Β Okay, it was World AIDS Day, so the show had to go on. Β But the big, free concert with U2 had to go on without Bono. Β And while they had a cavalcade of top-tier celebrities to fill in for him, if you wanted U2, you might have felt ripped off. Β They were replacing the face and the voice of the band. Β Can you do that? Β Because they might have to for the long haul.
The 54-year-old singer is having a rough couple of months. Β He had to bow out of the concert because he’s still in recovery from a pretty massive bicycle accident. Β He wrecked in New York’s Central Park, getting a compound fracture in six places in his arm, broken bones in his face, a busted left shoulder and a fracture in his hand. Β That: shortly after the band announced a tour for their new album.
They even had to cancel their week-long engagement with Jimmy Fallon. Β Jimmy took it in stride, simply doing his best Bono impression with the Roots playing behind him. Β Which makes us think about bands replacing their lead singer with a sound-alike.
Of course, bands have done that for years. Β Queen is touring with Adam Lambert in Freddy Mercury’s role; Boston got that guy who sounds like the old guy from Boston; Journey got that Filipino guy who sounds like Steve Perry; and every old Motown group ever is touring with new guys under the old name.
But are those the same bands? Β Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin may be awesome of their own, but they’re not part of U2. Β Bono is U2. Β So our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, hit the streets to ask if anybody could replace Bono, and still be part of U2.
