Springsteen, Coldplay's Martin Fill In With U2 At World AIDS Day Concert
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin took the place of Bono at a concert Monday night in Times Square.
The U2 front man was recovering from an accident, so the band asked their friends to fill in.
LINK: Click Here To Watch The Entire Concert
The free concert to benefit World AIDS Day first featured Martin alongside U2's Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.
PHOTOS: World AIDS Day (RED) Concert In Times Square
Kanye West took the stage afterward, and Carrie Underwood was also set to appear for "U2 Minus 1 -- Live in New York Tonight.''
World AIDS Day was Monday.
Springsteen, Coldplay's Martin Fill With U2 At World AIDS Day Concert
Former President Bill Clinton kicked off the event. His Global Initiative has raised millions of dollars for live-saving AIDS medication.
And at one point during the concert, President Barack Obama addressed the crowd from the giant billboard in Times Square, asking everyone to remain committed in the fight against AIDS.
Afterward, Springsteen joined Clayton, The Edge and Mullen to perform U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." He dedicated the latter song to Bono.
Springsteen, Coldplay's Martin Fill With U2 At World AIDS Day Concert
Concertgoers' umbrellas were opened up, but almost magically, the rain stopped the minute Martin and U2 took the stage at the beginning if the show, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.
One Manhattan woman said the cause was the best part of the event.
"Great cause, and Bono's amazing to do all this stuff for it and everything, but Bruce just like, lifted the whole show up," she said. "He's incredible."
One concertgoer from Kew Gardens, Queens told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond he heard about the concert, like many did, on social media.
"I thought it was great. I had a great time. I came here to see Bruce. I did, and it was my favorite rock star doing one of my favorite songs from one of my second favorite bands," he said.
For some it was a celebration of progress, the rate of new infection and deaths is down across the globe.
"I had several gay friends who passed away from it and I was just reading today there may be a vaccine in sight, so this is exciting stuff," Roberta Facinello told CBS2's Tony Aiello.
A bicycle accident in Central Park last month left Bono with multiple injuries, including a facial fracture involving his left eye socket, a fractured left shoulder blade and a fractured left elbow.
Bono, 54, underwent a five-hour surgery.
``This year is a World AIDS Day like no other,'' Bono said in a statement from Dublin. ``The world reached a tipping point in the fight against AIDS -- more people were newly added to life-saving treatment than were newly infected with the virus. A lot of people are calling it the beginning of the end of AIDS.
U2's website said Springsteen and Martin ``graciously donated their time and talents to save the World AIDS Day event from cancellation.''
Bono's foundation RED and Bank of America were among the sponsors of the show.
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