First musical gear stolen was after a show at the Holiday Tavern. A bag of pedals and patch chords. There was a group of tough guys who used to do security there and they were considered the culprits but I don’t know. Never saw it again. I sure loved playing the Holiday Tavern, main floor, those 2 or 3 years that it was the new revamped modern place to be in deep purple splendour.
Second time was while producing Andrew Cash at Streetbrothers. A big empty parking lot. Van window smashed in, 2 guitars and amp and rack mount effects gone. After they were caught, cops said glue sniffers. It was too late for recovering the guitars. Between the capture and the theft everyone said “didn’t you have insurance?” No but I did ever since.
Third time New York. Everything was in the car of the guy who drove us then his car was stolen. Nice young Canadian guy, Peter, drove us down and then when it was time to return…….car was missing. But 9 days later, it was found with everything intact in a tow truck lot. Too bad because meantime my insurance claim was about to reimburse me with a bunch of new beautiful replacements.
At least 3 times other people took me aside to say this person that person were stealing from me, imitating my song or my style. I didn’t think so or if it was true I was left thinking they can’t steal how I made it or my process besides who exactly are you going to complain to? And what is more ludicrous being upset about imitation or Arista issuing refunds when Milli Vanilli was exposed?