Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt’s every touring band’s nightmare: Veteran rockers the Brian Jonestown Massacre had nearly all of their equipment stolen while on tour: custom-built guitars and effects and lots more.
The theft was widely reported in the music press as the band soldiered on as best they could.But this particular nightmare has a happy ending: Police in Portland, Ore.
have recovered more than $50,000 worth of the band’s gear, the group announced on Friday.“We are all eternally grateful to the Portland police department for their help in finding our stolen equipment,” frontman Anton Newcombe tweeted. “It has been said that it had great sentimental value, however, I am not very sentimental, I use my gear to create music 6 days a week, to feed my family and employ my friends.
These are the tool of my craft, no different than a truck full of tools used in construction or any other trade. I also wish to thank everyone for their outpouring of concern, and for spreading the word, especially Dan at KATU TV.” This is from @PortlandPolice pic.twitter.com/sI5Vg8NDoP— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) April 29, 2022Of course, the impact of the theft was even more devastating coming after two years of lockdown and quarantines that prevented the band from touring at all.
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