Never ones to miss an opportunity for a Spinal Tap reference, the Foo Fighters have announced that longtime guitarist Pat Smear will miss “a few dates” on the band’s current tour due to a broken foot that they say was sustained in a “bizarre gardening accident.”
Beck/ St. Vincent/ Jellyfish guitarist Jason Falkner will be filling in for Smear on the dates in question — which appear to be just three January dates in Mexico, Los Angeles and Texas.
The reference, of course, is to a punchline from “This Is Spinal Tap,” as to the fate of the then-fictional band’s first drummer, “Stumpy” John Pepys. Asked about his fate, the David St. Hubbins character says, “He died in a bizarre gardening accident,” with guitarist Nigel Tufnel adding, “Authorities said… best leave it… unsolved.”
A rep for the Foo Fighters did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for further details on Smear’s injury. The joke has a sad undertone, as Rob Reiner, who was a co-creator of the film and played documentarian Marty DiBergi in it, was murdered with his wife Michele Singer last month by their son.
The wording of the announcement, made on the band’s socials in a mock-tabloid newspaper cover, follows below in full:
In the classic tradition of rockstars having bizarre gardening accidents, Pat Smear has apparently rung in the new year by smashing the shit out of his left foot.
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.
Beck and St. Vincent guitar wizard Jason Falkner will be filling in for Pat while he’s on the mend.