An acclaimed rock guitarist is set to miss his band’s upcoming tour dates due to a “bizarre gardening accident.”
The Foo Fighters announced Wednesday that guitarist Pat Smear will not be performing at several concerts after injuring his left foot.
“In the classic tradition of rockstars having bizarre gardening accidents, Pat Smear has apparently rung in the new year by smashing the s— out of his left foot,“ the Foo Fighters’ Instagram said with a fake magazine cover showing Smear flipping the bird while being carried on a stretcher by emergency responders.
According to Blabbermouth, a “bizarre gardening accident” was a joke in Rob Reiner’s classic movie “This Is Spinal Tap” about the death of one of Spinal Tap’s drummer. So the Foo Fighters may have been joking about how Smear got hurt, but said he’ll seriously be unable to perform for the time being.
”This means he’ll unfortunately be missing a few shows while the multiple broken bones in his foot heal. We’ll miss our beloved Pat as much as you will, but we want him fully healed and back on his feet as soon as possible,” the Dave Grohl-led rock band said.
Jason Falkner, a multi-instrumentalist who’s worked with Beck, St. Vincent and Jellyfish, will fill in for Smear at three shows this month in Mexico, Los Angeles and Texas. According to Blabbermouth, Smear is expected to return in time for the band’s May 8 performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, and a summer tour in Europe.
Pat Smear performs with the Foo Fighters at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, N.Y., onSept. 15, 2021. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.comScott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Grohl, Smear, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and late drummer Taylor Hawkins were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as members of Foo Fighters in 2021. The band performed in Syracuse that year, receiving a police escort to the sold-out amphitheater concert after their flight was delayed.
Foo Fighters formed in the mid ‘90s after the death of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain. Grohl played drums for Nirvana and Smear joined as a touring guitarist in 1993. Smear also co-founded the Los Angeles-based punk band The Germs, and Grohl’s other credits include Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age, and Sound City Players.
Foo Fighters, known for hits like “Everlong,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly,” “All My Life,” and “Best of You,” released its 11th studio album in 2023. The band recently released two singles, “Asking for a Friend” and “Today’s Song,” with new drummer Ilan Rubin.
The band has more than 30 tour dates scheduled in 2026, but no New York stops. Fans looking to make a road trip can find tickets on Vivid Seats, StubHub and Seat Geek.
Comments are closed.