Iggy and the Stooges equipment stolen

I just got some email this morning from Mike Watt, informing of this HUGE heist: virtually all of Iggy and the Stooge's gear was just stolen in Canada. I know it's a long shot that anyone would might know anything about this, or be able to help, but, hey, putting myself in these musician's shoes, I couldn't help but post this here. Watt's bass, for example, is the one he's been playing for years and years. Now, I know this is an unusual post for Music Talk, and if the mods see fit to delete it, so be it. Here's a link to a complete list of everything stolen.
posted by flapjax at midnite (13 comments total)

That really sucks -- hope they've got adequate insurance.

I know that won't replace specific beloved gear -- like Watt's bass -- but at least they should be able to dive into the stores around Montreal and re-gather a good portion of the gear.
posted by chimaera at 8:00 PM on August 4, 2008

That's awful, awful news.
posted by umbú at 9:01 PM on August 4, 2008

Dag, that sucks.

But, emotional and financial worth aside for a moment, when I was younger, we used to play Stooges songs in our basement with the most beat-up equipment, and it sounded AWESOME!

Hope they get their stuff back.
posted by not_on_display at 12:56 AM on August 5, 2008

I used to live in Montreal. I remember this being a big problem. There are groups of thieves that specifically target bands, pawn shops that specifically sell the stolen goods. It makes me sick.
posted by dobie at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2008

pawn shops that specifically sell the stolen goods. It makes me sick.

any particular names of pawn shops you could suggest? maybe they could at least buy back some of the choice pieces of gear, in the worst case scenario.
posted by saulgoodman at 10:36 AM on August 5, 2008

Apparently Italmelodie, is known to buy stolen goods, which is a shame because they are one of the best music stores in town.

This is a link to the local music board that is having a similar discussion. It details all of the equipment stolen.
posted by dobie at 11:13 AM on August 5, 2008

Yeah, dobie, it looks like Montreal is a bad spot for this... here's a comment from that message board you linked to:

"Something seriously needs to be done about this. It's obviously an organized and planned out targetting of musicians' gear happening here. The Trews and "That One Guy" both had their gear stolen here recently as well. Bands are just going to stop coming here, it's so bad. You have to wonder where all of it is being sold, and whether city police are even slightly up on dealing with the issue."
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:59 PM on August 5, 2008

Organized crime is no joke in Montreal. I would not be surprised if this was connected to that community somehow.
posted by dobie at 9:33 PM on August 5, 2008

I would not be surprised if this was connected to that community somehow.

You'd think. I can easily imagine a whispered telephone call from some hotel employee to some connected guy: "The truck is in the lot, I'm at the front desk, the parking lot guard's looking the other way..."
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:24 AM on August 6, 2008

I'm not saying Don Corleone hotwired the truck or anything. But yeah it probably went down like you say.
posted by dobie at 7:17 AM on August 6, 2008

The real pisser is that the value of that stuff isn't just monetary. That's like losing your kids or something. Ugh.
posted by snsranch at 7:35 AM on August 6, 2008

Actually, Don Corleone totally hotwired that truck. He did it in just a few minutes, drove it to a warehouse, and got right back to his daughter's wedding (as the band played a tarantella) before anyone even noticed he was gone.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:40 PM on August 6, 2008

I have to say I don't GET why they parked on the street. That's just such a basic tour no-no. Even my friends in indie bands with crappy gear don't do that. Not to mention, the Embassy Suites has valet parking and is in a not-fantastic area a block from the highway outta town. Nothing excuses the theft but dudes... with decades of touring experience you should really know not to leave all your gear in a truck on the street overnight.

Anyway, Montreal isn't any worse for gear theft (or any kind of crime) than any major city. Definitely less than US cities.
posted by loiseau at 11:28 PM on August 10, 2008