May 22, 2001 15:52

MATTHEWS' SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

Drummer Fergal Matthews continues his appetite for destruction by breaking his hand...

JJ72 have been forced to postpone a small tour of the UK scheduled for next week because drummer FERGAL MATTHEWS has broken his hand.

A press representative for the band contacted NME.COM this afternoon (May 22) to say that Matthews fell from his bicycle just outside Dublin yesterday (May 21). The fall led to the fracture of a "small bone" in his hand, and the dates have been put back to allow his hand to heal.

The band's UK shows, due to start on May 28 at Nottingham Rock City, have now been postponed for three weeks. Their two sold-out shows at the London Shepherd's Bush Empire (May 29-30) will also now be rearranged.

Tickets are valid for the rearranged dates, and the rearranged shows also feature a new date at the Portsmouth Pyramids on June 21.

The new dates are at: Nottingham Rock City (June 17)
London Shepherd's Bush Empire (18-19)
Portsmouth Pyramid Centre (21)

This is not the first time an injury to Matthews has led to problems with the band's live shows.

At a warm-up date for their NME Carling Awards tour earlier in the year at the Derby University, Matthews badly twisted his ankle. As a result, JJ72 had to perform the opening dates on the NME Carling Tour acoustically, with Matthews performing the rest of the shows with his leg in a cast.