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news
Bono (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 licensed by Danny Hammontree:Flickr)U2 frontman Bono may never play guitar again due to New York City bike smash
U2 singer Bono says he may never play guitar again as a result of the bike crash he was involved in during November in New York City’s Central Park – and has also helped lay to rest an urban myth that he disguises himself as an Hasidic Jew while cycling.
The Irish rock star, whose real name is Paul Hewson, shattered his arm in the “freak accident,” which happened as he tried to avoid a collision with another cyclist, and also suffered fractures of his eye socket, shoulder blade and hand.
He made his remarks in a New Year’s Day post on the band’s website under the heading Little Book of a Big Year: Bono’s A to Z of 2014.
He said he would need to work hard if he were to get back into the right physical condition to enable him to take part in the band’s planned world tour.
“The consequences of this freak accident are significant enough that I will have to concentrate hard to be ready for the U2 tour in fitness terms,” he explained.
"As a result I have cancelled every public appearance and decided this missive is all the communication I can manage for the first half of 2015, beyond muttering and singing to myself of course."
He added that he cannot recall the accident, saying he had "blanked out on impact and have no memory of how I ended up in New York Presbyterian [hospital] with my humerus bone sticking through my leather jacket. Very punk rock as injuries go."
That comment about his attire help lays to rest an urban myth that has been circulating in recent weeks since the crash.
Last month, the band’s guitarist The Edge joked in an interview with Los Angeles based radio station KROQ that Bono was not recognised in the aftermath of the accident because he adopted a rather singular disguise.
“You know, Bono likes, when he’s going cycling, he likes to dress up as a Hasidic Jew.” He said, adding, “I think that probably helped.”
While a spokesman for the musician quickly clarified that the comments were tongue in cheek, they were reported as fact by media outlets around the world.
Speaking of his long-term prognosis, 54-year-old Bono said: "Recovery has been more difficult than I thought. As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again.
“The band have reminded me that neither they nor western civilization are depending on this.
"I personally would very much miss fingering the frets of my green Irish falcon or my (red) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside from writing tunes.
"But then does the Edge, or Jimmy Page, or any guitarist you know have a titanium elbow, as I do now? I'm all elbows, I am."
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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24 comments
I smashed up my hand when I rode into a bridge at speed several years ago. I've been unable to play guitar since, now I play the harmonica, I look forward to U2's next album.
I know that injuries are supposed to be worse when the fall is at a slower speed but can they really be this bad? Doubtful. And as it's already been said - nobody got a picture or video in one of the worlds busiest parks? Even if they weren't intentionally filming cyclists, it would've been brought to somebodies attention!
I reckon he was beaten up.
Having crashed motorcycles at various speeds (up to 160mph on the M18, but we'll gloss over that one) including one truly track-bike destroying crash at Cadwell in my youth I think I can answer this one.
The only time that I have been seriously injured was below 20mph when I slid sideways on some gravel spilt on a tight corner and flipped as I struck the kerb. This accident nearly cost me my right thumb.
I think injuries are worse in slow speed accidents for a number of reasons but the two biggest are the angle you strike the ground and the fact that you have time to react (i.e. you tend to stick an arm out.).
So yes. I can believe that a fall at low speed from a cycle in a park could cause the injuries sustained by Bono. I don't think we need to concoct conspiracies to explain anything.
Every time I clap my hands......some one falls of their bike......
You read it here first.
I didn't wish him injured, but he is an insufferable bell end.
I refuse to give Bono a break; he's the most self-aggrandising person. He makes terrible music that's inflicted on all of us, and his supposed charitable deeds are nothing more than a vainglorious self-promotion vehicle.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314543/Bonos-ONE-foundation-giv... (apologies for a DM link).
So whilst I'd not wish a bike crash on anyone, I'm most certainly going to question something hat seems strange about a man who I find somewhat repugnant.
Self-righteous internet rant over.
...he seems to be much better at that himself....
I echo the sentiment of your post bashthebox....I simply don't like him or his music...(or his perceived HTT persona)
I'm never one to cock crow over someone else's misfortune...but there seems to be an awful lot of calories put into the reporting of this...when I'm sure there are far worse things happening elsewhere in the world (cycling/otherwise)...
You forgot to mention his tax dodging activities
I've only ever listened to U2 by accident. I don't care who he is as an artist, neither will this accident make me go search out his music. He's just a human being that fell of his bike. I am amazed the injuries he sustained though.
I'm wondering how fast he was cycling or if the fact that he's older why his injuries were that bad.
Also, when someone sick, give them a break why don't ya?
These comments are sickening and full of jelous begrudgery. No mater what you think of him, he doesn't deserve the abuse he's getting here.
Indeed Rob, I may be all of those things, and have been accused of much worse. But I can spell.
If as he claims he can no longer play guitar then potentially he could sue for millions of dollars to add to his already huge bank balance. Where there's blame, there's a claim.
No word on whether he'll be able to sing again? Now we'll see if there really is a god...
Are his fingers too numb to feel?
Love is Blindness. Points for me!
Not every band can please everyone, so if U2 doesn't float you boat, keep your shady conspiracy theories to yourself.
It's very, very peculiar. One of the most famous men in the world, in one of the busiest parks in the world, in a city where absolutely everyone has a smartphone.... and there's not a single photograph of the crash. There's not even a photo of him riding his bike! And how did he get that badly beaten up? You go down in a sprint at 60+kph and most of the time the worst that happens is a broken collar bone. If he was wearing a leather jacket, it seems somewhat unlikely he was going all that fast.
Hmmm.
I am of the same view, haven ridden in Central Park I find the whole thing very very suspicious to be honest. Why would he hide away and not say anything ?
Really? Damage to the shoulder can quite easily paralyze an arm if it severs a nerve that runs down the outside of the humerus. It's one of the things that is routinely checked for if a shoulder injury is presented at an Emergency department. You don't need to be going fast, how you fall and what you hit on the way down, a kerb or rock, are going to affect the outcome of an crash.
A guy on a bike crashes in one of the busiest parks in the world, it's not a remarkable event. He'd have been in disguise or would risk getting mobbed. The medical team that picked him up would have been aware and sensitive to the added danger of fans at the scene.
"..... may never play the guitar again."
Every cloud, and all that.
Meanwhile the really important question has yet to be asked. Can Bono still ride a bike...?
....or indeed, was he ever able to ride a bike....(wearing a leather jacket????
)
If only he'd take it as a sign he should retire
I have a feeling not though. U2 early stuff was great but now it's just about adding to the pile of money in the Cayman Islands.
Shit!!!! Will he ever ride a bike again............ Shocking
Oh no, no more live performances of Desire. With a red guitar, on fire!
That's a hell of a lot of publicity that he's getting from the accident. Sorry, from the "freak accident". I wish him well and that not being able to strum any more doesn't have too negative an effect on his life.
It would be nice for the press to put a little perspective on this as it seems to be getting too many column inches.
I am still trying to figure out how he got so beaten up with just a simple bike accident, I mean freak acci......