Peelander-Z canceled a San Francisco concert at Bottom of the Hill after an 18-wheeler crash in New Mexico on May 18 left all three band members hospitalized and facing a long recovery. The band’s U.S. tour dates were also forced off schedule, while a GoFundMe
On Monday, May 25, Peelander-Z were meant to step onstage at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. Instead, fans found a cancellation message and a single, urgent reason: a horrific crash left the band members in the hospital and staring at a long recovery.
The club, a Potrero Hill venue, posted that a serious incident had brought the members “facing ‘a long recovery ahead.’” The show was scheduled as part of Peelander-Z’s U.S. tour, with UltraBomb and the Freak Accident listed on the bill.
The emergency began on Monday, May 18. Officials said a semi-truck rear-ended the band’s tour van as the group was traveling west on Interstate 40, east of Albuquerque—less than an hour from the New Mexico leg’s destination.
For a cult-favorite punk act known for color-coded costumes and theatrical stage antics, the timing was brutal. Peelander-Z, based in Austin, now have no choice but to step away from the road.
A GoFundMe organized by Dan Redman identified the injured members as Peelander Yellow (Kengo Hioki). Peelander Pink (Yumiko Kanazaki) and Peelander Tiger (real name undisclosed). On Friday. May 22. a New Mexico TV news station reported that all three had been treated in intensive care for broken bones—described as fractured vertebrae and ribs—along with other trauma.
The booking agent, Brad Raffenaud, told the station the crash was “really bad,” but said doctors’ reports were promising. “Just lucky that they’re all three alive,” Raffenaud said. “I mean, if you were to drive past an accident like that, you wouldn’t imagine that anyone would survive that.”
Those injuries were enough to derail the tour itself. The crash forced Peelander-Z to cancel upcoming tour dates, not just the San Francisco stop.
Bottom of the Hill said Peelander-Z had played the club in 2005. 2012 and 2019—calling them “Japanese action punk comic legends.” In its post about the cancellation. the venue urged fans to support the recovery fundraiser. pairing the disappointment of a missed show with the urgency of medical bills.
The GoFundMe had raised more than $139,000 toward a $170,000 goal as of Monday. Bottom of the Hill also framed the fundraiser in stark terms: “As you know, musicians are among the most vulnerable among us, and we need to band together to help.”
Peelander-Z Bottom of the Hill San Francisco concert canceled 18-wheeler crash Interstate 40 Albuquerque Kengo Hioki Yumiko Kanazaki GoFundMe punk tour
Damn that’s awful, hope they recover.
I heard it was their van that rear-ended the semi?? idk how it works but either way that’s crazy. Why were they driving that close to Albuquerque anyways?
Damn, fractured vertebrae and ribs… that’s not just “a long recovery,” that’s months/years. Also I’m seeing a lot of posts saying it was on May 18 but the GoFundMe was May 25? Like did it take that long to update? Either way I’m glad they’re alive.
This is why I hate interstate touring stuff, always some 18-wheeler doing 80. They should’ve flown, but then again can’t just assume. Bottom of the Hill probably just wanted people to donate, like a fundraiser promo with the sad story. Anyway I hope the punk costumes are still okay later.