Scare on a D string after dog leaves Healy unable to play
TRAVIS frontman Fran Healy required emergency surgery on his hand after a sausage dog attack left him unable to play a guitar chord.
The 48-year-old had rushed to help a Dachshund stranded in the middle of a busy road in Los Angeles, only for it to “maul” him.
The singer bled heavily but was able to drive to a hospital emergency department.
However, as he thought his recovery was in full swing, he hit a new hurdle: playing the D chord on his guitar.
He revealed on Twitter: “So the latest in my sausage dog saga. I was referred to a hand specialist because, despite the wound healing, I still couldn’t play D on my guitar.
“The middle finger on the left hand was sticking 1cm above the string. The Doc had me have an MRI which revealed fluid on the joints and possible torn tendon.
“So today I’m going in for emergency surgery to see what the damage is and to repair it. I’ll never look at a sausage the same way again.”
The unfortunate turn of events began on Oct 14 when Healy tried to help the dog near his home in the Hollywood Hills.
Healy said at the time: “Cars bomb down our hill and it would have been toast. So I tried to pick it up and it mauled the s--- out my left hand.
“I held on, hoping to chuck it into our porch but then I slipped and it bolted off, leaving me p---ing blood all over the shop. So much blood.”
He added at the time that his finger was “bloody sore” after he drove himself to an urgent care facility to get “patched up”. The dog was later recaptured unharmed and returned to its owner who lives in a property formerly owned by Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks.
Fans wished him well. One asked: “So now you’re Fran Healing?”
Others on social media wished him a speedy recovery and shared their own tips for playing musical instruments while carrying hand injuries.
Healy joined Travis in 1991 and they went on to have a string of hits including Driftwood, Sing and
Always Rain On Me?