T'Pau 'gutted' as gear stolen en route to gig

Carol Decker was due to perform with T'Pau in Hitchin on Friday evening

The lead singer of T'Pau said she was "disgusted" and "really disappointed" after equipment belonging to the band was stolen en route to a gig.

The group were due to play at Club 85 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, on Friday evening, but were forced to postpone after one member was robbed at a service station.

Carol Decker told the BBC her colleague Pete Faint had stopped briefly at South Mimms on the M25 and locked the car, but realised his kit had gone as he was about to leave.

"They took his suitcase, laptop, keyboards, back-up – he's lost everything," she said.

T'Pau formed in Shrewsbury in 1986 and have released five albums. Their biggest single was China in Your Hand, which reached number one in 1987.

Speaking of the theft, Decker said: "He was literally five to seven minutes. It happened so quickly, we are wondering if there are gangs there waiting to chance their arm.

"I'm gutted for the crowd, really gutted for Pete, and sick to our stomach that there are people out there doing this."

Hertfordshire Police was contacted for comment.

Club 85 in Hitchin said all tickets for T'Pau would remain valid for a new date

Decker added: "We had tonnes of guests as I have a lot of family in Stevenage."

The group tried "desperately" to find replacement equipment and a keyboard player, "but it's such a busy night, we couldn't get anyone booked".

"He is insured, but a lot of Pete's stuff is specialist: foot pedals, complicated kit, etc," Decker said.

"He's got all those 80s iconic sounds stored in the cloud – it's impacted three shows for him."

Decker said the band's agents were already liaising about dates to reschedule the concert.

Club 85 posted on social media to say: "All tickets will remain valid for a new date, which will be announced as soon as possible.

"See Tickets will be in touch with all ticket holders shortly."

The previously under-threat grassroots music venue, which has hosted more than 10,000 artists including James Bay and Enter Shikari, recently announced it was able to stay open, following a two-year campaign.