HOOBASTANK - HOOBASTANK GUITARIST IN MOTORBIKE ACCIDENT

Californian rock band HOOBASTANK have been forced to cancel a string of tour dates following guitarist DAN ESTRIN's motorbike crash on Wednesday (27AUG03) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Estrin, who suffered a skull fracture, underwent surgery and is currently in a serious but stable condition. He is expected to fully recover in a few days.

Hoobastank cancelled Wednesday night's show in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with dates in Lawrence, Kansas; Pittsburg, Kansas; and Memphis, Tennessee. The band will resume their tour with labelmates DIE TRYING and LETTER KILLS on 4 September (03) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Singer DOUG ROBB says in a press release, "We were riding these little mini-motorbikes around the parking lot, and Dan drove into a dark roped-off area by the buses. The rope caught him in the chest and he fell and hit his head pretty hard on the ground.

"The only thing on my mind right now is for Dan to get healthy and back on his feet. I just ask all our fans to send their best wishes and thoughts Dan's way. He's going to be all right, and we promise that we'll make it up to our fans soon in these cities, but right now, I just want Dan to get healthy and back on his feet."