Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin Play Bono at Monday’s World AIDS Concert
U2 frontman Bono was replaced by Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin of Coldplay in a concert at Madison Square Garden last Monday with the singer still recovering from serious injuries sustained from a bicycle accident last month.
Monday night’s concert was a free event honoring World AIDS Day, a cause that Bono has long supported. U2 was meant to headline the show, but Bono was unable to perform due to his injuries. Luckily, Springsteen and Martin stepped up to the plate to fill in for the singer alongside the other members of U2, including Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.
Springsteen sang “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” while Martin took on “Beautiful Day” and “With or Without You.” Other performers at the event included Kanye West and Carrie Underwood.
Bill Clinton also made an appearance at the World AIDS Concert — upon the request of Bono himself. “I got this email from Bono today recuperating in Dublin, and he said I had to come here tonight to do this intro,” the former President said, according to ABC News.
Clinton went on to say that 26 years ago an event like this would not be possible due to the extreme severity of being diagnosed with AIDS. Thanks to new treatments and life-saving medications, there is new hope for both treating and curing the virus.
In a note posted on U2’s website, Bono thanked Springsteen and Martin for filling in for him so that the concert did not have to be canceled. Bono remains in Dublin, recuperating from his injuries.
Last month, the U2 frontman sustained extensive injuries in an accident while trying to avoid another biker in Central Park. After being taken to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, it was discovered that the 54-year-old singer had a facial fracture involving his left eye socket, a fracture in his left shoulder blade, a broken humerus and a fracture in his left hand.
After undergoing a long surgical procedure, Bono is expected to make a full recovery with the help of therapeutic treatments.
