Producer Tucker Martine’s Studio Robbed, GoFundMe Launched in His Name

Beloved producer Tucker Martine announced back in March that his new studio had been broken into, with over $70,000 worth of gear stolen. Martine is a prolific and respected producer who has worked with the likes of R.E.M., Modest Mouse, Sufjan Stevens, Spoon, Neko Case, She & Him, The Decemberists and Death Cab for Cutie; Paste even named him among the 10 best producers of the decade in 2009.

Now, The Decemberists’ bassist Nate Query has started a GoFundMe to replace the equipment Martine lost. The description of the campaign reads:

Last month, my friend Tucker Martine’s new recording studio was broken into and more than $70,000 worth of microphones, amps and guitars were stolen. Tucker spent years collecting these unique pieces of equipment, and the theft comes just as he was opening the newest version of Flora Recording in a building Tucker and his wife, singer-songwriter Laura Veirs, have gone deeply into debt to finish building out. It’s a huge setback just as this studio was getting off the ground. Currently the insurance company is trying to use a loophole to avoid helping with the loss. Tucker is trying everything possible to get them to honor his claim but the outcome is uncertain and will take a long time to unfold.

A beloved member of the music community for more than 25 years, Tucker makes records with bands big and small. He has worked for bands you have heard of and bands you haven’t. His love of music comes through in every record—he has even been nominated by his peers for more than one Grammy.

This GoFundMe campaign will help Tucker replace the critical gear to get the new studio properly up and running. This campaign is being run in conjunction with a Portland, Ore., benefit concert, also being organized by the greater music community. Details to be announced soon.

The campaign, launched Tuesday, has already raised over $17,000 of its $55,000 goal as of this writing. Meanwhile, Martine’s friends and colleagues from across the music industry have been expressing their support for the producer online. The campaign’s description cites Jim James of My Morning Jacket, who recently wrote, “Anyone who owns a small business knows how difficult it is to build it up and get it just right—so it is incredibly painful when someone comes along and takes away what you have worked so hard for so many years to build. Tucker is the best both as a person and a musical wonder. Let’s help him!”

Chicago band Whitney also expressed their support for Martine on Twitter, saying, “If you have anything to contribute you should know your $ is going towards something great.”

chances are you’ve heard something tuckers worked on. hand habits, sufjan, my morning jacket, etc. if you have anything to contribute you should know your $ is going towards something great https://t.co/LuL6r3Ri2V

— Whitney (@whitneytheband) April 10, 2019

In a brief update to the campaign posted shortly after it launched, Query announced that some of the stolen vintage guitars had been recovered from a guitar shop in Tacoma, Wash. The shop reportedly bought the instruments from the thieves before realizing they were stolen. The update says that part of the proceeds from the campaign will go towards repaying the store owner what he paid for them.

The more than $14,000 in donations already racked up by the campaign came from 221 donors in 23 hours, with musicians including Rosanne Cash, William Tyler, Jon Wurster and Blake Mills all making contributions. Martine’s wife Laura Veirs posted a comment on the campaign thanking donors for their generosity: “THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! This first day of the campaign has been unbelievable and deeply helpful to us. We love you and are blown away by your generosity, one and all!”

Check out the GoFundMe for Martine and his family here.