Last week, we received unfortunate news that Bono’s biking injury was particularly severe. Though the U2 frontman is expected to fully recover, he will certainly be out of commission for a number of months. However, the band was scheduled to play a surprise concert, tonight, in Times Square, as a charity benefit on World AIDS Day.
As they always say, “the show must go on.” The band announced that Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin (Coldplay) would be filling in for Bono during U2’s set. Also slated to perform are Kanye West and Carrie Underwood.
The show will begin at 7:30, and will be broadcast live via YouTube for those unable to attend. Bono was still able to give a statement about the event, saying:
“This year is a World AIDS Day like no other. 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. 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.”
For more information, head to U2’s official website.