Michael Kennedy Fills In For Dark Star Orchestra’s Rob Eaton In Florida

Dark Star Orchestra enlisted Splintered Sunlight guitarist Michael Kennedy to fill in for Rob Eaton while he recovers from health issues. Kennedy joined DSO last night in St. Augustine, Florida and will perform with the band over their next three shows in the state.

Eaton was forced to sit out two recent Dark Star Orchestra concerts in Huntington, New York. Zen Tricksters guitarist Tom Circosta substituted for Eaton at the second show.

While explaining his absence, Eaton revealed he was hospitalized prior to the start of the tour and diagnosed with acute cardio peritonitis.

“Despite the recommendation from the cardiologist, I decided to try to make it to tour,” Eaton wrote last week. “Over the past week, my health has deteriorated to the point where I’m unable to join my bandmates on stage tonight. I gave it everything I had these past two weeks, but it finally caught up with me.”

Eaton was hopeful he could rejoin his DSO bandmates but ultimately decided to take time off the road to focus on his health. Following last night’s DSO show, Kennedy will continue playing in the band tonight (Thursday, December 4) in Clearwater, and wrap his fill-in stint with two shows in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6.

After the Florida concerts, DSO will ring in 2026 with a five-show Cosmic New Year’s Eve Celebration. The run will feature stops in three cities across the Northeast from December 29 through January 3.

Read statements from Dark Star Orchestra and Eaton below: