Russian Circles in van-crushing, gear-destroying accident in Baton Rouge
Sweetest metalheads around safe, but seeking donations
Poor drums.
Local sludge kings Russian Circles just can't catch a break. Earlier this year, the band was stuck in Europe for 12 days around that whole Icelandic volcano mess. Now, days into a tour with Boris, the band's van and trailer are totaled.
According to the band's manager Cathy Pellow, just three days into the tour, a pickup truck in Baton Rouge T-boned the band's rented gear trailer, destroying it and ripping the back axle off the van, which was purchased by Russian Circles just four days earlier from their friends in Pelican. Everyone in the van was fine, but drummer Dave Turncrantz's vintage Gretsch drum kit was "destroyed, broken like match sticks," along with other gear and cases. "It just sucks," Pellow says, "that it happened to the nicest guys in the world and they weren't doing anything except driving to a show."
The band missed several shows and had to buy a new van in New Orleans on Monday, hoping to drive through the night to make the show in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. C&C drum company is lending Turncrantz a drum kit for the rest of the tour, and Boris is lending the band other gear to make it through the dates.
For a band like Russian Circles, which makes most of its money off touring, this situation is especially heartbreaking. "Every bit hurts," Pellow says. "This kind of stuff happens all the time, and it's completely out of the control of bands, but it really affects their livelihood. [Russian Circles] have insurance, but that doesn't cover hotel rooms while you're stuck, that new and more expensive van, the lost days of the tour, the merch you didn't sell on those dates or the cost of the drum kit, and even the insurance money takes awhile to come. They're not going to get it tomorrow, and they need it tomorrow."
Anyone looking to help these guys out (and they deserve it) can send a donation via Paypal to russiancircles@sargenthouse.com.
