Rucker’s knee delays tour

Hootie & the Blowfish are again delaying the start of their summer tour as lead singer Darius Rucker recovers from a staph infection in his left knee.

Rucker, 41, has undergone three surgeries to clear the infection and is still trying to rehabilitate the knee, the band said in a statement this week.

They canceled four shows -- including Aug. 2 at the Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock and Aug. 3 at the Ventura County Fair in Ventura -- and postponed eight others. Their July 26 concert at Pechanga Casino in Temecula has been rescheduled for Oct. 4; the July 28 appearance at the House of Blues in Anaheim has been rescheduled for Sept. 29; and a July 29 gig at Humphrey’s by the Bay in San Diego has been rescheduled for Oct. 3.