GurrumulLess than a week after it was reported that nearly $60,000 worth of music equipment had been stolen from NT indie label Skinnyfish Music's offices, police have recovered and returned the huge lot of gear, some owned by Gurrumul and Indigenous boy band B2M.
As NT News reports, the Strike Force Trident group arrested a 17-year-old, 19-year-old and 24-year-old after searching properties in Zuccoli and Driver and receiving a tip-off from a band member, who noticed equipment being sold in the area.
The gear stolen included Gurrumul's prized Martin HD-28 guitar, two basses, keyboards, laptops and a number of guitars and cases.
Speaking to The Music, Skinnyfish Music co-founder Michael Hohnen said, "They [the thieves] got interrupted, it looks like, either that or their van was full.
"It's hard to tell but there's a lot of stuff that didn't go missing. I've used these beautiful monitors I love that were in the hallway, there were bags left full of hard drives, other equipment that wasn't taken, some mics that were not taken..."
Hohnen praises the fast response of the police and the community in and around Darwin who have rallied behind the company and their musicians.
"I've felt like there's so much connection with community, offering us support. People ringing up, giving us instruments— one of our bands, B2M, have just gone off on a two-week tour of Taiwan and these people have been giving us some pretty beautiful instruments to take on the tour. It just has felt very, very supportive."
Hohnen was on the way to pick up the instruments as The Music spoke to him, and said that in the photos he'd seen of the haul, there was some gear he did not recognise.
"Who knows if this is isolated or part of stuff that's going on— I'm about to go pick up the gear now and I've seen photos of it. Whilst most of it is ours, there's some stuff I don't recognise so maybe it is more widespread, I'm not sure."
He says Gurrumul has been "cranky" about the theft, specifically because he's been "really struggling with his health", but says it was awesome to see that even renowned guitar company Martin rallied behind Gurrumul and offered their support.
"He'll just be glad it's back, he really loves that guitar and loves that relationship he has with Martin, and respects it," says Hohnen.
