U2 Anaheim Shows Postponed Until 2011, Glastonbury Canceled

Bono
PHOTO of Bono by Lindsey. From U2 at the Rose Bowl, October 25, 2010.

From ABC7:

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Concert promoters Live Nation say that the North American leg of U2’s tour will be postponed until 2011.

Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, underwent emergency spine surgery Friday in Munich.

“Our biggest and I believe best tour has been interrupted and we’re all devastated,” said manager Paul McGuinness.

The tour was to start in Salt Lake City on June 3. After that the band was scheduled to play in Anaheim, Calif., on June 6 and 7 followed by Denver on June 12 and Oakland, Calif., on June 16.

Bono hurt himself while training for the next leg of their tour, but specifics were not given. He has been released from the hospital and is at home recovering. His doctors recommend at least two months rest.

The band’s debut gig at Britain’s iconic Glastonbury festival was also canceled. A replacement headlining act has not been announced. The festival, which runs June 23-27, attracts more than 175,000 people.

UPDATE–Live Nation sends along the medical details:

Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt confirmed, “Bono suffered severe compression of the sciatic nerve. 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, who carried out the operation, added, “Bono was referred to me by Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt late last week with a sudden onset disease. He was already in severe pain with 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.”

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. In the next days, he will start a light rehabilitation program, with increasing intensity over the next 8 weeks. In our experience, this is the minimum time.”