Dave Grohl Stands In For Sick Cage The Elephant Drummer


Foo Fighters rocker Dave Grohl has temporarily joined Cage The Elephant to cover for their sick drummer.

The band, who are currently supporting the Foo Fighters on their U.S. tour, were left without a sticksman when Jared Champion's appendix burst on Monday evening (10Oct11).

Former Nirvana drummer Grohl volunteered to stand in for Champion as soon as he heard the news and he performed a string of songs for the group during their gig in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday (11Oct11).

Cage The Elephant's guitarist Lincoln Parrish tells Spin, "He (Champion) had an ulcer for a couple days, then at 1am it was just unbearable, so he went to the emergency room. He was rushed straight into surgery.

"Dave somehow heard what had happened and called our tour manager. He said, 'Hey, so do you think the guys would go for it?'. Our manager was like 'Um, yeah!!!

"I had to pinch myself. I turned around and Dave Grohl is playing the drums. It's an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Nobody can replace Jared. But it's Dave f**king Grohl. If you're going to be replaced by anybody, it might as well be the best."

Champion has since undergone surgery but will miss Thursday's (13Oct11) scheduled gig in Los Angeles.

Grohl will cover for the musician until Monday (17Oct11), when the band hopes Champion will be fit to resume the tour in San Diego, California.