Billy Strings Returns to Stage with Les Claypool After Injury

After breaking his leg in a backstage skateboarding accident in April, Billy Strings returned to the stage Sunday night, May 31, at Les Claypool’s concert in Detroit.

The celebrated bluegrass musician joined Claypool onstage during the Primus portion of his Claypool Gold show, which featured music from across the bassist’s vast catalog. For Strings, it was a literal sit-in appearance: still not in full performance condition, the musician posted up on a stool during his cameo.

In a fan-shot clip, as Strings sits down and tunes up, Claypool jokes, “Don’t hurt yourself now,” prompting Strings to playfully lift his still-healing leg. Because the injury did not hinder his ability to play, Strings ripped through wild solos on two Primus tracks, “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” and “Too Many Puppies.”

Strings is a longtime Primus fan and has since become friends and fishing buddies with Claypool. The two have performed together on several occasions, though they have yet to release a collaborative project.

For Strings, the concert marked his first time onstage since he underwent emergency surgery after breaking his left fibula and tibia while attempting a skateboard trick backstage in Charlottesville, Virginia. In a post on Instagram at the time, Strings said he initially had every intention of playing the final four gigs of his North American tour by “Dave Grohling it,” referring to the throne the Foo Fighters frontman used after breaking his leg in 2015.

Grohl “even texted me and offered me the throne,” Strings remarked, before acknowledging his ultimate decision to postpone the gigs. “I really don’t want to let anybody down, but after some long talks with these doctors, my friends, band and colleagues, my wife etc. I should probably let this thing heal.”

Strings is expected to return to the road at full strength in July for his upcoming North American tour, which will include the rescheduled dates he missed due to his injury.