New York bicycle accident may keep Bono from playing guitar again

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U2 front man Bono fears he may never again play guitar after breaking his arm in six places in a November bicycle accident in New York.

Posting on his personal blog, the U2 singer described the events leading up to the accident as a last-minute fitness push meant to counterbalance increased alcohol consumption in celebration of his 50th birthday.

"On the day of my 50th birthday I received an injury because I was over indulging in exercise boxing and cycling, which was itself an overcompensation for overindulging on alcohol coming up to the big birthday," Bono admitted.

"I promised myself I would be more mindful of my limits, but just four years on, it happened again -- a massive injury I can't blame on anyone but myself, mainly because I blanked out on impact and have no memory of how I ended up in New York Presbyterian with my humerus bone sticking through my leather jacket. Very punk rock as injuries go."

Bono says he is committed to recovering in time for the start of U2's next tour, but confessed he fears he'll never be able to play guitar again.

"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," he said.

Rumors started as an off-hand joke by U2 guitarist, The Edge, that Bono was dressed as a Hasidic Jew at the time of the accident have proven false, after a spokesman for Bono confirmed to the Times of Isreal the anecdote was never intended to be taken seriously.