Odds & Ends: George Michael, Nine Inch Nails, Crystal Method

This time around George Michael wasn’t the driver in the car crash. Here’s what the singer’s website is saying about Thursday’s incident:

“George Michael was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a traffic accident yesterday evening, no third party was involved. He is being treated for superficial cuts and bruises but is fine. We have no further comment at this time.”

The BBC reports Michael was airlifted to the hospital and references the following quote from an ambulance spokesman:

“The man who we believe to be in his 40s sustained a head injury and following treatment, stabilisation and immobilisation by land and air ambulance crews, he was flown to hospital for further care.”

The accident occurred in England near St Albans, Hertfordshire. A police spokesman said the exact circumstances are unclear and that it would be inappropriate to comment further until further investigations were completed. No arrests were made.

Michael and his history with car accidents have earned plenty of coverage in the press. The most recent incident was his 2010 crash into a Snappy Snaps photo store in London. He served four weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty for driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis.

Nine Inch Nails has locked down a new bassist for the tour following Wednesday’s news that Eric Avery wouldn’t be hitting the road with Trent Reznor this summer after all.

A note from Reznor on NIN’s website says that Robin Finck is the man for the job.

“The addition of Robin to the mix of players I’ve assembled makes this band incredibly powerful and versatile. We are deep in the rehearsal process and it feels exciting and great to be back at this. Lots of information, surprises and sweat headed your way. Stay tuned!”

Avery, who is best known for co-founding Jane’s Addiction, announced Wednesday that he was parting ways with NIN because he wants to focus on his musical life and film work in Los Angeles.

“As the tour dates kept growing… I just got overwhelmed,” Avery wrote. “I just got home from a year of heavy travel with Garbage, the idea of leaving town for another year and a half, and with all the intensity that nails demands …”

Avery was part of the reinvented NIN lineup, which features Reznor along with Adrian Belew, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis and Ilan Rubin. NIN’s next upcoming show is a July 26 appearance at Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata, Japan.

The Crystal Method’s Scott Kirkland broke the news to fans this week that the group’s fifth studio album is being delayed because of his doctor’s orders.

Kirkland posted a lengthy statement on the band’s website explaining that he had surgery in April to remove a “benign posterior fossa arachnoid cyst.” He described the procedure as “a well-sutured hole four-and-a-half inches long in the back of my head and a pain that was only appeased by a round of pharmies.”

After being released from the hospital and even hitting the studio for a couple of hours on two consecutive days, Kirkland contracted an infection and ended up back in the hospital.

“I spent most of my next 10 days in ICU dealing with a painful lumbar spinal drain, aka a ‘Spinal Tap.’ Pain that seemed to be set on 11 held me hostage for the first 24 hours. … Finally, this past week I got home to my wonderful family and a healthy supply of antibiotics that automatically dose me every four hours intravenously, and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.

“I’m itching to get back in the studio and finish mixing the last two tracks for what is an amazing record with Ken, but I recognize my need to rest until I get the thumbs up for a return to work from Dr. Chen.”

The follow-up to 2009’s Divided by Night is now set for release in early fall. A number of Crystal Method tour dates have also been postponed or cancelled.

For more information visit TheCrystalMethod.com.