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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Report: Dave Matthews playing for DNC delegates

Dave Matthews will be part of an all-star concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Democratic National Convention delegates, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Tim Reynolds may accompany Dave at the Aug. 24 concert, but not the full DMB roster, the report said. Other rumored performers are Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and Earth, Wind and Fire. The DNC takes place Aug. 25-28 in Denver.

Red Rocks of course holds a special place in Dave Matthews Band lore. It hosted DMB's first live album, Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95, as well as the 2005 four-night stand captured in the Weekend on the Rocks album and box set.

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Dave Matthews Band to play in Brazil, Argentina

Dave Matthews Band will make its first trip to South America since 2001 this fall.

DMB has announced these four tour dates:

• Sept. 26, Sobre Nos Festival Manaus, Manaus, Brazil
• Sept. 28, Sobre Nos Festival Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Sept. 30, Vivo Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Oct. 3, Pepsi Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Dave Matthews Band to release Busch concert?

Dave Matthews Band's June 7, 2008 concert at Busch Stadium in St. Louis could be the next release in the Live Trax series.

This image, posted on the MusicToday site that handles Live Trax ordering, appears to be the cover of Live Trax Vol. 13:

The concert featured the returns of "Pay For What You Get," "Recently" and "Water/Wine Jam." DMB also played "So Damn Lucky," Neil Young's "Hey Hey My My (Into the Black) and Sly and the Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" -- three songs never before released on a live DMB album.

There has been no official word about Live Trax Vol. 13 from the band yet.

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Dave Matthews Band gives tickets to 9/11 rescuers

Dave Matthews Band is donating tickets for its New York City lung cancer benefit concert to emergency workers who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

DMB is playing the Stand Up for a Cure show on Sept. 10 at Madison Square Garden to raise money for lung cancer research. Many members of the New York Police Department, Fire Department of New York and other 9/11 rescuers have suffered respiratory ailments since responding to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

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Julia Roberts to host Dave Matthews Band concert

Julia Roberts will introduce Dave Matthews Band at the Stand Up for a Cure concert in New York on Sept. 10, according to People magazine.

Julia is a longtime fan of DMB and friend of Dave Matthews, and she appeared in the "Dreamgirl" video. Proceeds from the Stand Up for a Cure concert at Madison Square Garden will benefit lung cancer research.

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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 and Tim Reynolds to play Farm Aid

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds will perform at Farm Aid 2008.

Farm Aid announced Tuesday that Dave, a Farm Aid board member, would be one of the headliners. Yesterday, Dave Matthews Band announced that it will actually be a Dave and Tim performance.

Farm Aid 2008 is Sept. 20 in Mansfield, Mass. Warehouse members can request tickets through Monday at noon.

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Farm Aid 2008 coming to Boston area

Farm Aid 2008 will take place Sept. 20 at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Mass., according to The Boston Globe.

The Globe says Farm Aid board member John Mellencamp will announce the concert at a press conference in Boston this afternoon. He and Farm Aid's three other board members -- Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Dave Matthews -- will headline the show; other acts will be announced later.

It's not clear whether Dave will perform solo, with Tim Reynolds or with the full Dave Matthews Band at Farm Aid 2008. All three incarnations have played at Farm Aid concerts in the past.

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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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Dave Matthews Band's 'Sugar Will' returns

Dave Matthews Band has revived "Sugar Will," a 2004 song that did not make the final cut for the Stand Up album.

DMB played "Sugar Will" on Wednesday in Tampa, Fla. and again Friday in West Palm Beach, Fla. The last time the band had played the song in concert was Oct. 5, 2004.

Several other DMB songs made their returns this week in Florida as well. They included "Drive In, Drive Out" (last played in 2006), "Help Myself" (last played in 2005), and the tour debuts of "Stay" and "The Song That Jane Likes."

The Tampa Tribune has a review of Wednesday's show.

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Dave Matthews gives song for Tibet benefit CD

A Dave Matthews acoustic song will appear on Songs for Tibet, a compilation album to benefit The Art of Peace Foundation.

The news of Dave's inclusion comes via Sting's official Web site, which also lists Sting, John Mayer, Suzanne Vega, Rush and Duncan Sheik as contributors. The Songs for Tibet Web site says that some artists recorded songs specifically for the CD, while others are donating previously recorded songs.

The album will be out Aug. 5, and proceeds will benefit peace projects supported by the Dalai Lama, including several Tibetan cultural initiatives.

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Dave Matthews film 'Lake City' in theaters Nov. 7

Dave Matthews' next film, "Lake City," will be out Nov. 7, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Screen Media Films acquired the film's rights and plans to release it on that date in select cities, including New York and Los Angeles. IMDB.com describes "Lake City" as a "searing Southern drama" about a mother and son who reunite after a tragedy. Dave plays a drug dealer named Red, and the film also stars Sissy Spacek, Rebecca Romijn and Drea De Matteo.

Dave's last film was the Adam Sandler comedy "You Don't Mess with the Zohan."

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Dave Matthews Band saves prison art program

Dave Matthews Band is giving $7,000 to its hometown prison for an inmate arts program, according to WVIR-TV.

The grant will ensure that the 3-year-old program at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail continues. More than 160 prisoners have participated in the program, and DMB's grant will help buy supplies and cover the costs of art exhibits.

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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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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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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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Nancies.org shuts down

Nancies.org, the once popular Dave Matthews Band fan site, shut down yesterday after 10 years.

Nancies.org was the site most responsible for cultivating the huge DMB online community that exists today. It's where I and countless other fans who had only heard DMB's official albums learned about all their rare songs, classic concerts and the world of tape trading. DMBnews.net and most other DMB fan sites would not exist today if not for nancies.org.

Over time, other Dave Matthews Band sites began expanding from the news-and-message board format that nancies.org thrived on, offering downloads, contests and other features. With them came a mass migration of users from which nancies.org never really recovered.

We wish Waldo, Shep and the rest of the crew the best and thank them for their everlasting contributions to the DMB fan community.

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No tailgating at DMB show in Charleston

The city of Charleston, S.C. has banned tailgating at the Dave Matthews Band concert July 4.

Fans will not be allowed to cook out or drink at all in the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park parking lots, according to The Post and Courier. The move is part of a year-long crackdown on public drinking led by police Chief Greg Mullen.

"I think most people probably don't like it, but some of these same folks want us to enforce those laws against other people," Mullen told the newspaper. "We can't look the other way for one group. It puts our officers in a tough position. ... It's not about Dave Matthews. It's about taking our responsibility seriously."

One DMB fan quoted in the story said he thinks the tailgating ban is just a conspiracy by the stadium to sell more beer. But even Dave Echols, the general manager of the minor league team that plays at Riley Park, didn't sound too thrilled about the ban: "I don't control the parking. We're at the mercy of the city."

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