U2 frontman Bono has revealed he may never play the guitar again after breaking his arm in a recent bicycle accident.
The 54-year-old Irish rock star fractured his arm and shoulder in six places when he came off his bike in New York in November.
He underwent a five-hour operation in the US, which involved having three metal plates and 18 titanium screws fitted in his elbow.
He was expected to make a full recovery but has now revealed that the long-term effects of the accident and surgery mean he may no longer be able to play the guitar on stage.
But the musician, who is better known for his vocals, joked that few people would necessarily miss his efforts.
In a letter to his fans posted on the band’s website, Bono said he was having to work hard to recover physically from the accident.
He wrote: "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.
"I personally would very much miss fingering the frets of my green Irish falcon or my (red) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside from writing tunes.
"But then does the Edge, or Jimmy Page, or any guitarist you know have a titanium elbow, as I do now? I'm all elbows, I am."
Bono said he had decided to cancel all his public appearances and diary commitments to prepare for the band's coming tour, which is due to begin in Vancouver in May.
He wrote: "The consequences of this freak accident are significant enough that I will have to concentrate hard to be ready for the U2 tour in fitness terms," he said.
"As a result I have canceled every public appearance and decided this missive is all the communication I can manage for the first half of 2015, beyond muttering and singing to myself of course."
After the accident, Bono's orthopaedic trauma surgeon, Dean Lorich, said the rocker would require intensive and progressive therapy.
It is understood Bono was trying to avoid another cyclist when he came off his bike in Manhattan.