August 7, 2001 / 431 readsBobby Dall needed emergency back surgery last week, causing the band to cancel the remaining 22 dates of its Glam Slam Metal Jam trek.
Dall sustained a back injury onstage in late July, though he's not sure at which show, said his publicist. He continued to play in pain with the band until its August 1 show in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He hoped he would feel better after two scheduled days off but was rushed by ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center on August 5 in a state of persistent weakness and severe pain, the band's publicist said. The bassist underwent an "anterior cervical diskectomy with allograft fusion" during which doctors replaced several discs in his spine. He will need at least six months of rehab in order to make a complete recovery, said his doctor.
"I apologize to our fans and the promoters for having to cancel these dates," vocalist Bret Michaels said in a statement. "Bobby is my best friend and at this moment our only concern is for his well being."
The Glam Slam Metal Jam was scheduled to run through September 2, after which Poison was to return to the studio to work on a new album of all-original material, the publicist said. It's unclear how Dall's injuries will affect Poison's schedule, but the band will wait until he has healed before they begin recording.
