Bono and his wife Ali Hewson may be at risk of losing million as their ethical clothing change, Edun, continues to lose money.

At the end of last year Bono, and his wife of 28 years, Ali, moved their family from Dublin to New York to help launch the ethical clothing line based in Tribeca, Manhattan.

Ali has now revealed that the business has so far failed to make a profit.

“It hasn’t made money — it hasn’t made a profit yet,” said Ali. “But it’s growing. It’s growing.

“The first five years of the company is about putting money in and building the trade. So of course we had to support it. We’re still here supporting it now, because we believe in it.”

In fact the Hewson family believed so entirely in the project that they all moved to New York to be closer to the day to day running of the business.

“I’ve been seeing how the operation was being upgraded on a daily, weekly basis,” she said.

“It’s been amazing to see how far it has come in six months.

In 2005 Bono, Ali and fashion designer Rogan Gregory founded the fashion line. However, Ali says that the mission to increase employment in developing regions of Africa has overshadowed the company itself.

Over the years Bono has endured some criticism for his constant involvement in charity campaigns. His critics feel that his methods are a little preachy and that he’s over exposed in the media. However Ali defends his ongoing charity activism.

“He’s always known, if you want to get anything done you’ve got to stand in the firing line sometimes…He doesn’t do it for the warm fuzzy feelings. He does it to actually bring some change about, and highlight issues that were being pushed under the carpet. And he does it very effectively.

“Bono will say to you, ‘I’m sick of Bono, and I am Bono’.”

Just three years ago Edun had $3.6 million in bank loans and owes it’s three shareholders $7.9 million.

Ali feels that the situation for the company can only get better as the Hewson’s partnered up with LVMH, who owns Givenchy, Moet & Chandon, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Christian Dior.

Edun’s plans to have a line of clothing ready for the soccer World Cup this summer designed but children in the slums in Nairobi.

- BUZZ BRADY, Irishcentral.com

U2′s summer tour in the USA provided an added headache for Major League Baseball’s schedulers. Bono and the boys were set to perform at several major league venues this spring and summer, forcing some long road trips for teams in the middle of summer.

But Bono underwent emergency back surgery last week, and U2′s North American tour has been postponed until 2011.

Here are the concert dates at major league parks that have been affected:

• June 6 and 7, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, Calif.
• June 16, Oakland Coliseum
• July 3, Rogers Centre, Toronto
• July 9, Sun Life Stadium, Miami

According to Katy Feeney, a Major League Baseball senior vice president of scheduling and club relations, U2 requires 10 days to set up a concert and break it down. Here are the long road trips that scheduling to accommodate U2 has helped create:

• Angels: 14-game road trip (May 31-June 13)
• A’s: Nine-game, 10-day trip (June 11-20)
• Blue Jays: Seven-game, eight-day trip (June 28-July 5)
• Marlins: 10-game road trip leading into the All-Star break. After June 30, their next home game isn’t until July 16.

It will be interesting to see if teams subject themselves to this scenario again next year, when the tour resumes, or whether they have any control over the matter.

By Gabe Lacques and Stephen Borelli

Concert promoter Evenko says people who bought tickets to this summer’s performances by U2 will be offered refunds, but only when exact dates are announced for replacement shows.

U2 has been forced to postpone the North American leg of its upcoming tour, including two shows that were scheduled for the Montreal Hippodrome in July.

Those concerts will now be rescheduled for 2011, and Montreal promoter Evenko says tickets for the 2010 shows will be honoured.

Last week the band announced that frontman Bono had emergency back surgery after suffering an injury during rehearsal. Bono was released Tuesday from a hospital in Munich but doctors say he needs at least eight weeks of recovery time.

U2 tour producer/promoter Arthur Fogel is quoted on the band website: “Although we understand the disappointment to U2 fans, first and foremost comes the recovery of Bono.”

A temporary stadium was going to be built at the Hippodrome site in Montreal to accommodate 80,000 people.

- CTV

Damon Albarn has spoken about Gorillaz being drafted in to replace U2 as headliners at this year’s Glastonbury.

Earlier today (May 26) the band were confirmed to headline the Pyramid Stage on June 25 following the news that original headliners U2 have been forced to pull out following a back injury sustained by frontman Bono.

Speaking of the change in line-up, Albarn paid tribute to the Irish band. “It’s a terrible thing for U2,” he said. “Glastonbury is magical. Gorillaz will come to life on that stage, but we wish Bono all the best.”

Gorillaz co-founder Jamie Hewlett said that, after the band’s recent performance at Coachella festival, he is confident of delivering a successful show.

“I wasn’t sure how Gorillaz would work in a festival environment, but Coachella was amazing,” he said. “I think Glastonbury will be an unbelievable experience for us.”

The festival headline appearance will be Damon Albarn’s second in as many years, following Blur’s show on the same stage in 2009.

- NME

Following news of Bono’s recuperation period from surgery, Glastonbury Festival have confirmed that the band won’t be able to perform their headline slot next month. Bono and Michael Eavis of Glastonbury spoke by phone this morning.

Said Bono: ‘I’m heartbroken. We really wanted to be there to do something really special – we even wrote a song especially for the Festival.’

Said Michael Eavis: ‘It was obvious from our telephone conversation that U2 are hugely disappointed. Clearly, they were looking forward to playing the Pyramid Stage as much as we were looking forward to watching them. At this point, we have no comment to make about possible replacements for U2′s Friday night slot. Instead, we would simply like to send Bono our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.’

- U2.com

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Following Bono’s unexpected back surgery earlier today, Live Nation confirmed that the U2 360 tour launch previously scheduled for June 3rd in Salt Lake City has been postponed.

U2 fans with tickets to the June 3rd event are encouraged to retain tickets until updated show information can be provided.

Additional tour information will be forthcoming.