Foo Fighters’ Pat Smear Sidelined After Foot Injury, Will Miss Early Tour Dates
Foo Fighters will return to the road this month without longtime guitarist Pat Smear, after the band revealed he suffered a foot injury that will keep him offstage for several upcoming shows.
The group shared the update on Instagram via a mock tabloid cover, featuring Smear smiling and raising his middle finger while being carried on a stretcher. The headline read, “Pat Smear Bizarre Gardening Accident!”, a tongue-in-cheek presentation that underscored the band’s typically irreverent sense of humor. Despite the playful framing, the injury itself is real: according to the band, Smear broke multiple bones in his left foot.
“In the classic tradition of rock stars having bizarre gardening accidents, Pat Smear has apparently rung in the new year by smashing the shit out of his left foot,” the band wrote, adding that Smear will sit out “a few shows” while he recovers. The group emphasized that the decision was made with his long-term health in mind, noting that they want him “fully healed and back on his feet as soon as possible.”
While Smear recovers, Jason Falkner will step in on guitar duties. Falkner is a familiar presence in alternative and indie rock circles, having previously played with artists including Beck and St. Vincent. His addition will allow Foo Fighters to proceed with scheduled performances while maintaining a full live lineup.
Though the band leaned into humor when announcing the injury, the idea of musicians being sidelined by unexpected household or outdoor mishaps has a long history in rock lore. The phrase “bizarre gardening accident” is famously associated with the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, in which a drummer meets an absurd offstage demise. Real-world examples also exist: Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro died in 1992 after collapsing in his yard (though his death was ultimately ruled heart-attack related), and Queen guitarist Brian May revealed in 2020 that he seriously injured himself while gardening at home.
Smear’s absence will affect only a portion of Foo Fighters’ immediate touring plans. The band is slated to play dates this month in Mexico, Los Angeles, and Tasmania. At this stage, it remains unclear exactly when Smear will rejoin the group, though it’s possible he could return by the time the band appears at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida, in May, or during their European and U.K. tour, which begins in June. A North American run is currently scheduled to launch in August.
Foo Fighters also appear to be laying the groundwork for their next studio era. The band released two new tracks, “Today’s Song” and “Asking for a Friend,” last year, following their 2023 album But Here We Are.
