Pitchfork: Franz Ferdinand Bassist Hospitalized!

OH NO! According to a report at NME.com, Franz Ferdinand bassist Bob Hardy has been hospitalized in Japan! Ahh, but cheer up, kids, it's nothing that serious-- he was admitted following Saturday's show in Osaka, and was later diagnosed with a severe case of gastroenteritis, a non-fatal condition better recognized by its common name "the stomach flu," or "tummy ache." The band, of course, soldiered ahead, performing without Hardy the following night in Nagoya. The first part of the set was played acoustic-- something the band had reportedly never done before-- and then wrapped up electrically with Dino, bassist for opening band The Beat Up.

Hardy, according to the report, knew something was wrong on Friday night, while the band was travelling to Osaka. He completed the next show in considerable discomfort, mostly while seated, before being taken to a hospital in Osaka following the show. Hardy stayed there overnight and was transferred to a Tokyo hospital the next morning, probably because everyone knows the hospitals in Osaka suck balls.

If you're American and you have tickets to one of the band's upcoming December shows, you're probably thinking, "Yeah, but how does this affect me?" You inconsiderate piece of shit. Well, here's the deal: NME says Hardy will be out of commission until at least December 3rd, which will have him missing shows in Detroit, Camden, and New York, so Fiery Furnaces bassist Toshi Yano will fill in for him until his expected return in Philly on December 3rd. Like so:

12-01 Detroit, MI - Cobo Arena
12-02 Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center At the Waterfront
12-02 New York City, NY - Continental Airlines Arena
12-03 Philadelphia, PA - Tweeter Center
12-04 Washington, DC - Patriot Center
12-05 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
12-07 Mexico City, Mexico - Metropolitan Theater
12-09 Seattle, Washington - Key Arena
12-10 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12-18 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
12-19 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC