Ash in tour bus fire near-miss

Ash very nearly didn’t make it to Croke Park today – or anywhere, ever again in fact – after their tour bus burst into flames whilst traveling between gigs in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Says a spokesman: “It was their soundman who spotted the smoke and woke the band up at around 3.30am. The fire turned out to be in the engine and was put out by the onboard fire extinguisher. Another bus was sent for, which bizarrely also caught fire en route to picking them up and was very badly damaged. In the end, they had to travel to the Shoreland Amphitheater in a van, turning up five hours late and without equipment, which they had to borrow off tourmates The Bravery.”

You may recall that Ash also had vehicular problems in 2002 when their bus broke down in Death Valley on the Area: 2 tour and they had to be rescued by Moby.

Meanwhile, guitarist Charlotte Hatherley has released a limited-edition white vinyl version of her Grey Will Fade album, which is available online from www.charlottehatherley.com priced £12stg.

If you haven’t already heard of it, you’re in for a bubblegum summer pop treat of epic proportions!