A popular Japanese punk band was forced to cancel its San Francisco show after an 18-wheeler crashed into the van they were touring in, injuring all the members.
Accident Details
Peelander-Z was on tour and scheduled to perform in the Bay Area when a semi-truck crashed into the band's van on May 18. 'Our good friends, Peelander Yellow [Kengo Hioki], Pink [Kanazaki], and Tiger [real name undisclosed] were involved in a horrific traffic accident this week while touring in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and they're hospitalized with traumatic injuries,' their GoFundMe stated. 'They were rear-ended by an 18-wheeler in their van and are lucky to be alive,' it added.
A devastating photo of the crash showed a white van crushed accordion-style, with the 18-wheeler lodged behind it. The band was on the second day of their national tour, traveling from New Mexico to San Francisco and driving west on Interstate 40 east of Albuquerque when the truck slammed into their van, SF Chronicle reported.
Injuries and Recovery
The Texas-based group was less than an hour from its destination when all three members were rushed to intensive care, suffering severe injuries including broken ribs and vertebrae, according to KOB4. Hioki is currently unresponsive, but the band's spokesperson told the outlet he was recently taken off a ventilator.
Austin-based Japanese punk band, Peelander-Z is recovering after a severe vehicle crash in New Mexico. Peelander-Z had just begun its spring tour when the wreck occurred on the second day of travel. 'With the reports from the hospitals and from the doctors and the staff, things look very promising. It just was just, it was really bad,' booking agent Brad Raffenaud told the outlet. Doctors are continuing to monitor the musicians as they undergo additional surgeries and treatment, according to Raffenaud. 'Just lucky that they're all three alive,' he added. 'I mean, if you were to drive past an accident like that, you wouldn't imagine that anyone would survive that.'
Impact on Tour
The punk band planned to perform at Bottom of the Hill alongside other groups, including UltraBomb and Freak Accident. In a Facebook post, the venue expressed its devastation over the horrific crash. 'We are the hugest fans of this band, who played our stage in 2005, 2012, and 2019, and always bring the most high energy and fun show to our stage and make us smile and dance,' the venue wrote. 'We wish them a speedy recovery and hopefully they can be back to playing music before too long,' they added.
The tour van, equipment, and personal belongings were destroyed in the crash. All of their upcoming performances have been cancelled. Peelander-Z is known for its eye-catching color-coded costumes and high-energy stage performances, earning a reputation as a 'cult favorite' among punk fans. As of Monday, their GoFundMe has raised over $140,000, nearing its $170,000 goal.
