U2 Forced To Cancel Glastonbury Appearance, Postpone North American Tour

Because of Bono’s recent emergency surgery, following a back injury, U2 have been forced to cancel their Glastonbury headline gig, plus postpone their 16-date U.S. tour until 2011. In order to fully recover, Bono is under doctor’s orders to start a rehabilitation program and to recuperate for at least eight weeks.

The Glastonbury cancellation is the real bummer here; the band was set to headline the Pyramid Stage on June 25. No replacement has yet been named, but now there’s a mad dash to find a big name act to take U2′s spot.

Bono called festival organizer Michael Eavis this morning (May 25) to deliver the bad news.

“It was obvious from our telephone conversation that U2 are hugely disappointed,” said Eavis.

“Clearly, they were looking forward to playing the Pyramid Stage as much as we were looking forward to watching them. At this point, we have no comment to make about possible replacements for U2′s Friday night slot. Instead, we would simply like to send Bono our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.”

Bono has now been discharged from Ludwig Maximilians-University (LMU) Hospital in Munich where he underwent emergency surgery on Friday. The singer had temporary partial paralysis after an injury he suffered while training for the upcoming tour and Glastonbury show.

Said Bono:

“I’m heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the Festival.”

Professor Tonn, who carried out the operation, said surgery was the only course of treatment for full recovery and to avoid further paralysis. “Bono is now much better,” said Tonn, ” and 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.”

Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt continued -

“We are treating Bono as we would treat any of our athletes, and while the surgery has gone very well, the coming weeks are crucial for a return to full health.”

U2′s manager, Paul McGuinness, was also at the Hospital in Munich and said, “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,” said McGuiness. “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.”

McGuinness said they are working quickly with Live Nation to reschedule the tour dates.

There is nothing remotely funny about a back injury and emergency surgery, so I’ll go ahead and bypass any jokes about the size of his ego and just wish Bono all the best.