Matthew S Williams (Hell)
SPB: Are more touring bands being robbed these days or is it just better publicized? Do you do anything special to try and prevent it from happening to you?
Williams: There may just be more opportunity for the thieves to take. There are a lot more touring bands on the road than there used to be. Bands are saving up and barely able to afford their van, which is usually old and beat up with lots of cracked windows and faulty locks.
When we were planning our first U.S. tour I had to buy a rig. I chose to get an early 2000’ Ford E-250 panel van. It was hell in there during the long drives across the plains of the U.S. in July, but we never got robbed. Maybe it was the lack of metal stickers all over the back, preserving a solemn appearance. Maybe it was the fact we drank and hung out in it all the time guarding our shit, or just not being able to see what was in there. Who knows.
Bands need to be more aware of their surroundings if they are worried about being robbed don’t park on sketchy streets. And if you do, leave someone in the van. When you get to your gig, take ALL of your stuff out of the van along with the gear. We had to do that a few times. It sucked but it could have prevented some bullshit.
