Legendary Yes drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Alan White has had one of his most priceless drum kits stolen from him. NBC News' local affiliate King 5 spoke to the drummer's wife, Gigi White, who revealed that the thieves found personal documents that led them directly to White's Newcastle, Washington storage unit. The storage space housed White's iconic early-'70s drum kit he used on George Harrison's 1970 All Things Must Pass and John Lennon's 1971 Imagine albums — including the iconic title track, as well as Lennon's 1970 classic hit, “Instant Karma (We All Shine On).”
White's friend, the late-Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins, also once played the kit during a local charity event. Gigi explained, “We found out on Friday, on March 25th, that the kit was missing, and Taylor had passed. So we were, I guess, maybe numb. A little numb, shell shocked. (Taylor) was so loved. I don’t know a person who knew him who did not absolutely love and adore him including us.”
She went on to say: “I would love to get the kit back, of course, for Alan. I really don't care about anything else. It is part of his heart. I mean, that's his history. I still am hopeful that with so many people looking and watching and caring that we might get it back.”
Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call law enforcement. The King County Sheriff’s office non-emergency number is (206) 296-3311.
Alan White recalled his break of a lifetime in 1969 when he got the call to perform with John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival: “I was so young — I was only 20-years-old — so, basically I was going through a whirlwind of things all within 24 hours. From getting the phone call from John, a car picking me up and all of a sudden, I was at London airport, and he said, 'Oh, I forgot to tell you — Eric Clapton's playing guitar.' I went, 'Oh, wow (laughs).' Actually, it was all, pretty much over, before I realized what had gone down, y'know? It was one of those kinda things.”
