U2’s Edge, Irish paper in battle

The Edge, the lead guitarist of U2, is fighting an Irish newspaper in court over its report of a relative’s serious illness that reportedly forced the Irish rock band to delay the start of its next world tour.

The Dublin-based tabloid Sunday World identified the relative and condition the person was suffering in a front-page story on Jan. 8 but withdrew the report from later editions when the Edge’s lawyers obtained a temporary injunction, claiming it amounted to an unwarranted invasion of privacy. The Edge wants the injunction to be strengthened into a permanent injunction against publication.

Sunday World wants the injunction overturned; its lawyers are arguing that the details of the relative’s illness are newsworthy. Media reports cited an unnamed source stating that the illness was why U2 had delayed the U.S. start of its “Vertigo 2005” tour. Originally slated to begin March 1 in Miami, it now is scheduled to start March 28 at San Diego’s Sports Arena. (Due to demand, there will be a second San Diego show March 30. Other revised Southland dates are April 1-2 at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and April 5-6 at Staples Center.)