A touring British rock band, Sports Team, was robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight in Vallejo, California before they had even played a single note. The band had parked their tour bus at a Starbucks the morning after landing in San Francisco. The assailant casually approached the vehicle, smashed a window, and pulled a gun on the tour manager. The crime was filmed by another band member from inside the coffee house, showing terrified witnesses running for cover as passports, stage equipment, and personal belongings were stolen. The reaction to the event shocked frontman Alex Rice, who noted the resignation of bystanders as if this type of incident was normal.
Rice expressed surprise at the calm reaction to the robbery, with witnesses seeming resigned to such occurrences. Despite the presence of a gun, people did not panic and instead took cover without much alarm. The lack of police response to the scene added to the surreal nature of the situation. Drummer Al Greenwood recalled the tense moments leading up to the robbery, with the tour manager hesitating to react out of disbelief. The incident occurred so quickly into their tour that the band had not even played a note yet, leaving them stunned by the brazen theft.
The musicians were inside the Starbucks eating breakfast when the robbery took place, adding to the shock of the situation. Despite the traumatic experience, Sports Team are determined to continue their tour and promote their upcoming album, Boys These Days. The band’s instruments were fortunately not taken, as they were stored in a separate locked area at the back of the van. The robbery was a harrowing experience for the group, but they remain committed to their music and tour despite the frightening ordeal. The band’s determination to persevere in the face of adversity is a testament to their passion for music and dedication to their craft.
The shocking footage of the robbery captures a hooded man casually approaching the tour bus before smashing a window and brandishing a gun at the tour manager. The band member filming the incident from inside the coffee house can be seen cowering behind a car before seeking refuge inside the Starbucks. Terrified witnesses run for cover as the robber steals passports, stage equipment, and personal belongings from the band. The lack of police response to the scene underscores the normalization of such crimes in the area, leaving the band members in disbelief at the calm reaction of bystanders.
Despite the traumatic experience, Sports Team are determined to persevere and continue their tour, undeterred by the robbery. The incident occurred shortly after their arrival in the US, leaving them shaken but resolute in their commitment to their music. The band’s instruments were spared from the theft, providing a silver lining amidst the harrowing ordeal. The brazen nature of the robbery and the lack of police intervention highlight the prevalence of crime in the area, prompting reflection on the resignation of bystanders in the face of such incidents. Sports Team’s resilience in the face of adversity serves as an inspiration to continue pursuing their passion for music despite the challenges they have faced on their tour.
