Notes from the smoking patio

Further proof that whack-jobs are learning dangerous things on the Internet: a homemade bomb was responsible for injuring Unwritten Law guitarist Steve Morris.

According to a band statement, someone threw a homemade bomb onto Morris' porch in the early-morning hours of Aug. 30. The bomb, which failed to detonate, was apparently made of dry ice and an unidentified liquid placed inside a bottle. Morris picked up the seemingly harmless bottle and placed it in the freezer as evidence, believing that the person responsible was a neighbor who had complained about noise.

Lieutenant Lisa Miller of the San Diego Sheriff's Office said another glass bomb exploded against Morris' door. Morris called the police at 3:08 a.m. Deputies arrived at the scene at 3:15 a.m.

Morris took the other device from the freezer to show the police. Thirty seconds later, the bomb exploded. Lt. Miller reported that there were “multiple lacerations to the victim's hand and forehead.”

The band was forced to cancel a few of the shows on their current tour.

Reached at home, Unwritten Law vocalist Scott Russo said the blast slammed Morris and his girlfriend “up against the wall-he suffered a concussion and it blew out his eardrums. We had to wait a couple of days for his ears to drain.

“It's crazy. The internet... you go onto [a certain Web site] and it tells you how to make 50 types of bombs. What's even crazier is that it turns out the [suspect] is the cousin of my former neighbor. My little brother had hung out with the guy a few days earlier.”

Russo said Morris will be fine. “We're flying out today to get back on tour,” he said.

Lt. Miller reports that Duvigneaud Martell was arrested in connection with the crime. “It appears to be some neighbor,” she said. “He is currently in custody on $500,000 bail for making and using a destructive device and vandalism.”

It's another bloody and bruised chapter in the sordid story of UL, whose career has taken high gear since the release of Elva in January. Their current single, “Up All Night,” is No. 15 on the Modern Rock Chart. The album's first single, “Seein' Red,” reached No. 1. The band will keep its scheduled appearance on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Street Scene.