Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear has broken his left foot in a bizarre gardening accident, forcing him to miss several upcoming shows. The band announced the injury on Instagram with a humorous fake tabloid cover. Jason Falkner will fill in for Smear during his recovery.
The Foo Fighters shared the unfortunate news about Pat Smear on Instagram, posting a mock tabloid cover showing the guitarist grinning while being carried on a stretcher. The headline read, “Pat Smear Bizarre Gardening Accident!” alongside fictional stories like “Aliens Spotted Warming Up for Spring Training!”
“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,” the band captioned the post. Details of how the injury occurred remain unclear, but Smear suffered multiple broken bones in his left foot. He will miss “a few shows” while healing, with the band stating, “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.”
Replacing Smear temporarily is Jason Falkner, known for his work with Beck and St. Vincent. The Foo Fighters have shows lined up this month in Mexico, Los Angeles, and Tasmania. Smear may return for the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, in May, or join the European and U.K. tour starting in June, followed by a North American leg in August.
The incident echoes a quirky trope in rock history. The mockumentary Spinal Tap referenced a drummer's death in a “bizarre gardening accident.” Real cases include Toto's Jeff Porcaro, who died in the early 1990s while spraying insecticides—ultimately ruled a heart attack from cocaine use—and Queen's Brian May, who tore his gluteus maximus in over-enthusiastic gardening in 2020.
The band released two new tracks, “Today’s Song” and “Asking for a Friend,” last year, following their 2023 album But Here We Are.
