Bono Recovers from Back Surgery; U2 Tour to be Rescheduled

U2 frontman and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK composer Bono, who underwent emergency back surgery for an injury sustained during training for U2's current "360 Degrees" Tour on Friday, May 21, has been released from Munich's Ludwig Maximilians-University Hospital, E!Online reports.  Because Bono "must now enter a period of rehabilitation," according to Dr. Jeorg Tonn, who performed the operation, U2 will be forced to reschedule their tour of the United States and United Kingdom, E!Online reported today.

According to Tonn, the surgery was necessary in order "to avoid further paralysis," due to Bono's herniated disc; however, Bono's "prognosis is excellent."  The band hopes to reschedule their tour of the United States for next year.  Manager Paul McGuiness said, "Our biggest and I beliEve Best tour has been interrupted and we're all devastated. For a performer who lives to be onstage, 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...the most important thing right now is that Bono make a full recovery."

U2 was also to perform at England's Glastonbury Festival in June, but this performance has been cancelled as well.  Of the cancellation, Bono said, ""I'm heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special-we even wrote a song especially for the festival."  Band Coldplay and rapper Dizzee Racal are being considered as potential replacements for U2 at the festival.