The Wombats’ Matthew Murphy is in pain after pulling his intercostal muscles ahead of the band’s UK tour.
The ‘Lemon to a Knife Fight’ hitmaker – who is joined by Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland Knudsen in the trio – has strained the groups of muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall, but has reassured fans that he’ll be fit for the shows, despite being dosed up on medication.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: "I pulled an intercostal muscle.
"The muscles behind my ribs, it really, really hurts.
"It’s like a crazy acute pain. But I will be fine.
"I’ve got some heavy duty pain killers.
"It’s definitely making this album release week a bit harder than I thought."
The 33-year-old Liverpudlian and his bandmates embark on a 16-date sold out UK headline tour, which kicks off on March 9, including a stop at London’s Alexandra Palace on March 27.
Their album, ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’, is in the running for number one in the UK this week, but they face stiff competition from ‘The Greatest Showman’ soundtrack.
Speaking about his rival, the movie’s lead star Hugh Jackman, Murphy quipped: "I love Hugh Jackman, I didn’t realise he hated me this much."
Asked if the renewed interest in the band – who first shot to fame in 2003 and have had hit songs in ‘Moving to New York’ and ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division’ – is surreal, he said: "It feels very exciting to be in The Wombats again.
"Things are better than ever really."
‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’ is out now.
The Wombats’ 2018 UK tour dates are as follows:
March tour dates:
09 – Sheffield – O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
10 – Coventry – Empire – SOLD OUT
11 – Manchester – Academy – SOLD OUT
13 – Belfast – Limelight2
14 – Dublin – Academy
16 – Cardiff – Great Hall – SOLD OUT
17 – Sheffield – O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
19 – Aberdeen – Beach Ballroom – SOLD OUT
20 – Newcastle – O2 Academy 1 – SOLD OUT
21 – Nottingham – Rock City – SOLD OUT
23 – Birmingham – O2 Institute 1 – SOLD OUT
24 – Manchester – Academy – SOLD OUT
25 – Norwich – UEA – SOLD OUT
27 – London – Alexandra Palace
28 – Bristol – O2 Academy – SOLD OUT
29 – Southampton – O2 Guildhall – SOLD OUT