Roy Wood, the leader of the Move and a founding member of Electric Light Orchestra, has had to cancel his concert tonight (Dec. 13) after a truck containing his gear was stolen. Among the items inside were guitars that he's used throughout his entire career and a custom-built amplifier.

As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, where they have embedded the security footage, thieves climbed the gates surrounding Yorkshire Audio in Beeston, England, hotwired the truck and drove it through the gates. The truck and business belong to Bob Collinson, a sound engineer who has worked with Wood for many years.

"They have taken thousands of pounds' worth of sound equipment," his daughter Sharon told the paper. "The red Marshall stack amplifier is so distinctive - it's the only one of its kind in the world and they wouldn't be able to sell it. Some of the guitars were ones Roy's used for 50 years and he won't tour without them. He's devastated. It's my dad's whole business and entire life - if the insurers don't pay out then it will fold."

Sharon said that, with a few days between shows -- the previous one had been on Monday -- her father had looked to rest up at home and then head to Hull for tonight's concert. She hopes that the culprits will not be able to go far with the equipment.

"We have serial numbers for all the stolen items and they are just so rare - it would be really difficult for them to sell them on. One mixing deck is worth about £30,000 and the customized speaker is priceless. We think they might have been after the truck rather than the sound equipment and maybe just expected to find tools inside. We've contacted all music shops to alert them."

According to Wood's website, he had one more show after tonight, a Dec. 20 date in Sheffield, England.

 

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