[UPDATE 9/24/21]: Blues Traveler announced on Friday that the band has canceled its remaining 2021 tour dates due to injuries sustained by frontman John Popper when the band’s tour bus crashed early in the morning on August 19th.
Per a statement from the band, “We are very sad to announce the cancellation of the remainder of our 2021 tour dates, due to the injury John Popper sustained in our recent bus accident. Ticket refunds are available at the point of purchase.”
Popper had previously posted about his ongoing struggles with the injuries he sustained in the crash. On September 21st, he posted, “There is something wrong w/my right knee…I’ve tried to shake it off since the bus crash…But as all my other various bruises&minor injuries have healed up completely,my right knee has gotten much worse…It has gotten to the point where walking is possible w/my cane for very short distances,but the pain even when seated is out of control…Not knowing is by far the worst thing to do here.”
He continues, “So yesterday, early in the morning after leaving Weezy(my little 5yr old nurse),but while still in SF,I got an MRI&will know more very soon(I suspect a torn ligiment upon being bashed into the wall of the bus [sic]).” Read his full update here.
[8/19/21]: The Blues Traveler tour bus crashed in Minnesota on Thursday morning, the band reported on social media.
According to a post from the band’s account just after 11 a.m. ET, “This morning our tour bus went off the road and crossed the median. Thankfully we are all safe and have only sustained minor injuries. Our sincere gratitude to the Winona MN, Police Department and Rescue Crew for their help getting us safely off the highway and out of oncoming traffic.”
Prior to the band’s statement, however, frontman John Popper had been providing updates on the situation in the bus seemingly in real time via posts on his personal page.
At 7:55 a.m., Popper posted, “Bus just crashed!! Dunno what’s going on everything hurts…i think we’re stuck on the bus we’re all going to get checked but we’re still [sic] tryijg to get the fucking door open…more later”
Just a few minutes later, Popper added in the comment section, “Got door open…gtf off the bus ribs hurt Mateo dislocated shoulder everything exploded”
About 90 minutes later, at 9:30 a.m. ET, Popper added, “Rode in ambulance…they tried putting my neck in a brace&I got nausious&dizzy&started feinting so I’m in the hospital”
The band was en route from a Monday night show in Grand Rapids, MI to Rochester, MN’s Mayo Civic Center Park for a scheduled performance with JJ Grey and Mofro tomorrow, Saturday, August 20th. For a full list of upcoming Blues Traveler tour dates, click here.
Wishing all the best and a speedy recovery to the whole Blues Traveler team!
This story is developing.
Below, you can scroll through a gallery of photos from Blues Traveler’s performance on Monday night in Grand Rapids, MI via photographer Steve Baran.
