Stabbing Westward tested this old adage on Sunday when it pulled off its first concert without drummer Andy Kubiszewski, who suffered a fractured collarbone during an untimely Rollerblading mishap in Wisconsin last month.

Staring down the barrel of a loaded tour schedule with no drummer to speak of, the Chicago rockers called on two old friends -- former Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna and Killing Joke's Geoff Dugmore -- to solve their concert conundrum.

Vrenna, who played with Stabbing Westward vocalist Christopher Hall and keyboardist Walter Flakus in an early incarnation of the band, got the tour rolling again this weekend in Kansas City at the KQRC radio show. The multitalented producer, engineer and programmer will back the band for just two more shows, in Los Angeles on June 12 and Sacramento on June 13.

In an interview with JAMTV last month, Vrenna said that he had reserved the entire month of June for personal projects including his debut solo album, which will feature a rotating crew of accomplished and distinguished musicians. Though this short touring jaunt hammers into Vrenna's coveted studio time, his spokeswoman said the Stabbing Westward tour won't interfere with his solo plans.

Beginning June 20 in Palo Alto, Calif., Dugmore will pick up the baton -- or drum stick, as the case may be.

No stranger to the Stabbing Westward touring routine, the Killing Joke drummer met his temporary bandmates on the road two years ago when the two bands shared a double bill. Now, the relatively new member of Killing Joke has agreed to tour once again with his one-time sidekicks through July 17.

Dugmore may be relieved of his duties early if Kubiszewski miraculously recovers from his injuries ahead of schedule, Lisa Lashley of Columbia Records told JAMTV last week.

"If he's feeling better and the doctors say it's O.K., then Andy will start up with the tour again this summer," Lashley said. "It's entirely possible that he will be on the road again in less than six weeks."

In addition, Lashley joked that she would keep the band members away from dangerous extracurricular activities until the end of the tour, which will be extended as Stabbing Westward reschedules the 10 Midwest and East Coast dates that were canceled following Kubiszewski's fall on May 21. The band was touring theaters, clubs and radio shows in support of its fourth album, Darkest Days, when Kubiszewski fractured his collarbone just hours before the band was set to take the stage at the Barrymore Theater in Madison, Wis. (Anni Layne)