Modest Mouse bassist missing in action

Modest Mouse bassist Eric Judy has been absent from the group since late April, according to Pitchfork Media. Judy fell ill before a show in Minneapolis on April 21st, forcing the band to cancel that gig. He reportedly has not been seen since, missing a May 1st performance on CBS-TV's Late Show with David Letterman as well as other recent live dates. According to some reports, his duties have been split between Modest Mouse multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso and a member of opening act Love As Laughter. A publicist for Modest Mouse simply said that Judy is "fine."

Ironically, Judy told us prior to the tour that the band was in good spirits and looking forward to playing: "You know, maybe everybody individually is feeling better and doing better and feeling more positive, you know, so that maybe that reflects on how we all get along together as a group. But for sure I feel like we're feeling more together as a band than I think we ever have as a band, ever. You know, that means it's gonna be a lot of fun touring."

There's no word on the nature of the illness that affected Judy on April 21st, or whether he's still battling it.

There's no indication that Judy has left the band permanently.

Modest Mouse is currently touring in support of its new album, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, which debuted at Number One on the Billboard album chart in late March.

The group plays tonight (May 9th) in Austin, Texas.
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