Bjorn “Speed” Strid Injures Back, Soilwork Forced to Cancel Rockharz Festival Appearance

I am no stranger to back pain.

So I’m particularly sympathetic towards Soilwork singer Bjorn “Speed” Strid, who severely injured his back last week. As a result the band has canceled their appearance at the Rockharz Open Air metal festival this coming weekend in Germany, the second year in a row they’ve had to so.

Here’s a message from Strid posted at Blabbermouth (source not cited):

It is with great regret that I have to inform you that I’m not gonna be able to perform at the Rockharz festival on Friday. It almost feels like a curse.

I’m sure most of you know that we had to cancel last year’s Rockharz festival as well. We were so excited to make it up to you this year, but I guess we have to wait yet another year.

I basically screwed up my back 10 days ago while working out. I felt a shooting pain and stopped immediately. That same night, my back started swelling. Next day, I felt better and in the coming days it healed up pretty fast. Then last Friday, I made a small movement to reach for the remote while watching World Cup football and I felt an intense shooting pain once again. I thought to myself, ‘This is gonna be bad.’ I was right.

I’m currently not able to sit and can barely walk.

I went to a chiropractor two days ago and he was unable to do anything since my back was too swollen and my torso was too twisted. He sent me home with anti-inflammatory pills and painkillers and told me to take those 3 times a day for 3 days and come back on Thursday, which is tomorrow. I also asked him if there was any chance for me to perform on Friday and he said: ‘It’s gonna take a miracle and I definitely don’t recommend it.’ I also informed him that we were gonna drive down in a van to Germany and then his reaction was: ‘Don’t do it.’

So here I am, strapped to a couch feeling sorry for all the fans who had plans to finally see us at Rockharz.

I’m so sorry, I wish there was a way… [I] hope you understand.

Make sure you enjoy the rest of the awesome bands that are playing the festival; it looks like a real good lineup! Our guitarist Sylvain will be there regardless, so hopefully you’ll run into him and he’ll buy you a bunch of drinks.

Ouch. Get better soon, dude!