Counting the cost of Bono's bad back

Now that U2's North American tour has been postponed because of lead singer Bono's back injury, all involved are counting the cost — and the figures are spectacular. "U2's daily tour spend is €950,000," a music-tour insider told the Irish Times.

"Bono''s back has put them out of action for two months," he continued. "They're insured for show postponement, but that's not the full story. It's not just the show day; it's the three or four days before setting up the stadium, one day stripping it down after, the 200 trucks, the drivers, the security, the merchandising people, the drinks and food people, the programme sellers, costume, make-up and hundreds of other people. U2 would have over 100 permanent touring personnel and an extra 200-300 working personnel at each local venue. It's the hotels, the flights, the food vouchers. It's like a small country coming to a standstill."

The European leg of U2's 360° tour, from August until October, is still officially on, but it will depend on the singer's recovery. The band train hard before going the road, but the back injury was caused by Bono trying to get himself fit for two months of touring after several months off.