Hatfield Fractures Face In Fall at His Nightclub

Bobby Hatfield, one half of the Righteous Brothers singing duo, suffered multiple facial fractures, broken teeth and a broken palate when he slipped on the pavement outside the Hop, his Fountain Valley nightclub, during what started as a good-natured shoving match with a friend, authorities said Friday.

Diane Turner, spokeswoman for Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, said Hatfield, 48, who lives in Newport Beach, was in serious condition after corrective surgery Thursday. A spokesman for the Hop said the singer would be out of commission for at least six weeks.

Fountain Valley Police Lt. Rod Gillman said the incident occurred at 1 a.m. Tuesday, although police were not called until the following evening, at 6:15 p.m., by Hatfield’s wife, Linda.

“Initially, it looks like they didn’t want to report it,” Gillman said regarding the delay in calling police. “But a crime report has been filed, and the matter is under investigation.”

Gillman said Hatfield and his friend, who has not been identified and had not been questioned by police, were pushing each other inside the nightclub and continued to do so as they stepped into the alleyway outside the building.

“Hatfield was pushed again and fell on the rain-slicked pavement, hitting his face,” Gillman said. “Witnesses said they had both been drinking.”

Karen Lippe, publicist for the Hop, which Hatfield owns with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, said that Hatfield was “kind of groggy” Friday after the surgery but that his family reported him to be in good spirits.

The Hop’s fourth anniversary celebration, scheduled for Monday, has been postponed indefinitely.