Band members injured after breaking up fight at East Nashville bar

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two members of a band nearly lost their lives after trying to break up a fight inside the Cobra Bar in East Nashville.

After a night in the hospital, the band is back on the road, playing a show in Alabama.

The band No Cure had wrapped up what they described as a great show at Cobra Bar in East Nashville last month. They were greeting fans when the night took a turn.

“I was very pleasantly surprised and having a great time. Nashville is close to home, so I had a lot of friends there,” No Cure’s lead singer, Blaythe Steuer, said. “It was a great day until, you know, the stabbing.”

Steuer said that a man he’d never seen before punched a friend of his and then bassist Jake Murnane tried to break up the fight.

“At some point, the guy pulled a knife. I never saw a knife, but he started slashing and now I have this on my leg,” Steuer added, panning down to reveal a leg brace. “Very fun.”

The injures were worse than Steuer expected.

“I look down and I’m looking at my pants leg and I’m spurting,” Steuer said. “He kind of branched my femoral artery.”

The bandmates went to an area hospital. Murnane had a large cut across his chest and both had to receive staples and stitches.

“Not to be dramatic, but without medical attention, if I was like somewhere remote, I would’ve probably died,” Steuer added.”

Police said that James Smith is the stabbing suspect. He allegedly ran across the street and ditched the knife. That’s where officers arrested him.

“His kid reached out to us through Instagram, saying, ‘I’m so sorry. That’s my dad that got you guys. He’s a bad guy,'” Steuer said.

Blaythe said that the best way to help the band with the medical bills is check out their shows. They are also selling merchandise to help out. News 2 was unable to reach the Cobra Bar for comment.

“I do not get nervous,” Steuer said. “This is my life’s work now. I love it.”

Steuer added that he doesn’t blame the bar for this apparently random incident.

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