U2 have postponed their entire US tour after Bono was forced to undergo emergency surgery on his back.

The group’s manager Paul McGuinness told Reuters that the singer’s injury was “serious”.

The sixteen dates affected were due to begin in Salt Lake City on June 3 and extended until July 19 in New Jersey.

U2’s scheduled headlining appearance at Glastonbury on June 25 has also been cancelled.

"Obviously Bono feels terrible about missing these shows and we are working as fast as we can with Live Nation to reinstate them and reschedule them for next year," McGuinness told the news agency.

Bono underwent an operation on his back in Munich last Friday (May 21).

His neurosurgeon Joerg Tonn said the singer was training for the tour when a “sudden onset disease” caused temporary partial paralysis.

He added that Bono’s prognosis was “excellent”, but that he would now need to undergo steady rehabilitation.

(by Jason Gregory)