Billy Strings heard his leg snap like a piece of lumber over the roar of a Charlottesville crowd Saturday night. While the bluegrass star has postponed his remaining April tour dates following surgery, his July 14 appearance at the Berglund Center in Roanoke remains on the schedule.
A snap heard over the crowd
The injury occurred Saturday, April 18, during a break between the main set and a planned encore at the John Paul Jones Arena. Strings, whose real name is William Lee Apostol, attempted a “back 180” skateboard trick backstage. The 33-year-old musician said he was “all zazzed up” from the performance when he landed awkwardly.
“I heard it snap over the screaming crowd,” Strings wrote Monday on Instagram. “Sounded like a damn two-by-four.” Despite playing 29 songs before the fall, the show ended abruptly as medical personnel moved the artist to a stretcher and transported him to the UVA Health System.
The throne and the recovery
Rock legend Dave Grohl reached out to Strings following the news. Grohl famously finished a 2015 Foo Fighters tour from a custom-built chair after breaking his own leg and offered to lend Strings the “throne.” While Strings initially intended to continue the tour seated, he realized the severity of the fractures made immediate travel impossible.
Surgeons installed plates and screws to stabilize a broken tibia and fibula. Strings noted that he must keep the leg elevated during the critical first days of healing. He also cited the impact of pain killers on his ability to perform at the level his audience expects.
Impact on the Star City
The injury forces the postponement of shows this week in Charleston, West Virginia, and Fishers, Indiana. The Charleston performance is moved to Aug. 4, while the Indiana dates are now set for Aug. 6-8. All original tickets will be honored for the rescheduled shows.
Roanoke fans are still expected to see the guitarist this summer. Strings plans to resume his tour July 2 with a taping of “Austin City Limits” in Texas before heading to the Berglund Center on July 14. Tickets for the Roanoke show went on sale in January following the success of his album “Highway Prayers.”
Tuning up for July
Management for the artist has not announced any changes to the July schedule. Fans are encouraged to hold onto their tickets as the musician focuses on physical therapy. The Berglund Center typically coordinates with tour promoters regarding any potential changes to indoor events following medical emergencies.
The post Billy Strings breaks leg in Charlottesville; Roanoke show remains on schedule first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.
