hennemusic is pleased to present U2 LIVE in concert from New York’s Times Square to mark World AIDS Day.
Following Bono’s recent bike accident and surgery, the singer remains under doctors' orders to refrain from performing until fully recuperated from his injuries.
As a result, the band – billed as U2 Minus 1 – will be fronted by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay singer Chris Martin; both were personally invited by the band to appear and both have donated their time and talents to save the World AIDS Day event from cancellation.
Kanye West and Carrie Underwood will also perform.
"This year is a World AIDS Day like no other," said Bono, speaking from Dublin. "The world reached a tipping point in the fight against AIDS - more people were newly added to life-saving treatment than were newly infected with the virus. A lot of people are calling it the beginning of the end of AIDS.”
"We wouldn’t be at this point without American leadership, people from the left and the right,” he added. “Today, 13 million people have access to life-saving treatment, up from 300,000 just over ten years ago. Americans don’t know the role they’ve played in this fight. Tonight’s event is to inform them and thank them.”
POST-SHOW UPDATE
U2 – without injured frontman Bono – were joined by Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Kanye West and Carrie Underwood in New York’s Times Square Monday evening for a live performance on World AIDS Day.
U2 opened the event with Martin handling vocals on “Beautiful Day” and “With Or Without You”; guitarist The Edge then joined Underwood for a song before she played her set, which was followed by West’s performance.
Springsteen wrapped up the hour-long show by teaming up with U2 on “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, which he dedicated to the absent Bono as he recuperates at home in Ireland after facing surgery following a bicycle accident in New York’s Central Park recently.
See also:
U2’s Bono undergoes extensive surgery following bike accident
VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon and The Roots fill in for U2 on The Tonight Show
U2 postpone Tonight Show residency following Bono bike injury
U2 frontman Bono’s private jet loses door in mid-flight
Search U2 at hennemusic
