Markets 
Bluegrass musician Billy Strings revealed that he broke his leg in a “dumb a–” accident just before the encore at his sold-out concert in Virginia on Saturday — and is postponing several shows while he recovers.
The Grammy-winning artist, whose real name is William Apostol, fessed up to the fluke in a good-spirited statement where he shared jarring pictures of himself in a hospital bed with a hefty cast on one leg.
“Well, can’t say y’all didn’t warn me about screwing around on my skateboard!!” he wrote.
Apostol explained that part of his post-show routine includes a quick run on his skateboard backstage.
When his Saturday concert in Charlottesville, Virginia left him feeling particularly “zazzed up,” he decided to do a backside 180, a trick where the skateboarder rotates themself and the board from one side to the other.
He admitted he “landed awkwardly,” despite accomplishing the move with ease “a million times” before, and broke his leg so badly that he required a full cast and bone screws, according to X-rays he posted.
Lucky for Apostol, Charlottesville is home to the University of Virginia, which boasts one of the most prestigious medical programs in the country. He readily praised the school’s staff for “[screwing] me all back together” and easing him through “crazy ketamine trips.”
“They are absolute angels on Earth,” he wrote.
Still, his severe injury, which left him bedridden, spelled disaster for his ongoing tour.
Apostol originally aspired to keep “Dave Grohling it,” referring to when the Foo Fighters frontman tumbled offstage and broke his leg during a performance in Sweden, but decided to take it easy at the behest of his medical team, colleagues, and family.
“Plus I’m all messed up on painkillers and stuff. It was a dumb a– mistake and it’s all my fault…I feel like such an idiot. But what are ya gonna do, ya know? At least I didn’t hit my head or break my wrist or something,” he concluded.
Apostol reluctantly rescheduled his remaining April shows — one in Charleston, West Virginia and three in Fishers, Indiana — to August.
The 33-year-old artist hails from Lansing, Michigan and has clinched three Grammy awards, all for the Best Bluegrass Album. He’s collaborated with various accomplished artists across genres, ranging from rapper Post Malone to country veteran Willie Nelson.
Read the full article here
