Dr Feelgood lose instruments and gear in van theft

Phil Mitchell said a bass guitar he bought aged 17 was among the items stolen

Rock band Dr Feelgood have been left without instruments and equipment after their van was stolen a week before an upcoming tour.

Bassist Phil Mitchell, 71, said items taken included a bass guitar he had bought when he was 17.

The theft took place outside his home in Hockley, Essex, between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

"We have a tour of Germany booked starting next week so you can imagine the chaos it is causing us," he said.

Dr Feelgood's original line-up was (from left to right) guitarist Wilko Johnson, drummer John "The Big Figure" Martin, bassist John B Sparks and singer Lee Brilleaux

The Mercedes Sprinter van, which the band had been using for the past 10 years, contained a drum kit, amplifiers and four guitars.

Mitchell said the estimated value of the stolen equipment was between £10,000 and £12,000.

"We had invested a lot of money into it and it had been kitted out for touring with comfortable seats and electricity inside - it even has a fridge in it," he said.

Now they will have to hire a tour bus and equipment to replace the stolen items.

Essex Police said the total estimated loss was £70,000, when factoring in the value of the instruments and the van, including the work carried out on the vehicle.

The force said officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries and investigating CCTV footage.

Mitchell said he had had a tour van parked on his drive for the past 40 years, adding: "The van was our storeroom."

Once dubbed "Britain's best live band", Dr Feelgood were formed on Canvey Island, Essex, in 1971 and paved the way for punk with their high-energy stage performances and stripped-down style of rhythm and blues.

The band's original singer Lee Brilleaux died in 1994 and legendary guitarist Wilko Johnson died in 2022.

They have had numerous line-up changes over the years and now consist of Mitchell, Kevin Morris, Robert Kane and Gordon Russell.

Police officers have asked anyone with information to contact them.