X17 News

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Bono, the lead singer of the rock band U2 and a leading peace advocate, has been invited to write an Op-Ed column for The New York Times.

Catherine J. Mathis, a spokeswoman for The New York Times Company, said, “We have asked Bono to write an occasional column for the paper next year, covering a range of subjects, but are still finalizing the details.”

Kathy McKiernan, a spokeswoman for the ONE Campaign, a charitable organization created by Bono, said it was not clear if he would be paid, but if he were, she said, the money would go to the charity.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Some of the biggest names in music will be performing at President-elect Obama's inauguration.

The official organizing committee announced today that Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder will perform in Washington DC at a concert celebrating the new administration.

The event is being called "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" and will air Sunday on HBO.

The event is free to the public.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Bono and his U2 bandmates will be on David Letterman's "Late Show" everyday for an entire week.

The band will be Dave's musical guest each night the week of March 2nd to promote their new CD "No Line on The Horizon."

This is the first time any musical guest has been booked for 5 continuous days on the show.

"Late Show" airs on CBS.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - U2 lead singer Bono is recovering from back surgery, and now the band's opening show for their tour will be postponed.

On the U2.com website, the band says:

"Bono has today undergone emergency back surgery for an injury sustained during tour preparation training. He was admitted to a specialist neurosurgery unit in a Munich hospital, and is under the care of neurosurgeon Prof. Dr. Jorg Tonn and Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt. Bono will spend the next few days there, before returning home to recuperate."

U2 was scheduled to perform on June 3 in Salt Lake City at the Rice-Eccles Stadium, but the show has now been postponed. No word on whether any other dates of the U2 360 tour will be rescheduled.

The band adds, "Once his condition has been assessed further, a statement will be made regarding the impact on forthcoming tour dates."

MADRID, Spain (X17online) - U2 has been fined for rehearsing until midnight before a June 2009 concert in Barcelona because this was two hours past the scheduled time and above legal sound levels.

Residents living near Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium, where the rehearsal took place, filed numerous complaints because of the noise. As a result, the band was forced to pay $22,000 for the offense.

The city is now contemplating whether or not to fine Shakira for filming her recent music video without a proper permit, dancing in a fountain and for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle in the area.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Even though Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has had it's unfortunate incidents of cast injuries, technical glitches and opening-night delays, Bono said the show is still on schedule for its June 14 opening.

U2's frontman composed the production's music with bandmate the Edge said to reporters Wednesday night after the American Idol finale, the show will go on:

"We're opening Spider-Man on the 14th ... I promise it's not been canceled, and we're very excited about it. It's almost there -- it will be there by opening night."

The costly $70 million production -- the most expensive Broadway musical in its history -- had a full on revamp, which also included replacement of directors.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Lady Gaga, Usher, and Bono have signed on to perform for Bill Clinton’s upcoming benefit concert.

The concert, entitled "A Decade of Difference: A Concert Celebrating 10 Years of the William J. Clinton Foundation,” will celebrate the multifaceted accomplishments of the William J. Clinton Foundation, which include increasing access to education, decreasing the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment, and battling climate change.

The William J. Clinton Foundation's benefit concert will be held at the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. on Oct. 15.