Irish rock band U2 has rescheduled the dates for the North American leg of their 360 tour for Spring/Summer 2011 with all tickets valid for the new performance dates, their concert promoter said today.

The North American leg will kick off on May 21 next year at Invesco Field in Denver and end on July 23, 2011 in Minneapolis, music concert company Live Nation Entertainment said. The 2010 European tour will begin on time on August 6, 2010 in Turin.

The North American tour dates were cancelled and U2 missed a date with Glastonbury music festival after frontman Bono underwent emergency surgery on his back in May. "Following Bono's recovery from recent back surgery, U2 are now readying themselves for the opening of their European Tour,'' Live Nation said in a statement. 

It said band members Adam, Larry, Edge and Bono have filmed a message for everyone at website u2.com on the eve of their return to say: "Thank you for standing by us.'' U2 manager Paul McGuinness also thanked the band's fans for their ongoing support.

"We're delighted the dates are rescheduled and in all the same venues we originally planned to play," he said in the statement. "Above all, we want to thank the U2 fans for bearing with us. They're the best and the band wants to get back to where they belong, surrounded by their audience."

With hits like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Where the Streets Have No Name", U2 are one of the world's biggest bands and have sold over 150 million records, according to unofficial estimates.

The 50-year-old singer's injury was a blow to the band and the millions of fans who were hoping to see U2 this year on the second leg of their world U2 360 Tour. It was also expected to hit music concert company Live Nation, which signed a 12-year deal to handle merchandising, digital and branding rights as well as touring.

The 2009 part of the tour helped the band earn $109 million last year, according to music journal Billboard. The 360 tour, so-called because fans surround a giant circular platform, was predicted to become the highest-grossing tour in history. –Reuters

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