Playing hurt

Victor Synn · Post by **Victor Synn** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Hey all. Here's a question I don't believe has been posted on here yet. How many people on here have played with an injury that caused you to change the way you played your gig? Reason this is being brought up is because I broke my foot playing at the Somerset Ramada Saturday and am now wearing a cast up to my knee. Just seeing how any of you dealt with playing injured and what you did to make the best of the situation.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Sorry to hear about your misfortune! Having seen Hair Force One in action, I would recomend getting Jimi to wear nothing under his kilt. That should keep attention diverted from you and give you a little breathing room.

All kidding aside prayers for you Victor and for a fast, complete recovery. If you need any help with anything let us know!

facingwest · Post by **facingwest** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Ouch...Sorry to hear about that man. One of the last few shows at The Castle Pub with Retro, I jumped off the speaker to try and pick up a loose drumstick, so no one else would trip on it, and Kenny moved just as I jumped down. My foot landed on the side of his steel toe boot and twisted my foot. That hurt like a mother trucker because I was pretty much in my bear feet. This happened during the first set. Rather than the band take a break to see what happened, they just continued playing. The first set ended and I was taken back to the kitchen. I was hooked up with some massive loads of Ibuprofen and my foot was elevated in hot water. One of the band members came back and asked if I was going to finish out the show and I said yes. While still trying to get situated, so I could actually play, I heard Dean say "Let's play." and the band started the 4 count into first song of second set. I didn't have my guitar on or my foot elevated for that matter. The people that were helping me hurried up and got me situated and I missed the first 30 seconds of the song. What was odd is to hear people screaming and having a good time while you're back in a room by yourself playing and singing your parts. Because of having so many different sounds for all the songs, I had to call out the presets to Kenny. Towards the end of the set, 'Livin On A Prayer' was coming up and the song would not be the same without the talkbox, so I was carried to the stage to do the song. I still have no idea how I didn't fall over from standing on one leg. *LOL* For third set, I sat on a chair on top of one of the bass cabs to finish out the night. I never would want another night like that to happen again because it was a nightmare. There are a few other details I'm going to leave out, just because it wouldn't look too good.

Anyways, the next few shows, I had to play sitting on a stool. If anyone has seen me play, it's like caging up a wild animal. heh I tried moving around, but from hopping on one leg put a lot of stress on my good one. Circumstances suck, but you just have to deal with them.

J Michaels · Post by **J Michaels** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Victor - bummer! Good luck, & get well soon. My only advice: Stay away from the Diamond Dave Superleaps for a while, huh?

facingwest - you are a TROOPER! That's a great story.....

Post by **Jim Price** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Does anybody remember years ago, when Exodus and M.O.D. headlined a metalfest at the (Sundance?) Ballroom in Portage? The guitar player for M.O.D. had his foot in a cast, and had to sit on a stool at the front of the stage. M.O.D., as you might recall, played mosh-friendly metalcore, and people were moshing and even trying to stagedive during their set - at one point, I saw the guitar player and his stool get knocked over, and the security had to move everybody back!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Songsmith has a heck of a story for this thread!

I've never played while badly injured, but my guitarmate Michael J. Cox has. Years ago, he broke his forearm while indulging in speed skateboarding. (Speed skateboarding = finding the steepest hill you can and riding straight down it.) He had a cast over his entire forearm and most of his picking hand, but he kept doing shows anyway. He wasn't the most precise player for a few months, but man could he do some wicked pick-slide noises with that cast!

torn&frayed wrote:Sorry to hear about your misfortune! Having seen Hair Force One in action, I would recomend getting Jimi to wear nothing under his kilt. That should keep attention divertfed from you and giver you a little breathing room.

Since when do I wear anything under my kilt?!?

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Sorry Jimi, I didn't notice! Thank God!

How about a kilt made of saran wrap?

facingwest · Post by **facingwest** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Dude!! Rent an electronic wheelchair for your shows!!!

Victor Synn · Post by **Victor Synn** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

facingwest wrote:Dude!! Rent an electronic wheelchair for your shows!!!

LoL! I should do that. Or have someone carry me around on their shoulders like you had with Retro. That would be sweet too.

Daxman · Post by **Daxman** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Well, along with the story that Mr. Hatt told about my adventures, I have another...While playing in my last band, I had to have surgery to repair a hernia...We all know how painful they are and the surgery that repairs them can be...I played a show only 2 WEEKS after the surgery!...It wasn't my usual, insane performance, but I made it through the gig...I basically stood there, hunched over and moaning while I played...Anything for the team man...And Vic, I can get ya a whell chair, but I know your arms work so start working those arms!

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Jun 16, 2004

Legs? Foot? Don't worry about it. If ya gotta sit, ya gotta sit...the show must go on. Forces' bass player just found a nice bar stool and kept out of our way.

Last March, I was having a good time at 4am on a Friday night when I broke some ribs doing a "stupid human trick". I had to play that Saturday night, so I loaded up the truck and went to the gig...

How about singing and playing guitar for 3-1/2 hours with freshly broken ribs?

Try BREATHING with freshly broken ribs.

A hernia doesn't sound too good either... (i hurt just thinking about it).

facingwest · Post by **facingwest** » Thursday Jun 17, 2004

KICK ME IN THE JIMMY!!