Mogwai Drummer Martin Bulloch Drops From Tour Due to Ill Health

Mogwai announced today that their tour will continue with Martin Bulloch, the band’s drummer. Bulloch, who is in “ill health,” will be temporarily replaced by Cat Myers of Honeyblood. The band issued a statement.

“We are sorry to announce that due to ill health, Martin will be unable to join us for our BBC sessions this week and upcoming live shows until further notice.”

The “ill health” referred to is still in question, although Bulloch is entitled to his privacy. Drumming is an intensely physical activity that requires one to be in shape. Touring, on the other hand, is both physically and mentally draining—often too much pressure even for the young and healthy. Bulloch exercising restraint and holding off on the tour signals a commitment to his health and to wanting to rejoin the band as soon as possible.

“To say the least, we are all absolutely gutted but wish him a super speedy recovery so he can get back behind the drums and rejoin the tour as soon as possible.”

Cat Myers, who will stand in for Bulloch, is part of the Scottish duo Honeyblood from Glasgow, Scotland. Myers sings in addition to playing the drums, while his bandmate, Stina Tweeddale, plays guitar and sings. The band has a general lo-fi sound, a sound who’s perpetrator would fit nicely within that of Mogwai, another Scottish rock band. Of Myers, the band says this:

“We are lucky to have recruited and offer a warm welcome to Cat Myers from Honeyblood who will stand in for Martin while he recovers.”

So, while Myers will be a welcome addition to the band, Bulloch plans to return. The bands are familiar with one another and seem to be friendly, so the swap out seems like a logical next step for a band that suddenly lost its drummer. The tour will continue as planned, as well as their plans to play on BBC Live.

Mogwai signed the letter, “Thanks – Barry, Dominic and Stuart.”

10/10 Oslo, NOR – Rockefeller
10/11 Stockholm, SWE – Nobelberget
10/12 Malmo, SWE – KB
10/13 Copenhagen, DEN – Vega
10/14 Berlin, GER – Columbiahalle
10/16 Hamburg, GER – Docks
10/17 Cologne, GER – E-Werk
10/18 Lille, FRA – Aeronef
10/20 Brussels, BEL – AB
10/22 Utrecht, NET – Tivoli Vredenburg Ronda
10/23 Paris, FRA – Grand Rex
10/25 Madrid, SPA – Riviera
10/26 Basel, SWI – Reithalle @ Kaserne
10/27 Milan, ITA – Fabrique
10/28 Rome, ITA – Atlantico
10/29 Bologna, ITA – Estragon
10/31 Prague, CZE – Roxy
11/01 Vienna, AUT – Arena
11/02 Leipzig, GER – Täubchenthal
11/03 Munich, GER – Backstage
11/20 San Diego, CA – Observatory N. Park
11/21 Los Angeles, CA – Balesco Theater
11/22 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
11/23 Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
11/24 Seattle, WA – The Showbox
11/25 Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
11/28 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
11/30 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
12/01 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12/02 Chicago, IL – House of Blues
12/03 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
12/05 Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
12/06 Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
12/07 Boston, MA – Royale
12/08 New York, NY – Terminal 5
12/09 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
12/10 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
12/15 London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
12/16 Glasgow, UK – The SSE Hydro

Photography Credit: Sharon Alagna