As Oasis wraps up their Live ‘25 Tour, The Insurance Emporium uncovers some of music’s most infamous lost, stolen and accidentally damaged instruments and reveals how much musicians really insure their gear for.
Oasis fans celebrated one of the most anticipated reunions in music history this year, yet new analysis by music insurance specialists, The Insurance Emporium takes a look at the true cost of rock’n’roll – from some of the world’s most famous lost, stolen, and accidentally damaged instruments to the everyday value of gear musicians protect today.
From Sir Paul McCartney’s once-missing Höfner bass to George Harrison’s stolen Les Paul “Lucy”, and the Green Day album that vanished before it was finished, music’s history of misplaced masterpieces continues to make headlines.
While legendary instruments may be worth millions, analysis of policy data from The Insurance Emporium* shows that most UK musicians are protecting far more modest, but still significant, sums:
- 47.1% of customers insure between £1,000–£4,999 worth of equipment.
- 27.6% insure between £5,000–£9,999.
- 15.1% insure between £10,000–£19,999.
A previous study also revealed that 24% of musicians have had their gear stolen, highlighting the fact that it doesn’t matter if you’re playing a stadium or your local pub, the risk is very real.
Francis Martin, CEO at The Insurance Emporium commented: “Being in a band can be an exhilarating experience. Playing your favourite songs to a captivated audience is a feeling like no other. However, it’s times like this where people can let their guard down and opportunist thieves might take advantage while you’re still in a euphoric state.
A couple of tips that might build good habits to avoid music gear theft includes keeping your keys in the same pocket. It may sound simple, but it could mean you secure your gear away a lot quicker than fumbling around to find them each time. Avoid depending on someone else to watch your stuff and don’t get distracted until your equipment is secured.”
