LeRoi Moore dead at 46; saxophonist was original Dave Matthews Band member

LeRoi Moore died today of complications from a June 30 ATV accident. The Dave Matthews Band saxophonist was 46 years old.

LeRoi passed away in Los Angeles, where DMB was scheduled to begin a two-night stand at the Staples Center. A statement from The Official Dave Matthews Band Website said LeRoi died at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, and he had recently gone to his L.A. home to begin extensive phsyical rehabilitation.

TMZ.com also reports that DMB will play its concert tonight as scheduled.

Fans outside DMB's hotel in Los Angeles today reported seeing Dave Matthews crying, and he and other band members and crew hugging each other while boarding their tour buses.

The ATV accident that ultimately took LeRoi's life happened outside his Virginia farm during a short break in DMB's tour. He was admitted to the University of Virginia Health System in serious condition and released early the week of July 13. AntsMarching.org reported that LeRoi had suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in the accident, and on July 20, DMB announced that he had been readmitted to the hospital because of complications from his injuries.

LeRoi and drummer Carter Beauford were the first two Charlottesville, Va. musicians that young bartender Dave Matthews approached in early 1991 about playing some songs he wrote. With bassist Stefan Lessard and violinist Boyd Tinsley, they formed Dave Matthews Band and went on to sell more than 30 million albums in the United States alone.

Jeff Coffin, saxophonist with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, has been filling in for LeRoi since his injury, and DMB had begun recording a new album, with LeRoi, before the 2008 summer tour began. Of course, it is way too early to know what the future may hold for a new DMB album or the band in general in light of LeRoi's passing.

LeRoi Moore played a crucial role in defining the unique sound that drove Dave Matthews Band to superstardom in the 1990s. He stood still at the side of the stage, eyes often hidden behind his sunglasses, and let the sweet sounds of his saxophone do the dancing for him.

Stay tuned for updates on LeRoi Moore's death as they come in. DMBnews.net sends it thoughts and prayers to LeRoi's family, friends and the entire DMB community mourning his loss. Please feel free to leave your own best wishes or favorite memories of LeRoi in the comments section.

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LeRoi Moore readmitted to UVA hospital with 'complications' of ATV crash injuries

LeRoi Moore is back in the hospital.

Dave Matthews Band released this brief statement Friday night:

"Last night LeRoi Moore was readmitted to the University of Virginia Health System due to complications stemming from his recent accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with LeRoi and his family."

LeRoi suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs in an ATV crash on his Virginia farm June 30. He was originally admitted in serious condition, upgraded to fair condition the next day, upgraded to good condition July 8 and released from the hospital early last week.

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Dave Matthews: Band working on 15 songs for new album, LeRoi's absence 'tough'

Dave Matthews Band has 15 prospective songs for its new album, Dave Matthews tells the Rocky Mountain News in a wide-ranging interview.

Dave describes the songwriting process as very casual, with one band member picking up an instrument and everyone else joining in. Producer Rob Cavallo then picked 15 songs and told the band to refine and record them, which is where DMB left off to start its summer tour. (The band is supposed to go back into the studio in October, but there's been no word if LeRoi Moore's injury will affect that schedule.) Dave said he has been listening to the recorded songs and trying to come up with lyrics during days off from the tour.

On the subject of LeRoi's injury, Dave said the first show without him was "a tough one" and that his absence is a "challenge." Dave didn't say what injuries LeRoi suffered, but he did say "there's the possibility of him being out for a while."

Dave also spoke about Butch Taylor's departure from the band. Dave said, "Butch of his own decision decided he didn't want to be here, wanted to pursue something else in his life. We honor that."

Dave spoke to the Rocky Mountain News in advance of DMB's July 20 performance at the Mile High Music Festival in Denver. The AT&T Blue Room will present a live webcast of the festival.

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LeRoi Moore upgraded to good condition

LeRoi Moore is now hospitalized in good condition, eight days after injuring himself in an ATV accident.

LeRoi was in serious condition immediately after the June 30 accident and was upgraded to fair condition July 1. An AntsMarching.org report last week said LeRoi suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs, but Dave Matthews Band management has not confirmed any specifics of his injuries.

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Dave Matthews Band plays Rothbury Festival

Dave Matthews Band headlined the Rothbury Festival last night, playing a nearly three-hour set that relied heavily on '90s classics.

The concert was a live webcast, giving most DMB fans their first chance to see the band in action without LeRoi Moore, who reportedly punctured a lung and broke ribs in a June 30 ATV accident. Replacement sax player Jeff Coffin shined on several solos, including "Grey Street" and "#41," but you can tell he's still learning a lot of the songs. Rashawn Ross was showing him how to play songs during breaks, and Jeff also played with notes on a stand in front of him. A musician of Jeff's caliber will definitely catch on quickly.

Other highlights of the show included a very heavy, rock version of "Eh Hee," a climactic "You Might Die Trying" and great horn work by Jeff and Rashawn on "Gravedigger." Classics included the "Seek Up" opener, "Satellite," "Jimi Thing," "Tripping Billies" and "Ants Marching."

DMB's next show is Monday in Atlanta.

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Report: LeRoi Moore punctured lung, broke ribs

LeRoi Moore punctured a lung and broke ribs in his ATV accident Monday, according to AntsMarching.org.

The report cites "multiple" anonymous sources, most of whom said LeRoi will not perform with Dave Matthews Band for the rest of the summer tour. One of the sources said LeRoi will be out of action for "up to a year."

A punctured lung is obviously a big deal for anyone, but the injury is especially problematic for a saxophone player. DMB was scheduled to go back in the studio in October to resume work on its next album, and it's not yet known if or how LeRoi's injury will affect that timetable.

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Stefan Lessard speaks out on LeRoi Moore

Stefan Lessard has posted a short MySpace blog, describing what it was like to play without LeRoi Moore last night:

"Getting on stage without Leroi tonight was one of the hardest things for me to do in my history with this band. It felt I was missing my left arm. I kept thinking that he was there but then he wasn't. I know that the love being sent his way will speed up his recovery and bring him back to the stage."

LeRoi was hurt in ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Va. on Monday and is in fair condition at the University of Virginia Health System. Last night in Charlotte, N.C. was the first Dave Matthews Band show since the accident, and the first DMB show without LeRoi since Oct. 16, 1994, which he missed because of a family illness.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones' saxophonist Jeff Coffin is playing with DMB in LeRoi's absence. By most accounts, Jeff was a great on-stage addition last night, but many fans in attendance said it was clear that Dave Matthews and other band members were visibly rattled without LeRoi there.

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LeRoi Moore upgraded to fair condition after crash

Doctors today upgraded LeRoi Moore's condition to fair following his ATV accident Monday.

LeRoi's accident happened on his farm near Charlottesville, Va., and he had been in serious condition at the University of Virginia Health System. There are now two additional ways that fans can send cards to LeRoi: by emailing fanmail@davematthewsband.com or sending regular mail to P.O. Box 1467, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones' saxophonist Jeff Coffin will begin filling in for LeRoi at tonight's Dave Matthews Band concert in Charlotte, N.C.

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LeRoi Moore injured in ATV accident

Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore was injured in an ATV accident today.

The Official Dave Matthews Band Website reports that the accident occurred on LeRoi's farm outside Charlottesville, Va., and he is now in serious condition at the University of Virginia Health System.

Jeff Coffin, saxophonist for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, will play with DMB in LeRoi's absence starting tomorrow. Coffin's style is very different than LeRoi's, but he has been a frequent DMB guest over the past 12 years.

DMBnews.net sends its best wishes to LeRoi for a quick recovery.

UPDATE (7/1/2008): Fans can send LeRoi a get-well e-card via the hospital's Web site. The Culpeper Star-Exponent reports that LeRoi was still in serious condition as of this morning. The American Hospital Association defines "serious condition" as when a patient is "acutely ill" with vital signs that "may be unstable and not within normal limits."

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Dave Matthews Band to receive charity award

Dave Matthews Band will receive the Silver Hope award from the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Charlottesville, Va. tonight, according to The Daily Progress.

Carter Beauford, Boyd Tinsley and LeRoi Moore will be on hand to accept the award during the Dinner of Champions, honoring Dave Matthews Band's charitable work in and around its hometown. DMB's Bama Works Fund has given $7 million to all sorts of area causes, including a free clinic, a skateboard park and arts groups.

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LeRoi Moore appears in Honda commercial

LeRoi Moore stars in a new commercial for the Honda Ridgeline. The ad is one of several spots in Honda's new "Tough Meets Classy" ad campaign for the Ridgeline, according to Marketing Daily. Moore's commercial is called "Rough Meets Smooth," and it features him playing saxophone on the deck of a ship that is getting pummeled by rough seas. One of the other ads has Chuck Norris attending a garden tea party.



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Gregg Allman plays with Dave Matthews Band

Gregg Allman sat in with Dave Matthews Band during tonight's concert at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, playing the Allman Bros. Band classic, "Melissa."

The show is still going on, but DMB has also played "Happy Birthday" for saxophonist LeRoi Moore. And Warren Haynes, the Allman Bros. Band guitarist and frequent DMB guest, sat in on "What Would You Say."

The Allmans were tonight's opening act, and the concert is a benefit for Piedmont Park.

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Dave Matthews meets Virginia Tech victims

Dave Matthews Band headlined A Concert for Virginia Tech on Thursday night, helping about 50,000 members of the Virginia Tech community heal after April's campus massacre.

Highlights of DMB's set included a cover of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" and John Mayer's appearance playing guitar on "#41." DMB also flew in The Roots' horn section to sit in for most of the show. And during Mayer's set, LeRoi Moore came out and played saxophone on "Gravity."

Nas and Phil Vassar also performed at the free show. The Roanoke Times has a great photo gallery, which includes pictures of Dave Matthews meeting Virginia Tech shooting victims before the concert. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a positive review, featuring interviews with students talking about how the concert helped the school. But the review by Planet Blacksburg, a student-run media organization, is full of inaccuracies.

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