A heavy metal band say they won’t be silenced even though a van containing almost all of their equipment was stolen from outside the guitarist’s home.

The Comet: The drum kit belonging to the band Outright ResistanceThe drum kit belonging to the band Outright Resistance (Image: Archant)

Stevenage-based rockers Outright Resistance were getting some sleep after recording a music video, with guitarist Joe Jacobs’ van parked on his Knebworth driveway – but when he woke the next morning he found the whole rig had vanished.

Police say the white Ford Transit van was taken between 9.30pm on Sunday and 5.30am on Monday. The equipment inside, worth an estimated £5,000, includes two Fender Strat electric guitars, an ESP Ltd Horizon electric guitar, two Ibanez electric guitars, an orange cabinet amp, an Engl Amp and a Peavey 6505 amp.

Band member and fellow guitarist Michael Worsley, 29, who lives in Stevenage, has called on the crooks to return the kit so the band can carry on gigging.

He said: “We work really really hard to keep ourselves going and for this to happen is just a massive kick in the teeth.

The Comet: The guitars belonging to the band Outright Resistance which were stolen last nightThe guitars belonging to the band Outright Resistance which were stolen last night (Image: Archant)

“We had spent all day shooting a music video – partly in Stevenage – and the van was parked right outside Joe’s house.

“The van was also Joe’s livelihood, as he used it to run his private courier business.

“He’s in bits. He’s got no way of making money now.

“I would say to whoever took it, just give it back. What can they have gained out of it? As soon as people see the equipment they are going to realise it is ours.”

But he said whatever happens, there’s no way the band will let it stop them gigging and recording – they have a new EP out this summer, have recently toured the UK and are planning a tour of Ireland in June.

He said: “We’re not going to let it stop us, we have worked far too hard to get to where we are now to give up.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting crime reference G1/16/1130. For more on the band go to www.facebook.com/OutrightResistanceBand.