Billy Strings has been forced to postpone immediately upcoming tour dates after breaking his leg, mid-show, during a gig Saturday night in Charlottesville, Va. The accident did not happen on-stage, but rather in the break between the show’s main set and his usual epic encore, as the revved-up star attempted to execute a skateboard stunt backstage before returning to wrap up the concert.
The neo-bluegrass musician took to social media Monday to post photos of himself laid up in a hospital bed, along with multiple X-rays of the nuts and bolts now holding his leg together. He apologized for needing to put off the rest of his April shows, explaining that he planned to soldier on while performing seated, before realizing that plan was impractical, given the seriousness of his injury.
“Well, can’t say y’all didn’t warn me about screwing around on my skateboard!!” Strings’ Instagram post began. “Saturday night I walked off stage right before the encore; I was all zazzed up from a really fun show. I grabbed my board and tried to do a trick I’ve done a million times (back 180) and landed awkwardly and broke my leg. I heard it snap over the screaming crowd!! Sounded like a damn 2×4.
“It’s been an interesting couple days, to say the least, complete with the most extreme pain and crazy ketamine trips and operations stuff, but the staff here at UVA rules,” he continued. “They screwed me all back together. They are absolute angels on Earth. I had every intention of carrying on with the tour and Dave Grohling it. He even texted me and offered me the throne!”
Strings was referring to Dave Grohl carrying on with a Foo Fighters tour from a very special chair after he broke his leg in 2015, in a well-remembered show-must-go-on moment.
“I really don’t want to let anybody down,” Strings continued, “but after some long talks with these doctors, my friends, band and colleagues, my wife etc…, I should probably let this thing heal. I don’t believe that I could give you guys the show you deserve coming right out of this surgery, and these first few days are really important as far as keeping this thing elevated and letting it heal. Plus I’m all messed up on pain killers and stuff. It’s a dumb ass mistake and it’s all my fault. I feel like such an idiot. But what are ya gonna do, ya know? At least I didn’t hit my head or break my wrist or something. … Again, I’m really sorry and I promise I will make it up to you. See you this summer.”
His post concludes with rescheduled dates for upcoming shows in Charleston, WV and Fisher, Ind. The Charleston gig is postponed from April 22 to Aug. 4, and the Indiana shows have been moved back from April 24-26 to Aug. 6-8.
Fortunately, Strings was scheduled for a break — a less painful one — until his tour schedule picks up again in a big way in July. He’s now set to resume touring with a July 2 “Austin City Limits” taping. From there he has dates scheduled all the way through the end of October, with a few more tagged on for December. He is playing a combination of arenas and amphitheaters, along with a few small-theater shows tagged on, as in L.A., where he will play the Orpheum on Sept. 25 before moving into the much more expansive Kia Forum the following night.
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