Bono has been sidelined with some serious cycling injuries, but that won't stop U2 from performing tonight (December 1) for World AIDS Day. In place of the singer, the group will be employing some different and very notable frontmen.
U2 will be billed as U2 Minus 1. Bono's role will be filled by both Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who will trade off frontman duties. Martin is a particularly appropriate choice, given how many times Coldplay has been compared to U2 over the past decade or so.
An announcement explains, "Adam Clayton, the Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. will be joined by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin, each of whom will take a turn as frontman on the U2 songs. Appearing at the personal invitation of U2, Springsteen and Martin have graciously donated their time and talents to save the World AIDS Day event from cancellation."
Kanye West and Carrie Underwood are also on the bill for the concert, which will take place within Times Square at Duffy Square (on Broadway between 46th and 47th). The gig is presented by Bono's AIDS-fighting organization (RED).
For those who aren't in New York today, the show will stream on YouTube via the player below. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. EST.
"This year is a World AIDS Day like no other," Bono said in a statement 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. 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."
UPDATE: In case you missed it, you can watch a replay of U2 Minus 1's performance, as well as Kanye's, below.
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U2 will be billed as U2 Minus 1. Bono's role will be filled by both Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who will trade off frontman duties. Martin is a particularly appropriate choice, given how many times Coldplay has been compared to U2 over the past decade or so.
An announcement explains, "Adam Clayton, the Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. will be joined by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin, each of whom will take a turn as frontman on the U2 songs. Appearing at the personal invitation of U2, Springsteen and Martin have graciously donated their time and talents to save the World AIDS Day event from cancellation."
Kanye West and Carrie Underwood are also on the bill for the concert, which will take place within Times Square at Duffy Square (on Broadway between 46th and 47th). The gig is presented by Bono's AIDS-fighting organization (RED).
For those who aren't in New York today, the show will stream on YouTube via the player below. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. EST.
"This year is a World AIDS Day like no other," Bono said in a statement 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. 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."
UPDATE: In case you missed it, you can watch a replay of U2 Minus 1's performance, as well as Kanye's, below.
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