Matchbox TwentyMatchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas has profusely apologised to his bandmate and best friend, Paul Doucette, after accidentally hitting him in the head with a microphone stand.
On Sunday (16 August), the US rockers made headlines after Thomas swung his microphone stand on stage at the Illinois State Fair, but what should have been a typical on-stage antic went wrong.
According to footage shared by fans, the metal pole attached to the stand came loose and flew around the stage, striking Doucette, who then departed the stage.
Addressing the audience, Thomas said of the incident, “Every night I’m over there, and I’m throwing this goddamn thing around… Oh, I went; it nailed him.”
Looking to the side of the stage to his bandmate, Thomas’ face grew concerned as he continued, “Yeah, it nailed him hard. My best friend in the world, and I think I almost killed him, and I feel really bad about this.”
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Asking the crowd for some time so the band could figure out the situation, he added, “By the way, it felt like a really good idea right up until now. I feel like an ass.”
Doucette then returned to the stage, telling Thomas before the audience, “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you about swinging that fucking thing. I knew it was only a matter of time. It’s been 30 years. Now, admittedly I’ve been in the back for the first half of that, and maybe I’ve gotta go back there because obviously it’s safer.”
An apologetic Thomas responded, “I’m so sorry. I’m gonna keep apologising to you, like, all month.”
You can see footage of the incident and Thomas’ reaction below.
Since the show, Doucette has had some fun with Thomas. He took to Instagram to share a video of his broken in-ear monitor being pulled out and quipped, “So, here’s what’s happening right now.
“Rob took me the fuck out with his swinging the fucking mic stand during that show, and I have bits of my in-ear, which he fuckin’ smashed, that are now in my ear… that is not fun.” After the last pieces of the in-ear monitor were removed, he jokingly growled, “Fuckin’ Rob!”
Matchbox Twenty’s most recent album, Where the Light Goes, was released in May 2023. The band returned to Australia in February 2024 for their first shows in nearly 12 years.
