disease and extreme poverty in Africa, as well as for his work to address other pressing humanitarian challenges.
Bono and The Edge remember Gerry Ryan
Bono and The Edge talk to RTE 2FM to share their memories of Irish broadcaster Gerry Ryan who passed away on Friday.
Bono and The Edge remember Gerry Ryan.
Apologies for the dismal quality of this recording. Blame Realtek.
RTE news coverage:
Bono and The Edge visit ISS Mission Control
Bono, his two sons and The Edge visited NASA Mission Control to talk to Guy LaLiberté and a giraffe called Harold.
Via atU2.com
Permanent Hiatus
Archives
U2 News Links
- U2 Fan Survey 2012: Third Set of Results Available May 23, 2012The third set of results from the 2012 U2 Fan Survey is now available, and it takes us through your votes on U2's albums and songs. As a reminder, the survey was open from April 5th through April 30th. We received completed responses from 3,530 fans in 79 countries this year, both of which are down from 2010. We think that's likely due to the band […]
- A Look at My U2 Framed Album Cover Wall (PHOTOS) May 22, 2012How would you like to have a wall in your house covered with perfectly framed U2 album cover art? You could just have your favorite U2 albums on the wall or, like me, you could go all the way and put every U2 album on display in order — like this: That’s one of the [...]This is a post from the @U2 blog.A Look at My U2 Framed Album Cover Wall (PHOTOS) […]
- The Resource Miracle May 22, 2012[Note: This essay appeared in the May 28, 2012, edition of TIME magazine.] It's become the go-to cliché of modern economics. Natural resources are a "curse." When a nation is over-reliant on one or two commodities like oil or precious minerals, corrupt government ministers and their dodgy associates hoard profits and taxes instead of properly […]
- Bono Pays One More Tribute to Steve Jobs May 22, 2012Bono made an appearance via video tonight at the Webby Awards, contributing to a tribute to Steve Jobs. A host of tech legends and celebrities each paid tribute to Jobs in five words or less, a Webby Awards tradition. It looks like Bono’s contribution was recorded within the past week, but that’s just a guess. [...]This is a post from the @U2 blog.Bono Pays […]
- Billboard Music Awards: U2 Top Touring Artist May 21, 2012Gestern Abend wurden in der MGM Grand Garden Arena von Las Vegas die Billboard Music Awards 2012 verliehen. U2 wurden dabei - wie bereits im Jahr zuvor - in der Kategorie Top Touring Artist ausgezeichnet. Neben U2 waren in dieser Kategorie auch noch Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Take That und Roger Waters nominiert. ... […]