It's ok, I'm sorry
There wasn't any confirmation, it was just a rumour. Last time he was seen in Cannes.
As pointed out by other ones here, Bono has had these problems for years. He had a slipped disk during the Vertigo tour and was treated by the same doc, got injections to be able to perform. He had problems years before the Vertigo tour, not being able to appear at events due to severe back pain. Also, it was said, he had to lie down while recording parts of "Bomb" because of his back troubles. And he said in several interviews that he had a bad back.
A bad back is not something you suddenly get over night and then it goes away again. It gets better and worse, depending on certain circomstances. When you're under stress and having a lot of physical stuff to handle (like touring, performing every second or third night, jetting around the world, not enough sleep etc.), it almost certainly gets worse. I know people my age (mid 30s) who have slipped disks due to several reasons and they have problems walking because their legs give in, or they can't sit down or stand. Moving around makes it better. My dad has suffered from a bad back condition for many years. He didn't have surgery, but physio-therapy and it's best for him when he's moving. He's even doing sports, but it has to be the right training. He has had a bad phase for about half a year now with severe pain in his leg, but physiotherapy made it better and he's improving now. It just comes and goes.
You become scared to move because it might lead to new pain. That's why Bono might have looked stiff and couldn't walk properly. You could also clearly witness this during certain phases of the Vertigo tour.
However, I didn't see anything like that at the 360 shows I went to, but it could very well be that he was better during the start of the tour and got worse later on. He's only human after all and there's also so and so much a body can take.
He was planted on the stage. It was obvious at both shows , just planted . I wasn't at all impressed by his performance, and it was something widely discussed in the Audiences .
Also, when he was in Miami, it was also very obvious. He gained quite of bit of weight . Quite a bit ! He was not in shape for a tour of this magnitude. Sounds like he realized that, and this would be a good point to do it. The shows can be rescheduled .
But yes, your point was mine. There are 2 instances of
Emergency Back Surgery. Loss of control of bowels and bladder.
It was not a "training accident' he probably just could take the pain any more. There is for a time when you do everything possible to not have surgery ( the last thing anyone should do ) PT, good PT being the first thing to try . Then there is a time you elect to try a surgical method. Back pain, especially lower back pain is one of the worst things someone could go through. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not , but the pain level gets to the point you want to try something new. A good Surgeon can probably help him . I know of the Drs involved. They are good. It is better to do this now, rather than in the progression of his age. Better ecovert at 50 than 55 or 60.
I am not at all discounting him. It would make sense to do it at this point, as over the break, he probably understood how bad it was affecting him, so this again is a good place to do it. PT obviously failed to help.
My point was the "Emergency". At this point inlong term, lower back or C-spine problems with pain, at his age it is a good time to try to diminish some of the pain, if not all of it for a while by surgical method. . The last thing he wants, or the band wants is pain, and to not to perform to his standards. I would bet came to the choice to do it now. I would be certain that more shows than the one that is canceled . If it were just a herniated disk(1) it would be a
minimum of 6-8 weeks. Last thing he would want to do is re-herniate it.
I am glad he is seeking a chance at relief . Besides releving his pain , I have tickets for Miami and I was seriously debating making the show. The other 2 were that bad. Lots of very extensive pauses, and segments of him just talking by himself. You could see Edge and all saw and knew that he was going thru something . It was that Obvious . Going any further would have tarnished the band. The break is a natural place to stop and deal with the issue.
Tough time as he has other issues such as financial that would have been helped by the tour. Great singer/writer, person who cares about people, but well known for being the worst investor in the world. He has made, many, seriously bad investments over the last few years. He should let Warren mange his finances . Bill and Warren would bail him out though...Seriously, that is another issue he has to face.
I wish him the best, and hope that Miami is the return of the Bono.. the great entertainer he is. I am a little spoiled by the Slane Castle show. Nothing will ever beat that . But these 2 were plain bad. Now we know why.
