NEWS Melvins Drummer Dale Crover to Sit Out 2023 Tour Due to Emergency Spinal Surgery

Coady Willis will fill in on drums as the Melvins tour North America with Boris

Tomorrow (August 24), Melvins will kick off a co-headlining tour with Boris that runs into October. Unfortunately, longtime drummer Dale Crover is unable to join his bandmates on the North American trek, as he must undergo “immediate emergency spinal surgery,” Melvins revealed on social media. The band assured fans that Crover is “doing as well as can be expected considering the severity of the situation” and that drummer Coady Willis will fill in for Crover as he recovers. Find Melvins’ full statement below.

In light of Crover’s medical needs, the band has dedicated the tour to the drummer and is asking fans for “solidarity during this dark time.” Melvins continued, “Obviously, our primary concern right now is Dale’s health, and we’re doing everything possible on our end to make sure he gets what he needs to make a full recovery.”

Melvins are booked to play the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles tomorrow night, and they will wind through San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Denver, and more cities before wrapping things up at House of Blues San Diego on October 14.

Melvins:

MELVINS DEDICATE TWINS OF EVIL TOUR TO DALE CROVER AS HE PREPARES FOR SPINAL SURGERY

WE ARE SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT LITERALLY DAYS BEFORE LEAVING ON TOUR, OUR DRUMMER DALE CROVER LEARNED HE NEEDED IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SPINAL SURGERY WHICH WILL TAKE HIM OUT OF COMMISSION FOR MONTHS. HE’S DOING AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED CONSIDER THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION.

THE ONE STROKE OF LUCK IN ALL THIS WAS THAT COADY WILLIS — PART OF THE MELVINS’ FAMILY FOR 8+ YEARS, WHO LITERALLY TRAINED IN SITTING BY DALE’S SIDE ON TOO MANY TOURS TO COUNT — IS ABLE TO STEP IN AND TAKE OVER ON DRUMS.

WITH MR. PHYLZZZ ALREADY ON THE ROAD HEADING TO L.A. FROM CHICAGO AND BORIS FLYING IN FROM JAPAN, WE ALL FELT WE NEEDED TO SUPPORT DALE AND THE OTHER BANDS ON THE BILL, AS WELL AS THE TICKET HOLDERS, BY CONTINUING WITH THE TOUR AS SCHEDULED.

WE ASK EVERYONE’S SOLIDARITY DURING THIS DARK TIME. OBVIOUSLY, OUR PRIMARY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS DALE’S HEALTH, ANS WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ON OUR END TO MAKE SURE HE GETS WHAT HE NEEDS TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.