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U2 Delays Releasing Tour Dates
By Debra Douglas
07 January 2005
Millions of U2 fans across Europe were left on tenterhooks today after the band postponed announcing the dates for the first leg of their tour.
The move came amid unconfirmed reports that guitarist The Edge was keeping a bedside vigil by an ill relative.
Official tour dates were to be announced next Monday, with tickets due to go on sale later this month, but it is thought plans have been put on hold after it was reported that The Edge needs to be with an unnamed family member undergoing intensive medical treatment.
The highly anticipated tour, which was to promote their new top-selling album How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, was scheduled to start on March 1 in Miami.
But, according to newspaper reports, it may be postponed for at least one month to give The Edge - real name Dave Evans - time to be with his ill relative.
Following a report on respected US entertainment magazine's website, a spokeswoman for the band said she was "in no position to confirm or deny the rumours or speculative details".
But the Irish Star claims a source close to the band admitted "all of the plans are in a total flux" as the family member receives treatment and that other sources believe it is likely the tour may be postponed for at least one month.
On the band's website, manager Paul McGuinness blamed the delay on "routing".
He said: "We've postponed the announcement of the tour because the routing is still being worked on. As soon as we get everything confirmed over the coming weeks, we'll let you know."
The band was expected to play 115 shows after starting in Miami. They planned to play 35 arena dates in America before starting a major European stadium tour in the summer.
The delay means several American dates could be postponed until the second leg of the band's US tour which is due to start in September.
It is hoped the European tour, due to kick off in Dublin in June, will go ahead as scheduled.
This is not the first time a major family crisis has hit the band. During their 2001 Elevation world tour, singer Bono was forced to fly home every night to be by his seriously ill dad's hospital bedside.
Bob Hewson died during the tour after a long battle against cancer but a grief-stricken Bono still took to the stage just days later to perform at an emotionally-charged concert at Slane Castle.
--Belfast Telegraph
By Debra Douglas
07 January 2005
Millions of U2 fans across Europe were left on tenterhooks today after the band postponed announcing the dates for the first leg of their tour.
The move came amid unconfirmed reports that guitarist The Edge was keeping a bedside vigil by an ill relative.
Official tour dates were to be announced next Monday, with tickets due to go on sale later this month, but it is thought plans have been put on hold after it was reported that The Edge needs to be with an unnamed family member undergoing intensive medical treatment.
The highly anticipated tour, which was to promote their new top-selling album How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, was scheduled to start on March 1 in Miami.
But, according to newspaper reports, it may be postponed for at least one month to give The Edge - real name Dave Evans - time to be with his ill relative.
Following a report on respected US entertainment magazine's website, a spokeswoman for the band said she was "in no position to confirm or deny the rumours or speculative details".
But the Irish Star claims a source close to the band admitted "all of the plans are in a total flux" as the family member receives treatment and that other sources believe it is likely the tour may be postponed for at least one month.
On the band's website, manager Paul McGuinness blamed the delay on "routing".
He said: "We've postponed the announcement of the tour because the routing is still being worked on. As soon as we get everything confirmed over the coming weeks, we'll let you know."
The band was expected to play 115 shows after starting in Miami. They planned to play 35 arena dates in America before starting a major European stadium tour in the summer.
The delay means several American dates could be postponed until the second leg of the band's US tour which is due to start in September.
It is hoped the European tour, due to kick off in Dublin in June, will go ahead as scheduled.
This is not the first time a major family crisis has hit the band. During their 2001 Elevation world tour, singer Bono was forced to fly home every night to be by his seriously ill dad's hospital bedside.
Bob Hewson died during the tour after a long battle against cancer but a grief-stricken Bono still took to the stage just days later to perform at an emotionally-charged concert at Slane Castle.
--Belfast Telegraph
