NEWS LYRICS PHOTOS CALENDAR BAND FORUM CONNECT ABOUT HOME

U2.com is reporting today that Bono has been discharged from Ludwig Maximilians-University Hospital in Munich. He is under strict doctor's orders to begin a rehabilitation program and to take the next eight weeks recouperating for full recovery. U2.com quotes the doctors:

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'.

The doctors state that eight weeks is the minimum time needed, so it could take longer.

As a result, the entire North American leg of the U2 360 Tour has been postponed, as has U2's apperance at the Glastonbury Festival. U2.com reports:

Speaking at the LMU University Hospital in Munich, Paul McGuinness has confirmed the postponement of 16 shows on the U2360° Tour from Salt Lake City on June 3rd, through to New Jersey's Meadowlands Stadium on July 19th. Tour Promoters Live Nation are now rescheduling those dates.

Paul McGuinness 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. 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. We're working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reschedule these dates.'

Bono called Glastonbury Festival founder, Michael Eavis, today to let him know the band would have to cancel its headlining slot next month. "I'm heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special - we even wrote a song especially for the Festival," Bono said. On the Glastonbury site, Eavis says: "It was obvious from our telephone conversation that U2 are hugely disappointed. 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."

UPDATE: BBC News has posted video of Paul McGuinness making a statement today outside the Munich hospital where Bono had been staying.

Related Articles:

• May 29, 2010 - Why Bono's bad back could cost U2 millions
• May 26, 2010 - U2: 'Bono's back injury could have been permanent'
• May 26, 2010 - U2 360 Tour 2011: Early Rumors
• May 25, 2010 - U2 cancel Glastonbury and US tour after Bono's injury
• May 25, 2010 - Edge: We're 95% Confident Bono Will Make European Leg
• May 21, 2010 - U2 postpones Utah show
• May 21, 2010 - Bono Has Back Surgery; Tour Opener Postponed

@U2 Calendar

September 3 2010 U2 in Athens Opening band: Snow Patrol September 6 2010 U2 in Istanbul Opening band: Snow Patrol Full Calendar