U2 tour postpones June launch after Bono undergoes emergency back surgery

The launch of U2‘s summer tour leg was postponed after frontman Bono underwent emergency back surgery earlier today, May 21, in Germany.

The 2010 leg of the 360° Tour was set to start June 3 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT, but that concert has been postponed, according to U2’s official Web site. The full extent of the tour delay is not yet known, but the June 3 concert is the only postponement at the moment.

“Bono has today undergone emergency back surgery for an injury sustained during tour preparation training,” said a statement on the band’s site.

The surgery took place at a Munich hospital, where Bono will remain for a few days before continuing his recuperation at home. The rock veteran’s progress will determine the fate of the 16-date North American outing, currently booked through a July 19 gig at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

U2 began its 360° Tour last summer with a fast-selling European tour leg before bringing the venture stateside for a 20-date fall run. As the first public onsales opened in spring 2009, the band quickly broke box office records for its overseas and stateside ticket sales.

The concerts sold out within minutes in many European markets, according to press statements released at the time. The group’s following North American ticket sales were equally strong.

The trek was ultimately named the highest grossing tour of 2009 by Billboard, thanks to its tally of 44 sold-out concerts. The 2009 tour grossed $311,631,740 overall with a total of 3,071,290 attendees.

U2 itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)