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2 Jan, 2015

Might not play guitar again

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Bono says he may never be able to play guitar again in a letter to fans on U2’s website.

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.

4 Dec, 2014

‘Basically can’t move’

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The Edge tells radio network KROQ that Bono is undergoing physiotherapy for injuries received during his cycling accident, but he “basically can’t move”.

And the most vulnerable was actually his upper back, the scapula, because they couldn’t put any plates in there or they decided not to do surgery. He basically can’t move for the next couple of months. We’re kind of lucky he was wearing a helmet so he didn’t actually break Central Park. He’s made of tough stuff, and he’s bouncing back.

20 Nov, 2014

Surgery

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Bono goes through hours of surgery at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center to repair injuries suffered during a cycling accident. Dr. Dean Lorich reports that Bono broke his arm in six spots and fractured his eye socket and shoulder (in three places):

He will require intensive and progressive therapy. However, a full recovery is expected.

17 Nov, 2014

Hurt in cycling accident

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Bono injures his arm while cycling in Central park. U2 cancels it’s scheduled appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show. U2’s statement:

It looks like we will have to do our Tonight Show residency another time – we’re one man down. Bono has injured his arm in a cycling spill in Central Park and requires some surgery to repair it. We’re sure he’ll make a full recovery soon, so we’ll be back! Much thanks to Jimmy Fallon and everyone at the show for their understanding.

23 Oct, 2014

Rolling Stone cover

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U2U2 appears on the cover of Rolling Stone. Bono discusses the group’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, being automatically downloaded to iPhone users music lists.

It’s like we put a bottle of milk in people’s fridge that they weren’t asking for. It is a gross invasion! But it was kind of an accident. The milk was supposed to be in the cloud. It was supposed to be on the front doorstep.

17 Oct, 2014

Has glaucoma

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Bono reveals that he suffers from glaucoma during a recording for The Graham Norton Show. Bono explains that the condition, which causes sensitivity to light, is why he wears dark glasses.

This is a good place to explain to people that I’ve had glaucoma for the last 20 years. I have good treatments and I am going to be fine. You’re not going to get this out of your head now, and you will be saying ‘Ah, poor old blind Bono’.

Bono Reveals Reason He Always Wears Sunglasses - The Graham Norton Show

15 Oct, 2014

Apologizes for download

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Bono apologizes for Songs of Innocence being added to iPhone users music libraries without their permission. In a question and answer session on Facebook, Bono responds to a user who calls the automatic download “rude”.

Oops, I’m sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard. There’s a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it.

21 Jun, 2014

Cannes Lionheart award

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Bono becomes the first ever recipient of the “honorary award that is given in exceptional circumstances.”

Bono has used his celebrity status to successfully establish a global brand, through which he has built unique relationships with other such brands, to raise awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS and achieve greater good for humankind.  We are delighted and privileged that Bono will share his inspirational story with our Cannes Lions delegates and we look forward to presenting him with the first Cannes LionHeart in recognition of his achievements.

During his acceptance speech, Bono says:

This is the most important room for (RED) to ever be in.

1 Jun, 2006

Co-founds (RED)

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Bono and Shriver team up for another humanitarian venture to found (RED) to raise money from businesses to buy AIDS drugs for people in Africa unable to afford them.  After setting up DATA, the two noticed that there was still a need for greater private sector funding and created (RED) as a division of ONE, to fill that need. They hopes to generate a sustainable flow of money to aid in their efforts.

Product (RED) has an ongoing relationship with a number of iconic global brands that sell (RED) products and donate a percentage of the profits directly to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

1 Jun, 2005

Starts responsible fashion brand

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Together with his wife, Ali Hewson, Bono founds EDUN, a socially responsible clothing and accessories line.  The company’s mission is to promote and provide sustainable growth opportunities to African people.

EDUN is building long-term, sustainable growth opportunities by supporting manufacturers, infrastructure and community building initiatives in Africa.  We are actively working toward increasing trade throughout the continent with our apparel and accessories businesses.  For Spring 2014, 85% of the EDUN collection will be produced in sub Saharan Africa.

1 Apr, 2004

O Magazine interview

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Bono talks about why is is nervous whenever he releases an album in an interview with O Magazine.

It’s much easier to be successful than it is to be relevant. The tricks won’t keep you relevant. Tricks might keep you popular for a while, but in all honesty, I don’t know how U2 will stay relevant. I know we’ve got a future. I know we can fill stadiums. And yet with every record, I think, Is this it? Are we still relevant?

10 May, 1960

Bono born in Dublin

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Paul Hewson is born in the suburb of Ballymun. He is the second child of Catholic father Brendan Robert Hewson, and Protestant mother Iris Elizabeth Rankin.  He experiences an admittedly average childhood until the age of 14, when his mother dies of a brain hemorrhage at his grandfather’s funeral.

The way you see the world is shaped way before you go into the world. It’s shaped through the way you see a community.  It’s shaped through the way you see a street.  I live comfortably all over the world and people say it’s incredible that you are really a ‘wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home’ person.  But I am partly that because of the way I grew up in Finglas — sleeping on a couch, or because my mother died when I was a kid I was in the house on my own a lot of the time, so I’d knock on the door of the Hanveys at teatime, you know, or the Rowens at lunchtime.

It might be London, it might be New York, but that ability to feel comfortable where I am was definitely instilled in me on Cedarwood Road.

At the time of his mother’s death, he is known as ‘Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbang.’  Later this name evolves into ‘Bonavox of O’Connell Street,’ and is eventually shortened to ‘Bonavox,’ ‘Bono Vox,’  and finally ‘Bono.’

He attends school, but is more into girls than his studies.  While in school, he is initially interested in acting, but responds to an ad looking for musicians and meets up with the remaining members of what would later become U2.  He also meets his future wife.