Two of hard rock’s leading bands are asking fans and authorities to help them recover nearly $200,000 worth of stolen equipment.
The continuing spread of coronavirus is hurting musicians at every level of the music business. Without touring, many artists are struggling to make ends meet, and those with savings are beginning to ask how long they can survive without getting back on the road. There are no easy answers, but one thing is certain: Everyone needs all the help they can get.
Static-X and Dope spent 2019 touring the world in celebration of album anniversaries and the legacy of late vocalist Wayne Static. Their combined touring efforts sold-out dozens of performances, which drew a demand for even more shows in 2020. Those plans were postponed due to coronavirus, and the band’s stored their touring gear in a Los Angeles warehouse before entering quarantine.
This week, someone (or multiple people) broke into the storage facility and robbed both bands of nearly $200,000 in gear. The two groups were advised by LAPD to take their story public, in order to help raise awareness with other small business owners and bands alike.
“With most of us in lockdown, and those who aren’t locked down, wearing masks in public, apparently it’s a great time to be a thief”, says Static-X drummer Ken Jay.
An official statement on the incident from Static-X reads:
“We want to encourage our community to keep a close eye on your property and on your facilities during this unprecedented time… We also ask for our fans to keep an eye out for the stolen items and maybe we can help the police find these people.”
The band has publicized a list of stolen equipment, complete with many of the serial numbers. The list includes: Multiple LED video panels, 2 drum kits, 40+ cymbals, various high-end audio/video gear, microphones, racks, branded backdrops, etc. View the full list of gear, as well as pictures of many items, here.
They have also set up a tip center where you can share any info that may help in the investigation.
“This is a tough one to swallow,” says Edsel Dope. “Our bands are small businesses that have developed and refined our touring systems over the years. The amount of time and effort that has gone into building out the tech and AV production alone is hard to quantify. It’s allot of money. We own all of our own gear and have built our touring business through years of continuous investment back into ourselves.
“In the end, we recognize that there are far worse things happening around the world. We want to send out positive vibes to everyone in this crazy time. Stay safe, protect yourself from ALL the threats, and take care of each other.
We will learn from this experience and take the necessary steps to rebuild during this downtime, while allowing ourselves to be a cautionary tale for others. Stay safe and we’ll see you soon!”
Statix-X is scheduled to release their new album, PROJECT REGENERATION Volume 1, on May 29.
