Willie Nelson canceled a North Carolina concert on Thursday (Jan. 28), reportedly due to pain in his hand which prevented him from playing guitar. He also canceled a show on Jan. 30, slated to take place in Asheville, N.C. The Associated Press reports that Thursday's cancellation was announced about an hour after several band and crew members were arrested for allegedly possessing moonshine and marijuana.According to Alcohol Law Enforcement spokesman Ernie Seneca, six members of Willie's band and crew were charged with misdemeanor possession offenses and were issued citations before the band was scheduled to take the stage Thursday night. Willie's longtime bass player, Dan Edward "Bee" Spears, and five others were charged with possession of non-tax-paid alcohol and two of the six were also charged with marijuana possession. Seneca said officers reportedly smelled marijuana on a tour bus and were given permission to search the vehicle. Willie was not on the bus where marijuana, rolling papers and a nearly full Mason jar containing moonshine were found. According to the Raleigh News & Observer website, also cited were: Kenneth Koepke, Robert Allen Lemons, Dudley Bishop Prewitt, Aaron William Foye and Thomas Ray Hawkins.
Citations were also issued to John Duane Vogt, general manager of the Duplin County Events Center, and Donald Farrior, an assistant for trying to interfere with the ALE investigation.
While Willie's publicist declined comment to the AP, Willie daughter stated on his website that Thursday night's show at the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville, N.C., was canceled because the singer-guitarist's hand was hurt too badly to play. The right-handed guitar-picker had carpal tunnel surgery on his left hand in 2004. Willie's daughter stated he would try to finish the tour with two more dates, then return home to Texas for 10 days.
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
Joseph Jamesat 2-01-2010
The arrests seem more like harrassment than anything else. There were a lot of disappointed fans out there. Willie has done so much good for the disadvantaged and poor over the years including "Farm Aid" that he should get a bit of credit for that.
KATRINAat 2-01-2010
Go Willie~
I hate the media, right away they have to BUST his daughter for saying his hand hurt (the media HAD to Point out that he had surgery on his OTHER hand)...hey, I think it was way cool that he cancelled because of something that was wrong w/him instead of stating his band was busted...
Go Willie, not only a GREAT songwriter and singer but SUPER GOOD DUDE!
ALSO, what the HELL were the 'jerk off' officers doing 'sniffing' around the trailer? jeez, they're musicians for god's sake...let em do their thing before they perform!....the 'officers' shoulda been doing their thing instead of hangin' outsd. the trailer!
buscaat 2-02-2010
"The right-handed guitar-picker had carpal tunnel surgery on his left hand in 2004."
If the author is trying to imply that the pain excuse is illegitimate he should know that your left hand does most of the work if you are a right-handed guitar player.
Keep on kicking a$$, Willie!
kehbuat 2-02-2010
cops who still bust people for pot are just out of touch-prohibition all over again!
bratdlp9at 2-02-2010
Would they sound better without the hooch and pot?! Leave 'em alone ~~ go after the child rapists and murderers instead!!!!
muchodecoat 2-02-2010
Maybe he was smoking pot to ease pain in his hand. Can't we get him a medical marijuana license somehow? Wow, 76 years old and still getting busted for pot. God bless him! A true legend if ever there was one.
necropolis83666at 2-02-2010
It seems the older I get, the more I hate cops!!
barrylndnat 2-02-2010
It seems like Willie, or his band, get busted about every other year for essentially the same thing. I wonder if cops just follow them around waiting...
buscaat 2-02-2010
Read the article again. Willie was NOT arrested.
missoliviapiat 2-02-2010
dont they have anything else to do, apparently their dates with their cousins didnt pan out
ksstexasat 2-02-2010
Legalize NOW! People are being KILLED on the border for a drug that is not physically-addictive or lethal. Why do the pharmaceutical,alcohol, prison companies want this stuff illegal? THINK!!! It's called dollars, not freedoms or safety.
iLLbootenGOTTIat 2-02-2010
When has Willie and his crew ever NOT been in possesion of pot?
OTISat 2-02-2010
maybe the cops were looking for their wife.
kryjefat 2-02-2010
leave willie and the boys alone damn irs done took every thing he has worked for and i thought you could brew your own up to a certain amount for your own use rock on willie we still love ya
OTISat 2-02-2010
has willie ever pulled your mother from a car ,put her on the ground,and put his foot on her neck ,so he will have something to bragg about? ask yourself who is the slimeball....