Injured headliners fight to get fit for the Festivals

United Kingdom | | 22 July 2002

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas was left on crutches following a knee injury in Los Angeles last week, whilst Travis drummer Neil Primrose recently fractured his neck in a swimming pool accident in France...

The Strokes are due to headline the Reading Festival on Friday 23rd August, the Leeds Festival on Saturday 24th August, and Glasgow's Gig on the Green on Sunday 26th August. Casablancas is expected to have made a full recovery by then, however the band have been forced to cancel three dates on their current US tour, with Weezer.

Travis' appearance as headliners at V2002 in Chelmsford and Staffordshire on the 17th and 18th August, respectively, is less certain. Primrose, who had been knocked unconscious and pulled from the water by bandmates and crew, was said to be recovering well after surgery to stabilise the neck fracture.

He has since returned to the UK and is undergoing physiotherapy. Although doctors are impressed with his recovery so far, no decisions will be made about V2002 until a full medical report has been carried out at the end of this week.

The band insist that they will not perform the festival with a replacement drummer, as it would be "totally inappropriate", yet V2002 bosses remain "very hopeful" that Travis will perform.