Billy Strings Breaks Leg Skateboarding During Charlottesville Show

Billy Strings has postponed four shows after breaking a leg from a skateboarding accident. The bluegrass singer-songwriter says that before walking onstage for his encore in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday night, he did an impromptu celebratory skate trick backstage and fell, snapping his leg. He shared the news in an Instagram carousel of hospital photos (complete with X-rays), writing:

Saturday night I walked off stage right before the encore I was all zazzed up from a really fun show. I grabbed my board and tried to do a trick I’ve done a million times (back 180) and landed awkwardly and broke my leg. I heard it snap over the screaming crowd!! Sounded like a damn 2x4. It’s been an interesting couple days to say the least complete with the most extreme pain and crazy ketamine trips and operations stuff but the staff here at UVA rules. They screwed me all back together. They are absolute angels on Earth.

I had every intention of carrying on with the tour and Dave Grohling it. He even texted me and offered me the throne! I really don’t want to let anybody down, but after some long talks with these doctors, my friends, band and colleagues, my wife etc.. I should probably let this thing heal. I don’t believe that I could give you guys the show you deserve coming right out of this surgery and these first few days are really important as far as keeping this thing elevated and letting it heal. Plus I’m all messed up on pain killers and stuff. It’s a dumb ass mistake and it’s all my fault .. I feel like such an idiot. But what are ya gonna do , ya know? At least I didn’t hit my head or break my wrist or something.

Strings will be back to finish what he started in Charlottesville on August 4, while his three shows in Fishers, Indiana later this month have been rescheduled for August 6, 7, and 8. See his post below.