Car Wreck On Way To Gig

Oren Hudson · #1 03-01-2010, 07:19 AM

This gig story is from about four years ago. The band had a equipment trailer. This gig was within 15 minutes of the practice location and the location of the trailer. So I'm heading to the practice location to check on anything that didn't get loaded and have a bite to eat before heading out with the drummer and the gear. All of my gear, with the exception of my basses, traveled in the trailer. Within 1 mile of the practice location, I'm stopped at a traffic light on a fairly busy highway, when along comes this 16 year old driver driving mom's large 535 (I think) BMW and thought that the light was green. So I have this major jolt as he rams the rear of my Scion xB and shoves us into the intersection and a little sideways. No one coming the other direction, so no more hits. So I'm a little dazed and confused (not quite like Jimmi) and then get out of the car. The collision was such that the frame was wedged up against the right rear tire. The car would barely move! Only the driver's door would open. So I check on the basses ( I had taken 3 in hard cases) and other than being tossed about, appeared OK. I'm only about a mile or so from the drummer's house, so I call him to tell of the problem. Barely could get the car to move with metal rubbing the tire, but did manage to get it to his house just a short distance away. By then, time was running real short on the start time for the gig, so I grab a sandwich and 3 Tylenol for the headache that I was getting and for me left knee pain from knocking it into the dash bottom. So I ride with him to the gig. It went well considering someone else set up my rig and mic.

When the gig was over, the drummer and I went back to his house. We had to take crow bars, large metal hammers and jacks to get the frame of off the tire enough for me take get home, about 20 miles away. I did manage to limp home with it. What a night! The Scion ended up being totaled, so it was a nasty hit.

invader3k · #2 03-01-2010, 07:22 AM

Ugh, that sucks. At least you and your gear were OK. I hope the other driver took responsibility for it?

orestes71 · #3 03-02-2010, 12:19 AM

My good friend, got rear ended the after a show we played (and a week before his wedding). Had a PA system in his trunk, the gear got completely smashed.

tycobb73 · #4 03-02-2010, 05:49 AM

Just before the start of a gig a couple February's ago I am unloading my car when I hear a crunch. Look out into the street at the intersection to see a van had slid through the the light because of the snow and hit my guitar player. Everyone was ok but there was a few thousand dollars damage to the car that never drove right after that.

plankspanker13 · #5 03-02-2010, 08:56 AM

Happened to me in '87. We'd already loaded in and sound checked, and went out for some grub, and then got in a rear-ender right in front of the club, and still performed a knockout show.