General Music Chat

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4EkQM-co7RGsdsuWEbkN_uIN3bgD9EGMA200

Drunken thief takes singer Justin Moore's guitar
By CAITLIN R. KING (AP)



NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country singer Justin Moore knows his fans can get rowdy — maybe sometimes to a fault.

The singer says a drunken fan stole one of his guitars at a Michigan concert, but eventually returned Moore's favorite Gibson guitar worth about $4,000 after the fan realized it was a drunken mistake.

Moore alerted fans on Twitter and a DJ posted the news about the stolen guitar on Detroit's WYCD Web site. Moore's tour manager also contacted the Royal Oak, Mich., police department, but charges were never filed.

On Sunday, the anonymous crook had a friend deliver the guitar to the radio station.

"Everybody was probably having a good time," Moore said. "And in an inebriated state he goes, 'Hey, that'd be cool if we had Justin's guitar.' When you wake up the next morning with a splitting headache, and go, 'Oh, crap. What did I do?' Thank god he had that conscience."

Moore, 26, said the apology note that came with the guitar was hilarious.

"Everybody's got drunk and made stupid mistakes," Moore said. "Heck, I've got a song on my record, which he actually referenced, about making all kinds of idiotic mistakes. The thing I'll say, though, is everybody don't always own up to it and make it right."

For the record, the song is "How I Got To Be This Way."

If Moore were to meet the guy at a future show, he said he wouldn't hold a grudge.

"I'll buy him a beer," Moore said. "He knows he did wrong. There ain't no sense in making somebody feel worse than they already do. You can't kick someone when they're down. He didn't have to do the right thing and give it back, but the fact of the matter is that he did, and I'm all cool with him."

Moore scored his first No. 1 with "Small Town USA" last year off his debut self-titled album. He just wrapped up a 2010 run on Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night Tour and will head back out with Paisley this summer on Paisley's H20 Tour through the end of the year.

Lucky for this guy, I read somewhere that the guitar was later returned.

But this is not how it USUALLY is!


I've had about $1000.00 worth of cords and microphones (in a bag) stolen from a gig before. And when playing bills with 2 or 3 other bands you have to keep up constantly... whether on purpose or accident, other bands seem to have a habit of walking away with EXTRA stuff... YOUR stuff!

What's your worst loss at a gig?

People know not to mess with my stuff, my name is Danger! But I've left plenty of crap at gigs.

But I've left plenty of crap at gigs.

True. I've probably LEFT more than has been stolen over the years.

Cords, stands... STANDS ARE BAD, they are big enough NOT to easily forget and leave, but I have done so, a couple of times!

Cords, power supplies, guitar stands are thankfully cheap but I've left guitars at gigs a couple of times. Luckily I went back to find them right where I left them

Yes, been there, experienced that !
Back in 1982, the Band I was in, had the truck stolen that was loaded with every bit of music equipment we owned. Complete P.A. system, Hammond B3 organ, Fender Rhodes piano, complete set of Drums, Fender twin amp, Complete Bass Guitar rig, etc,etc.
We were able to borrow enough equipment to play a gig that was scheduled for the next night. Two hours into the gig, Ky. State Police came in to inform us, that the truck with all it's contents had been found along side I-75. It had been headed south, ran out of gas. Fortunately, we had installed a lock gas cap. So there-fore the thief wasn't able to put gas in the tank. But, he had tried. There was evidence of some damage to the cap. Oh yes, all the Bands equipment had remained safely locked inside the rear of the truck. True story, with a good ending !

You guys were lucky as hell, or someone was looking out for you!

I've seen the same thing with other bands, who were NOT so lucky. Lost ALL their equpment, and never got it back.

Locking gas cap was good thinking!

I think you can pry those off, but it slowed them down that night didn't it?

Yes, been there, experienced that !
Back in 1982, the Band I was in, had the truck stolen that was loaded with every bit of music equipment we owned. Complete P.A. system, Hammond B3 organ, Fender Rhodes piano, complete set of Drums, Fender twin amp, Complete Bass Guitar rig, etc,etc.
We were able to borrow enough equipment to play a gig that was scheduled for the next night. Two hours into the gig, Ky. State Police came in to inform us, that the truck with all it's contents had been found along side I-75. It had been headed south, ran out of gas. Fortunately, we had installed a lock gas cap. So there-fore the thief wasn't able to put gas in the tank. But, he had tried. There was evidence of some damage to the cap. Oh yes, all the Bands equipment had remained safely locked inside the rear of the truck. True story, with a good ending !

I was watching this guitarist's house & taking care of his dogs. While I was there, I figured I'd fix some of my cords, since he had his soldering iron & such laying right there.

After fixing my cords (which were bright pink, so I'd know when someone stole them), I forgot & left them there.

Months later, I saw them on stage in his posession. I told him they were mine, & when & how I had left them at his place. He refused to return them to me, saying that they were now his.

He was an a-hole, imho.

I've lost a lot of cords, a cpl mics, extra guitar string packages, & a cpl pedals at open mics, mostly. Nothing pisses me off more than a musician stealing from me. WE know more than anyone how tough it is to attain things, how hard we work to maintain them, & when a musician steals my stuff, I get way more than mildly irritated.

No.
First and foremost we never leave our equipment unattended.
I generally hang around the equipment and thus far, best I remember, no one has even touched our stuff without first asking. The curious generally will approach other members of the band first. I make special note of things people say whenever they approach me first. They usually have something specific they wish to say. My wife / friends often say I have an intimidating aura. I have no idea why. I'm just a pussycat.
Secondly, we set up, we play, we tear down, we leave.
Not much opportunity there.

I lost a guitar case at a gig about 3 weeks ago... I know exactly where I put it and it prior to the show but apparently grew legs. Not sure if it was "stolen" or someone innocently moved it for some reason and I didn't end up connecting with that person - but thankfully that's the extent of my losses so far.