Paul McCartney’s Stolen Bass Guitar Has Been Returned 50 Years Later After Beatles Fans Organized a Search

Thanks to “Help!” devoted Beatles fans, Paul McCartney is reunited with his bass guitar that was stolen decades ago.

On Wednesday, an official statement was released on the music legend’s website announcing that his iconic Höfner electric bass guitar — stolen more than 50 years ago — has been found and returned to his ownership.

The news comes months after a team of fans launched The Lost Bass Project in an attempt to track down the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass, which has been called one of the “most important bass guitars in history.” and was lost sometime after 1969.

“Following the launch of the Lost Bass project last year, Paul’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen in 1972, has been returned,” said a statement posted on McCartney’s website. “Höfner authenticated the guitar and Paul is incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”

Paul McCartney, holding a 1961 Höfner, and John Lennon.

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According to a statement on the Project Lost Pass website, the instrument was found with its original case and will be playable again after minor repairs.

The group – led by former Höfner GmbH marketing manager Nick Wass, ex-BBC journalist Scott Jones and television producer Naomi Jones – also explained how they found the bass after receiving “over 100 leads” last year.

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They shared that it was a “breakthrough [they] needed” came when they received a tip that Höfner had been stolen from a van in London in October 1972. Devout fans then learned that the thief had sold it to the owner of the Admiral Blake pub in London and gone from there.

John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr from the Beatles.

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“We suspected that Lost Bass had likely remained in the same family ever since,” the group wrote.

The Lost Bass Project also shared a statement about how thrilled they are with the success of the project. “We are extremely proud to have played a major role in the invention of Lost Bass. Since 2018, it has been a dream to be able to do this. Despite many telling us it was lost or destroyed forever, we persevered until it was returned to where it belonged,” they wrote.

“We want to thank everyone who helped in the search, all those who sent us clues and ideas and many who just wanted to support us,” the statement continued. “Thank you all very much. Very much! We did it!”

Paul McCartney. Pierre Suu/Getty Looking back on the Beatles’ performance as stars of Ed Sullivan’s 60th anniversary

It was no easy task to track down the iconic bass that belonged to the Beatles’ lead singer, 81, as he had not been seen with it since late January 1969, when the Fab Four were in London recording To return and Let it be sessions.

The Höfner had an amazing history when it was in the hands of its original owner. Not only can it be heard in songs like “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You,” “Twist and Shout,” and even early Abbey Road recordings, dating back to the time when the Beatles played in Great Britain back in 1961.

When members of The Lost Bass Project first united and announced their movement last year, they shared that their sole intention was to “put bass back where it once belonged.” The devoted follower added: “Paul McCartney has given us so much over the last 62 years. The Lost Bass project is our chance to give something back.”

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Source: HIS Education