We encourage bands on tour overseas to forget about rockin' for little while and take in their surroundings. However, we don't advise said bands to leave their gear in the van while they're sightseeing. Maybe it would have been better to offer such words of wisdom last week -- before the dudes in Pelican had everything they owned stolen from a van in Italy.
The bandmembers found themselves with a half hour to spare before they had to head to their venue in Rome, so they parked the van and spent 20 glorious minutes walking around the Coliseum. When they returned, they discovered they had been robbed on a major street in broad daylight. (click "more" to read about the robbery, hear Pelican's plea for help and watch a couple of the group's cool videos.
The band lost four bags filled with computers, passports, wallets, iPods and their sound man's microphone collection. Worse, Pelican lost a number of personal journals and two portable recording devices containing hours of irreplaceable song ideas.
"The calculated loss of this theft is several thousands dollars," said the group in a statement. "Unfortunately, our band only earns us a very meager living and some of us are already in the hole from years of trying to make a living as musicians. This incident therefore poses a devastating loss and puts us in a very compromised financial position."
To help cover their losses, Pelican are asking fans with donations to a Paypal account at pelicanrobbed@gmail.com. "Although we realize that there is a worldwide financial crisis going on, if there are those of you who have the means and desire to help out our gratitude would run deeper than words could express," they said. "Anything you can offer, even simple condolences, would go a long way."
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