Meet the wounded warriors of summer's rock 'n' roll road.

Jon Bon Jovi: He tore his calf muscle during a show in New Jersey.
Bono: U2 frontman had to undergo emergency spine surgery in May.

By Kristin McGrath, USA TODAY

It's hazardous out there on the summer tour circuit, with even once-strong shows (see: Lilith Fair and American Idols Live) struggling with sluggish ticket sales and dropped dates. But hitting the road has proven literally dangerous this season, with a slew of injuries and illnesses sidelining everyone from Bono to Carly Simon. Complex stunts, grueling schedules and the demands of crowd-pleasing can take their toll, says Billboard touring editor Ray Waddell. "Touring is very physical work," he says. "Artists give a lot for those 90 minutes, physically and mentally." USA TODAY takes a closer look at summer's rash of road injuries:

Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)

The injury: Torn calf muscle. It happened onstage during the band's July 9 show at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., but Bon Jovi rocked on, closing the show with Livin' on a Prayer, taking a final bow and limping offstage with help from his bandmates. "He kept pushing though it," Waddell says.
The reaction:The next day, the band updated its Facebook page with a post beginning, "My friend said ... old guys still rock ... in chairs. That hurt."
The prognosis: With just over a week to go on The Circle tour's summer leg, no tour dates have been canceled.

Bono (U2)

The injury: Back injury (ligament tear and herniated disc). Bono had emergency spine surgery in May, and doctors prescribed a lengthy recovery period.
The reaction: A July 13 video on U2's website shows Bono talking about his tune-up at Ludwig Maximilians-University Hospital in Munich. "I'm ready, rebuilt by German engineering," he says. "Better design, I'm told."
The prognosis: U2's 360 North American tour bumps back to spring/summer 2011.

Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn)

The injury: Respiratory illness. Dunn's doctor prescribed three weeks of vocal rest in June, which put a roadblock in the country duo's farewell tour. The tour picked back up July 16, but an appearance at Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's Nashville Rising charity show (and two concert dates) fell by the wayside.
The reaction: In a statement, Dunn said he was "following my doctor's order, shutting up, getting well and comin' back ASAP!"
The prognosis: Dunn returned to the road in Indianapolis last Friday, and three new dates have been added near the tour's end.

Art Garfunkel (Simon & Garfunkel)

The injury: Vocal paresis (aka vocal strain). After being pushed back from April to July, the Simon & Garfunkel tour was postponed indefinitely in June after Garfunkel's doctors advised vocal rest.
The reaction: On the duo's website, Garfunkel apologized for "disrupting" concertgoers' plans, but admitted, "I can't yet bring my 'A Game' to a tour, and I would not perform for you with anything less."
The prognosis: The two drew an enthusiastic and sizable audience for their New Orleans Jazz Fest appearance this spring, suggesting they'll be welcomed by Boomers whenever they return to the road.

Joe Perry (Aerosmith)

The injury: Motorcycle accident. Perry was treated for minor injuries at a Massachusetts hospital after a car rear-ended his motorcycle on July 15. Aerosmith has a history of being accident-prone: Last June, Brad Whitford had surgery for a head injury he sustained while getting out of his Ferrari — and last August, frontman Steven Tyler was airlifted out of a show after falling off the stage in South Dakota.
The reaction: On Friday, Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton told Boston's Fox 25 News that Perry is "doing good. He's a bit sore today, but he's well, and we're looking forward to heading out to the West Coast ... to start doing some touring."
The prognosis: It's all systems go for the band's Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock! tour, which kicks off July 23 in Oakland.

Pink

The injury: Dragged into a barrier during stunt mishap. Pink was rushed to the hospital during a July 15 show in Nuremberg, Germany, after a harness that was supposed to carry her over her cheering audience instead dragged her into a steel barricade. She suffered no broken bones and took the stage the next night. Stunts add an extra layer of risk to shows, says Waddell. "Not only are you suspended every night, but someone's moving that entire rig from town to town. It's a lot to ask of a production. It has to be mobile, which adds another level of intricacy."
The reaction: After being released from the hospital, the defiant pop star tweeted: "no pain, no gain. or is it no brain, no pain? either way, i will be on that stage, even if i have to crawl:)"
The prognosis: Pink's decision to continue reflects the show-must-go-on attitude of the touring industry. "By and large, it's an industry of professionals," says Waddell. "Almost every night, the person you expect to be there will be there."

Carly Simon

The injury: Broken foot. Simon will sit out three Lilith Fair dates (July 30, July 31, Aug. 1), which thins out the lineup for the already-struggling tour's final leg.
The reaction: The day her injury was announced, she tweeted: "I'm tired from Lyme (disease) and gimp from limp but hovering and loving Carly."
The prognosis: "It does diminish the value (of the tour), because Carly Simon was probably an act they were excited to present," Waddell says. But Lilith is "well conceived in terms of the talent. It's not like the entire weight is sitting on her shoulders."

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