The red-hot U.K. rock band Snow Patrol announced today that the group’s drummer, Johnny Quinn, broke his arm snowboarding in the French Alps.
The band, which has a number of shows in Germany in early February, will replace Quinn with a long-time friend and ex-Therapy drummer Graham Hopkins, according to the following note Quinn posted on the band’s official website:
“I thought it was time that someone from Snow Patrol learnt to snowboard, so I took myself off to Chamonix [France].” Quinn continues, “on the first day, I tumbled down a hill and broke my elbow…the rest of the band did not want to play with another drummer for the upcoming European dates but I didn’t want to cancel anymore gigs after last year, so we’ve asked longtime friend and ex-therapy? [sic] drummer, Graham Hopkins to step in.”
The band has suffered a number of health issues over the past year. They were forced to cancel shows in 2006 after the group’s bassist Paul Wilson was injured and singer Gary Lightbody lost his vocal.
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Doctors have reportedly told Quinn his arm needs six weeks to heal properly, but his note insists he will be back in action when the band kicks off their Australian tour.
The group has already canceled its performance at next week’s Meteor Irish Music Awards.
Whether the band will perform with Graham or Quinn at the Brit Awards on Feb. 14 is unclear. They have been nominated in the Best British Group and Best British Single categories.
Whether the band will perform with Graham or Quinn at the Brit Awards on Feb. 14 is unclear. They have been nominated in the Best British Group and Best British Single categories.
The band’s manager Jazz Sumner said, “Johnny has said he’ll play the Brits, even if he has to go on stage in plaster. But on TV things have to be right.”
Snow Patrol’s official website