Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) recently shared an emotional update about his longtime drummer, Rook, who had been absent from the band for over a year after a serious bike accident in 2024. MGK’s Instagram story captioned Rook’s return with the heartfelt message, “My brother finally back! With an iron leg, iron teeth, iron heart.” He added that Rook had “met the reaper and decided it wasn’t his time,” celebrating his recovery after a long absence. MGK also expressed how much he missed Rook, who had been an integral part of his band for over a decade.
Rook’s 2024 bike accident, which had caused him to break bones and required a lengthy recovery, was first shared by a fan page in May 2023. At the time, Rook’s father had said that the injuries would take about two months to heal, leading to Rook stepping back from his drumming duties. MGK’s fans were updated on Rook’s condition, with MGK himself describing Rook as a real-life “Iron Man” who would “bounce back.” It seems that after months of recovery, Rook is now back behind the drums, as confirmed by a fan page announcement.
This accident wasn’t Rook’s first health scare. Three years prior, he was assaulted and robbed by two men who jumped out of a car, and during the confrontation, he was hit by a car, injuring his foot and arm. Despite these challenges, Rook showed resilience, stating, “Don’t worry I’ll bounce back” after the incident. MGK had often expressed admiration for Rook’s strength in overcoming adversity, referring to his “crazy” life in a 2015 birthday post on Facebook.
The return of Rook was celebrated at an MGK performance in London at the O2, marking the first 2025 show with the full band after Rook’s recovery. MGK shared a post of the performance, stating, “This performance of ‘bloody valentine’ is the band’s first performance of 2025 with everyone together again after Rook’s bike accident!”
It seems that despite the hardships Rook has faced, his bond with MGK remains strong, and fans are excited for their continued collaboration.