Gigs
Foo Fighters confirm Pat Smear tour absence after “bizarre gardening accident”
Foo Fighters have never been shy about rock-world theatrics or self-aware humor. But their latest tour update lands somewhere between genuine concern and comedy-gold headline: longtime guitarist Pat Smear will miss a few January 2026 tour dates after breaking his foot in what the band described as a “bizarre gardening accident.”
The announcement, delivered on the band’s socials in the style of a mock-tabloid newspaper cover, made an unmistakable nod to the 1984 cult rock satire This Is Spinal Tap. In the film, fictional drummer “Stumpy” John Pepys was famously written off as having died in a “bizarre gardening accident,” a line Foo Fighters gleefully echoed while breaking the news of Smear’s very real injury.
Jason Falkner steps in for January dates across Mexico, LA & Texas
Pat Smear, a former member of Nirvana alongside Dave Grohl and one of Foo Fighters’ longest-standing touring anchors, reportedly sustained multiple broken bones in his left foot. The band confirmed he will sit out “a few shows” while he heals.
Enter Jason Falkner — acclaimed guitarist for Beck, St. Vincent, and Jellyfish — who will fill in for Smear during the limited January run. According to tour listings, the affected dates include an arena show in Mexico on January 10, followed by concerts in Los Angeles and Texas, totaling just three appearances.
The band has not confirmed a precise timeline for Pat Smear’s return. However, his temporary absence is not expected to impact Foo Fighters’ performance momentum in 2026, a year loaded with major stops.
A January packed with milestones, charity & global crowds
Foo Fighters’ current slate of January shows spans continents and causes. After Mexico, the group heads to the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on January 14 for a charity show aligned with Dave Grohl’s birthday, marking one of the month’s most high-profile dates. Later, the band travels to UTAS Stadium in Australia on January 24, bringing their stadium-scale sound to international fans.
After January, the band resumes live appearances in May 2026, beginning with the major rock festival Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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Another lineup ripple after 2025 drummer changes
Although temporary, Pat Smear’s absence marks the latest lineup shift for the band following a dramatic 2025 season. Last May, Foo Fighters parted ways with drummer Josh Freese. By July 2025, Ilan Rubin, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, was named as Freese’s replacement. Freese subsequently rejoined Nine Inch Nails, filling the seat left vacant by Rubin, completing a rare full-circle band member swap.
Rock humor meets real recovery
Foo Fighters’ tongue-in-cheek phrasing may carry the spirit of rock satire, but the sentiment is sincere. The band emphasized that while they will miss Smear onstage, their priority is his full recovery and eventual return.
And while the Spinal Tap joke struck a chord online, it also arrives amid tragedy: Rob Reiner, co-creator of the original film, was recently killed alongside his wife in a highly publicized family incident. The reference has added emotional complexity, reminding fans that rock punchlines sometimes intersect with real life in unexpected ways.
For now, the band rolls on — guitars blazing, garden mysteries aside.
