Stone Foxes’ Gear, Van Stolen; Agent Says 'That’s A First For Me'

San Francisco-based rock band The Stone Foxes was forced to rent a tour van after its gear (and van) were stolen at a hotel in Texas between shows.

Among the gear taken when the van was stolen outside a La Quinta Inn were a 1979 Gibson es-335, 1972 SG, Fender Vibrolux Reverb amplifier, Telecaster guitar as well as effects pedals, drum gear and road cases.

However, that couldn’t break the band’s spirit, as it rented a van and gear and continued on tour.

“Our gear might still be missing and we might not have a van or a trailer…but damn it, we’re pressing on! We’re rollin in a rental and the tour reboots tomorrow at the Levitt Shell in Memphis!!,” the band posted online. “AND, our new single featuring these awesome young artists from the Oakland School Of The Arts Choir comes out tomorrow! Bring it world, we got the best fans on the planet, we can take it!”

The group, which has opened for artists including Trombone Shorty, Cage The Elephant and The Black Keys, has dates in the South and East Coast through the end of June including a stop at the Mountain Jam Festival June 15-17 at Hunter Mountain, N.Y, which includes a 12:30 am slot by George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic before the iconic funk allstar retires. The Stone Foxes also have dates in July and August on the West Coast.

The band is booked by Paradigm’s Michael Morris, who told Pollstar: “It’s obviously an unfortunate situation for a band like The Stone Foxes who rely on touring for a significant portion of their livelihood to be forced to sustain such a loss. Not to mention some of the gear is simply irreplaceable. But at the same time it has been encouraging to see the amount of good will (both in spirit and financially) they’ve received from their fans and the greater public.”

Gear theft is not unheard of on the road, but sometimes the goods turn up. E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren earlier this year lost valuable guitars but was reunited when someone called police after realizing he purchased stolen equipment.

Dinosaur Jr. shredder and frontman J. Mascis has multiple times seen awesome axes disappear on the road.

Jason Moore – The Stone Foxes
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.

In February Portugal. The Man’s bus wasn’t stolen but actually caught fire, with the band taking the situation in stride.

Morris added that theft is not exactly new for him either.

“Unfortunately, yes I have had similar situations before,” he said. “In January 2016 Liz Vice’s rental vehicle was broken into in San Francisco and her gear was stolen which included passports just prior to Canadian dates. And a few months later in July 2016 New Breed Brass Band’s rental vehicle was broken into in Albany, OR., and their instruments were stolen. But this is the first time with The Stone Foxes any of my clients have had their entire vehicle + trailer + gear stolen – that’s a first for me.’