Bono injured; U2 summer tour up in the air?

[KevShmev]

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=10709729

CANNES, France (Reuters) - U2 lead singer Bono had emergency surgery on his back in a Munich hospital on Friday after being injured while preparing for the next leg of a world tour, the first date of which has been postponed.

The 50-year-old from Ireland had been getting ready for the North American leg of the "360 Degree" world tour which had been due to kick off in Salt Lake City on June 3, according to a statement first released to Reuters.

Any lengthy disruption would be a blow both to fans and to Live Nation, the concert company which has a major deal to handle U2's merchandising, digital and branding rights as well as touring.

The band's website confirmed that Salt Lake City had been postponed.

Paul McGuinness, the group's longstanding manager, hinted that the injury could cause further postponements.

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Ouch.  Though I have never needed back surgery, I can testify that back pain is the worst.  Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for one of rock's best singers and front men!

[hefdaddy42]

Yeah, that sucks.

[Cool Chris]

Maybe his back finally gave out under the weight of his massive head

[Quadrochosis]

Maybe his back finally gave out under the weight of his massive head

This.

But in all seriousness, I hope he gets better, he is a great singer, albeit an asshole.

[KevShmev]

Why is he an asshole?

[black_biff_stadler]

Why is he an asshole?

Just shy of Tom Cruise-caliber self-assumed god status. Also makes claims to records he didn't set.

[bout to crash]

Obviously I hope he's okay but couldn't care less about how the band or Live Nation is affected because the thought of listening to U2 makes me throw up a little.

I'm also curious about how he injured his back badly enough to have emergency surgery while preparing for the tour 

[YtseBitsySpider]

Obviously I hope he's okay but couldn't care less about how the band or Live Nation is affected because the thought of listening to U2 makes me throw up a little.

I'm also curious about how he injured his back badly enough to have emergency surgery while preparing for the tour 

this.
I hope he's fine too so he can find a nation, and run for office there, and get badly defeated.
I wouldn't cross the street to spit on U2, it would be a waste of spit.

[reneranucci]

I'm also curious about how he injured his back badly enough to have emergency surgery while preparing for the tour 

Iīm no expert but I think backpain can attack very fast: youīre fine and 1 second later your face is disfigured because of the pain and you canīt move at all. At least thatīs what has happened to me a couple of times (not bad enough to need surgery, though).

[KevShmev]

Why is he an asshole?

Just shy of Tom Cruise-caliber self-assumed god status. Also makes claims to records he didn't set.

Examples?

Oh, and if we starting counting what rock stars have a god complex, it is gonna be a long list.

I'm also curious about how he injured his back badly enough to have emergency surgery while preparing for the tour 

Given how animated and physical he historically is on stage, I am gonna go out on a limb and say his back has probably acted up over the years at times, and he probably did something that finally caused it to completely go out.  With backs, you never can tell.  Back pain is the worst.

I hope he's fine too so he can find a nation, and run for office there, and get badly defeated.

I find is astonishing how much people hate a guy who has done so much good over the years.  OMG, he gets involved in politics and whatnot instead of just sticking to music!  He is the devil!!!!

[Quadrochosis]

Honestly, one thing I do really like about him is how he will actively speak up and defend his faith.

Of course, then he goes and acts like a dick which is kind of basically the worst possible way a Christian can act, ruining it.

[KevShmev]

I am still curious as to why he is an asshole and how he acts like a dick.

[Quadrochosis]

I am still curious as to why he is an asshole and how he acts like a dick.

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

[black_biff_stadler]

Why is he an asshole?

Just shy of Tom Cruise-caliber self-assumed god status. Also makes claims to records he didn't set.

Examples?

Oh, and if we starting counting what rock stars have a god complex, it is gonna be a long list.

This: https://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/111250

So once enough people do something assholey it makes it no longer assholey?

[KevShmev]

I am still curious as to why he is an asshole and how he acts like a dick.

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

Basically?  Something to that effect?  Sorry, man, but that sounds like a really bad paraphrasing job on your part.  I would be shocked if Bono actually ever said those actual words.  But if you can find a source, I'll believe you.  Until then, I am skeptical.

Why is he an asshole?

Just shy of Tom Cruise-caliber self-assumed god status. Also makes claims to records he didn't set.

Examples?

Oh, and if we starting counting what rock stars have a god complex, it is gonna be a long list.

This: https://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/111250

So once enough people do something assholey it makes it no longer assholey?

Oh, if South Park rips on you, which I am guessing that is what that link is to (like I am gonna waste my time watching a whole episode), then it must be accurate, right??? Lol

In regards to your second comment, having a god complex doesn't automatically make you an asshole, unless you insist on being judgmental and assuming so.

Also, still waiting on what records he claims to have set that he didn't...

[Fluffy Lothario]

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

A musician is perfectly entitled to do this. Especially if the expectations of their older fans are closed off and ridiculous. There are few things I respect more in musicians than not being afraid to change their sound, even if their fanbase might attack them. In a lot of cases, it shows they're serving the music above all else.

[Arcaeus]

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

A musician is perfectly entitled to do this. Especially if the expectations of their older fans are closed off and ridiculous. There are few things I respect more in musicians than not being afraid to change their sound, even if their fanbase might attack them. In a lot of cases, it shows they're serving the music above all else.

This.

Oh, and linking to a South Park episode is not a valid argument.

[KevShmev]

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

A musician is perfectly entitled to do this. Especially if the expectations of their older fans are closed off and ridiculous. There are few things I respect more in musicians than not being afraid to change their sound, even if their fanbase might attack them. In a lot of cases, it shows they're serving the music above all else.

True.  Now, saying, "fuck the old fans," would be going too far, but there is nothing wrong with the spirit behind it.  It's funny how certain musicians are lauded for being brutally honest, while others are castigated for it.

People can hate Bono and U2 all they want, but their radical change in sound in the 90s was one of the most daring moves ever made by a rock band.  Considering how popular they were, they put it all at risk by changing their sound, and it paid off.  Most bands that popular would never risk it like that. 

[pogoowner]

Hope he gets well soon. He's a great frontman.

And I never understood the hate for the guy either.

[Volk9]

Hope he gets well soon. He's a great frontman.

And I never understood the hate for the guy either.

[faemir]

Bono always came off as cocky, but then a lot of rock stars do.

Hope he gets better soon.

[skydivingninja]

Bono always came off as cocky, but then a lot of rock stars do.

Pretty much this.  I was never really sure about how he really came off as a total dick.  Doesn't change that episode of South Park from being hilarious though, if a horrible piece of "evidence" to present in this argument.  I'm actually curious to see some quotes and sources though.

Haven't really cared for much post-80s U2, but hope he gets better.

[chknptpie]

This sucks, seeing U2 was like a religious experience. I'd definitely pay to see them again.

[Quadrochosis]

I remember when one of their newer albums came out, someone asked him about the criticism about their style changing a lot and he basically said "fuck the old fans, this is the new U2" or something to that effect.

A musician is perfectly entitled to do this. Especially if the expectations of their older fans are closed off and ridiculous. There are few things I respect more in musicians than not being afraid to change their sound, even if their fanbase might attack them. In a lot of cases, it shows they're serving the music above all else.

Totally missed the point. I agree that there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing your sound and U2 managed to make it work and more power to them for that.

Telling fans to fuck off because they don't like it is just a dick move, and more than qualifies you for asshole status.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

We've seen what happens when a singer tours with back pain (Phil Collins, anyone?), so it'd probably be in Bono/U2's best interest to postpone/cancel whatever dates he needs to properly recover

[Darkes7]

I'm definitely with Kev here, I have never seen any examples proving that he is an asshole in any way. He definitely is very self-confident, maybe slightly too much, but you can't have a shy and reserved frontman in this kind of band. But I've never heard anything that would make me consider him an asshole in any way possible, quite the opposite, I've always been under the impression he's still quite normal for a person with this kind of fame.

My best wishes for him, I hope it will go well.

[KevShmev]

Telling fans to fuck off because they don't like it is just a dick move, and more than qualifies you for asshole status.

I still don't believe he said that.  Like I said before, what you said sounds like a bad paraphrasing job.

And let's say for the sake of argument that he DID say that...does that one comment automatically make him an asshole?  What if that is the only comment he has ever made like that?  Would that one comment in a 30-year career define him as a person?

[King Postwhore]

Bono is nothing but a great person and a great rock star. I hope he gets better.  The end.

[Quadrochosis]

Telling fans to fuck off because they don't like it is just a dick move, and more than qualifies you for asshole status.

I still don't believe he said that.  Like I said before, what you said sounds like a bad paraphrasing job.

And let's say for the sake of argument that he DID say that...does that one comment automatically make him an asshole?  What if that is the only comment he has ever made like that?  Would that one comment in a 30-year career define him as a person?

You know what.. you're actually right. I really don't have any good reason to think that he is a jerk.

[black_biff_stadler]

Why is he an asshole?

Just shy of Tom Cruise-caliber self-assumed god status. Also makes claims to records he didn't set.

Examples?

Oh, and if we starting counting what rock stars have a god complex, it is gonna be a long list.

This: https://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/111250

So once enough people do something assholey it makes it no longer assholey?

Oh, if South Park rips on you, which I am guessing that is what that link is to (like I am gonna waste my time watching a whole episode), then it must be accurate, right??? Lol

In regards to your second comment, having a god complex doesn't automatically make you an asshole, unless you insist on being judgmental and assuming so.

Also, still waiting on what records he claims to have set that he didn't...

If you'd seen the episode you'd find the humor in my comment

Regarding the god complex, it does automatically make you an asshole since if you behave in a manner suggesting you feel more important/superior to others than you're displaying a great bit of arrogance and even regular levels of arrogance can make someone an asshole.

Not to personally attack you but why are you always so surly and condescending in your debates? I like you as a poster and have enjoyed your input in the NFL thread a good bit and we've always had a good rapport with one another but it can rub folks the wrong way sometimes when you go 0-60 on your intensity in the context of your rebuttals.

[KevShmev]

You know what.. you're actually right. I really don't have any good reason to think that he is a jerk.

I honestly cannot tell if you are being sarcastic here or not. 

Not to personally attack you but why are you always so surly and condescending in your debates? I like you as a poster and have enjoyed your input in the NFL thread a good bit and we've always had a good rapport with one another but it can rub folks the wrong way sometimes when you go 0-60 on your intensity in the context of your rebuttals.

I am sorry if that if that is how you feel I am come off sometimes, but I can assure that that is not my intention.  I have never hidden the fact that I have strong opinions, and I often express them in a strong manner, which is why I often will throw in a few emoticons, as to try and tone down the overall content and make it seem less forceful than the words by themselves might appear.  If we were having this conversation in person, I would be saying it in an assertive tone, but smiling and being very friendly about it.  Really.  So, again, I am sorry if I come across that way to you, but all I ask is you take what I have just said into consideration in the future.

[MetalManiac666]

Hope he gets well soon. He's a great frontman.

And I never understood the hate for the guy either.

[black_biff_stadler]

I am sorry if that if that is how you feel I am come off sometimes, but I can assure that that is not my intention.  I have never hidden the fact that I have strong opinions, and I often express them in a strong manner, which is why I often will throw in a few emoticons, as to try and tone down the overall content and make it seem less forceful than the words by themselves might appear.  If we were having this conversation in person, I would be saying it in an assertive tone, but smiling and being very friendly about it.  Really.  So, again, I am sorry if I come across that way to you, but all I ask is you take what I have just said into consideration in the future.

No hard feelings chief. I guess text has its shortcomings as to how accurately it can convey one's thoughts/feelings/context.

[Quadrochosis]

You know what.. you're actually right. I really don't have any good reason to think that he is a jerk.

I honestly cannot tell if you are being sarcastic here or not. 

I was being quite serious, I don't even know why I didn't like him, people must have said something to me a while ago about him being a jerk and I always just remembered it.

[KevShmev]

  I guess text has its shortcomings as to how accurately it can convey one's thoughts/feelings/context.

Yep, often times, they look like just words on the screen, which really is why I often use emoticons.  I know how strongly I offer my opinions at times, so I try to keep it a bit light-hearted with the emoticons and whatnot.

I was being quite serious, I don't even know why I didn't like him, people must have said something to me a while ago about him being a jerk and I always just remembered it.

Gotcha.