Belle and Sebastian almost had to cancel a US show after accidentally leaving their drummer stranded in a different state.
The Scottish band were on their way to St Paul, Minnesota on Monday (14th August) travelling to a gig in the city. It wasn’t until later in the journey when they realised they had left their drummer, Richard Colburn, at a Walmart in North Dakota.
The group’s frontman, Stuart Murdoch, took to Twitter to share the hilarious mishap: “Shit, we left Richard in North Dakota. Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance.” See the tweet below.
Shit, we left Richard in North Dakota. Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance..?
— stuart murdoch (@nee_massey) August 15, 2017
Speaking about the incident to The Current, Murdoch stated that the band had last seen their drummer when they stopped at a Walmart in Dickinson, North Dakota on Monday night. It came to light that the rest of the band had not noticed Colburn hadn’t returned to the bus before it set off. Whilst the band slept and the bus made hast to the gig, Colborn was left without a phone or ID, armed only with a credit card.
“The thing is, he was probably thinking that somebody was going to notice, but the trouble is everybody went to bed,” Murdoch said.
“I mean, there used to be a system,” the singer continued. “But because we all have mobile phones these days, everybody’s got a little bit blasé about it. It used to be that it was the pass on the passenger seat — you used to leave a pass for the last person, and that’s how the driver knew.”
“With a band our size… it’s like herding cats,” Murdoch joked. “So it’s maybe not surprising that something like this happened.”
The band eventually managed to find someone to drive their long lost drummer to Bismarck where he was able to get a flight to Minneapolis.
Murdock then took to Twitter once more to thank fans for their help: “Thanks for your help folks. We have Richard on a plane now, so everything is ok. He’s in his pyjamas, sitting with a mimosa.”
Thanks for your help folks. We have Richard on a plane now, so everything is ok. He’s in his pyjamas, sitting with a mimosa ??
— stuart murdoch (@nee_massey) August 15, 2017
None of us will ever dare get off the bus again https://t.co/3S7f3164Hz
— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) August 16, 2017
Beans just suggested we play I Know Where The Drummer Goes tonight. Richard thinks Travelling Light could work. ?
— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) August 16, 2017
A Drummer Wasting
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Drummer
The State I Am In (North Dakota)Oh how we laugh…
— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) August 16, 2017
The band’s frontman has also since shared on Twitter the new lengths the group will be following to ensure no member is left behind.
A new sign appeared on our bus. Should be ok now..? pic.twitter.com/mrGvBgq5ca
— stuart murdoch (@nee_massey) August 16, 2017
One big happy bus! X pic.twitter.com/Bu1KPearoz
— stuart murdoch (@nee_massey) August 16, 2017
Belle and Sebastian have just three more dates left on their US tour and will be playing shows in Chicago, Louisville and Omaha later this week.
