British indie rock band's morning coffee run turned into a terrifying ordeal during their American tour.
According to Fox News, UK band Sports Team encountered armed robbers who held them at gunpoint and ransacked their tour van at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, on Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred just "10 minutes into" their US tour when the band members were alerted by a bystander about suspicious activity around their vehicle. When they rushed outside to investigate, they found masked individuals going through their belongings, and the situation quickly escalated when the perpetrators brandished a firearm.
The band's determination to continue their tour remained unwavering despite the traumatic experience. They proceeded with their scheduled performance in Sacramento, maintaining their spirits even after losing valuable personal belongings. The robbers managed to steal laptops, in-ear monitors, cameras, and other personal items but, fortunately, couldn't access the instruments stored in the fortified rear section of the van.
The local authorities' response to the incident left the band particularly dismayed. When they reported the armed robbery, they were instructed to submit an online report highlighting what appears to be a concerning norm in the area. The band shared their thoughts on social media, expressing their shock at the seemingly casual response to such a serious crime.
Sports Team's frontman Alex Rice expressed their perspective on the incident through their Instagram post:
In all seriousness pretty shocking how resigned everyone seemed to be to it. 'It happens'. 9am at some petrol station Starbucks. Wild.
The robbery has created additional complications for the group, particularly regarding international travel. Three of the six band members lost their passports during the incident, creating urgent concerns about their ability to return home for the Christmas season. The situation has forced them to make immediate arrangements with the consulate to address this pressing issue.
Despite these challenges, the band has received considerable support from their San Francisco network. Rice acknowledged their fortunate position in being able to continue their tour, which promotes their upcoming album "Boys These Days."
He maintained an optimistic outlook, noting that while the situation was unfortunate, they were lucky to have saved their instruments.
The band's previous experience with instrument theft has perhaps helped them maintain perspective on this incident. Rice shared their sentiments with Sky News:
We're really lucky in that we're able to do that. We've got a lot of friends in San Francisco. People have been incredibly supportive. It's a terrible thing to have happened, but we're lucky not to have had our actual instruments taken — which has happened to us in the past.
Sports Team, consisting of Rob Knaggs, Oli Dewdney, Al Greenwood, Alex Rice, Henry Young, and Ben Mack, faced this unexpected challenge during their promotional tour for "Boys These Days." The incident occurred at approximately 9 AM at a gas station Starbucks in Vallejo, California, when masked individuals targeted their tour van.
Despite the robbery and the loss of personal belongings, including three members' passports, the band has chosen to continue their US tour schedule. They are actively working with the British consulate to resolve their documentation issues while maintaining their performance commitments, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
The Vallejo Police Department has been contacted for additional information regarding the incident, as the band proceeds with their tour dates across the United States, refusing to let this frightening experience derail their musical journey or dampen their spirits.
