The Foo Fighters will kick off their 2026 itinerary with a slight adjustment to their lineup. Longtime guitarist Pat Smear is set to miss the band’s upcoming January performances after suffering a significant foot injury in a mishap the band is jokingly comparing to a scene from “This Is Spinal Tap.”
To fill the void on stage, the rock giants have enlisted the services of acclaimed musician Jason Falkner, best known for his work with Beck and St. Vincent.
The band broke the news via social media, revealing that Smear sustained multiple broken bones in his heel. Rather than a stage dive gone wrong or a studio mishap, the injury occurred at home in a manner that the band approached with good humor in their official statement.
The full message shared by the band reads as follows:
“BREAKING NEWS!
“In the classic tradition of rockstars having bizarre gardening accidents, Pat Smear has apparently rung in the new year by smashing the s**t out of his left foot.”
“This means he’ll unfortunately be missing a few shows while the multiple broken bones in his foot heal. 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.”
“Beck and St. Vincent guitar wizard Jason Falkner will be filling in for Pat while he’s on the mend.”
Falkner will not have long to wait before his trial by fire. Foo Fighters have a busy start to the month, beginning with a performance at the Feria Estatal De Leon in Guanajuato, Mexico, on January 10. Following that, they return to the U.S. for a benefit concert at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on January 14, before heading down under to play Utas Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania, on January 24.
Fortunately for Smear, the band’s schedule clears up significantly after this initial run. Following the Tasmania date, the group is not scheduled to perform again until May, when they co-headline the Welcome to Rockville festival. This gap should provide ample time for the guitarist to recover before their heavy touring schedule resumes in the summer for European and U.S. dates.
