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Band in plea for help after equipment stolen

Jessica Beckett
2/ 4/2008

AN UP-and-coming Oldham band have been left devastated after musical equipment worth thousands of pounds was stolen from their practice rooms

The 99s, who hail from Saddleworth, had up to £5,000 of instruments and equipment stolen in the burglary at Woodend Mill, Manchester Road, Mossley.

The theft took place on March 5 between 2am and 2.30am. Among the instruments stolen was a rare plum-coloured Gibson SG guitar with a black scratch plate worth about £1,500, a 1982 red Fender Bullet with a white scratch plate, valued at £800 and a Mapex drum-kit and stand worth about £750.

Bass guitarist James Loughlin said: "It is particularly sad because a lot of the equipment was also of sentimental value.

"I had a guitar stolen which my girlfriend bought for me and the Gibson guitar, which we believe was only made for one year, was a gift from Johnny’s parents when he passed his GCSEs."

Among the other items taken were an Ashdown Engineering electric blue bass amp, a recording desk and various leads.

"We are completely gutted, everything you could ever need to be in a band has been stolen," added James.

Lifelong friends Johnny West, Adam Quigley and James Loughlin have already enjoyed some high-profile gigs – including headlining at Night and Day in Manchester – and have attracted inquiries from several record labels.

"We practise every day and thanks to some fantastic friends who have lent us equipment we have been able to continue gigging," said James.

Despite all having day jobs – James is employed as a landscape gardener, drummer Adam repairs cars while John works at Dawson’s musical instruments shop in Manchester – the boys have written dozens of songs.

Police are now appealing to anyone who is offered the stolen items or who may have information about the burglary to contact Ashton Police on 0161 856 9260 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For a full list of the items stolen visit the bands blog at www.myspace.com/the99smusic.