British Band Sports Team Robbed at Gunpoint on First Day of U.S. Tour
The British indie band Sports Team’s American tour got off to a chaotic and disheartening start as they were robbed at gunpoint in Vallejo, California, just hours after arriving in the country.
The band, known for their energetic riffs and dry humor, lost everything from vital stage equipment to personal belongings, including passports and suitcases full of clothes.
"Obviously, if someone pulls a gun, you run for cover," frontman Alex Rice said, recounting the terrifying experience. "But what struck me was the resigned reaction of those around us. It didn’t seem like a particularly unusual event."
The robbery unfolded before noon on a bright California morning. While grabbing breakfast at a Starbucks, a passerby alerted the band that their tour van was being plundered.
"Somebody opened the door and was like, does anybody have a white Sprinter van? Because you’re being robbed right now," drummer Al Greenwood recalled.
Chaos ensued as the band members raced towards their van, their tour manager, Lauren, leading the charge. She approached the van just as the thief brandished a firearm.
“So good thing Lauren was slightly ahead of me," Greenwood said. “Somebody else ran past us in the opposite direction, and said, ‘Careful, he’s holding something.’"
Pictures from the scene, shared by the band, show the thief making off with equipment from the open passenger side door.
"I really thought I was about to watch someone get shot," Greenwood said.
Despite the traumatic incident, the band didn’t want to let the situation derail their planned tour.
"We’re definitely not going to let this put us off," Greenwood insisted. "Ultimately, it really makes you reflect on things to be grateful for, both here and at home."
The incident, while unsettling, also underlines a difficult reality facing many in the Bay Area, as gun violence continues to plague communities. Sports Team, undeterred in their pursuit of musical adventure, plan to continue their tour, even returning to the Bay Area for a performance this weekend.
"We’re gonna keep playing," Rice vowed. "We’ve got nothing against the Bay Area. We think it’s great here – but it’s sad that it’s kind of got to this sort of place with gun violence."
[Image of robbed van](insert image url here)
"Obviously, if someone pulls a gun, you run for cover," frontman Alex Rice said, recounting the terrifying experience.
[Image of Sports Team](insert image url here)
