Nine Iconic Vintage Guitars Stolen from Music Legend Joe Camilleri’s Home
The Australian music scene has been rocked by the theft of a priceless guitar collection belonging to Joe Camilleri, frontman of The Black Sorrows and one of the country’s most celebrated musical artists.
Camilleri’s Kyneton home in regional Victoria was burgled last Thursday night, July 3, while he was away on tour. According to Victoria Police, the offenders forced entry around 10:30pm and made off with not just irreplaceable guitars, but also personal documents, Apple computers, and other household items.
Among the stolen gear is a breathtaking collection of nine vintage guitars—each one an icon in its own right:
1954 Gibson Switchmaster – A rare triple-pickup archtop known for its warm, jazz-inflected tone and beautifully aged sunburst finish.
1956 Gibson L5 – The gold standard of archtop jazz guitars, this model features carved spruce top, ornate fret inlays, and unparalleled craftsmanship.
1960 Gibson 330 – A hollowbody classic with P-90 pickups, beloved for its bright, airy tone and sleek double-cutaway design.
1964 National Map Guitar (black) – An eye-catching Americana relic shaped like the U.S. map, this Valco-built guitar pairs retro styling with raw blues tone.
1967 Gibson Les Paul (cherry top) – A rock ‘n’ roll legend with a striking cherry red finish, dual humbuckers, and sustain that made history.
1975 Fender Stratocaster – A vintage-era workhorse with the unmistakable contoured body, three single-coil pickups, and signature Strat tone.
1990s Gibson J-200 – The “King of the Flat-Tops,” this jumbo acoustic is known for its booming resonance and ornate mustache bridge.
1990s Gretsch Rock Jet (black) – A sleek, modern take on Gretsch’s classic Jet series, with Filter’Tron pickups and stylish black gloss finish.
2010 Map Guitar Airline Reissue – A faithful modern replica of the 1960s original, this fiberglass-bodied guitar delivers punchy retro tone and undeniable stage presence.
These are not just guitars. They’re part of Joe’s creative DNA. Instruments like the 1956 L5 and the ’67 cherry-top Les Paul are rare collector’s pieces with a sound and feel you just can’t replicate. They were his working tools and companions onstage and in the studio.
The guitars—worth hundreds of thousands collectively—are well documented, with serial numbers already provided to police. That makes them extremely difficult to offload through legitimate resale channels.
Police are asking the public, particularly music stores, vintage guitar dealers, and online marketplaces, to be on high alert for anyone attempting to sell these instruments.
If you see or hear anything suspicious, you are urged to contact:
- Kyneton Police on (03) 5421 2900
- Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Advertisement:
The Macedon Ranges Crime Investigation Unit is leading the investigation. Police are reviewing nearby CCTV footage and calling on anyone with dashcam footage from the Mitchell Street area around 10:30pm on July 3 to come forward.
Meanwhile, the music community has rallied around Camilleri, who is currently touring with The Black Sorrows. Their upcoming gigs are still scheduled to go ahead, including appearances in Melbourne, Sydney, and regional NSW. (Tour dates here: theblacksorrows.com.au/gigs)
Camilleri, a prolific songwriter and performer, has fronted numerous iconic Australian bands including Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, The Revelators, and The Black Sorrows. His blend of blues, soul, and rock has made him a household name and earned him induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Joe Camilleri is one of Australia’s most prolific and enduring songwriters, and many of his biggest hits were likely written, demoed, or performed using the very guitars stolen from his Kyneton home. While Joe has played countless guitars over his decades-long career, some standout tracks associated with the era and style of these instruments include:
“Chained to the Wheel” – The Black Sorrows (1988)
A soulful, blues-driven anthem that became one of The Black Sorrows’ biggest hits. Joe’s 1954 Gibson Switchmaster or his 1960 Gibson 330 would have been perfect tools for shaping its vintage R&B tone.
“Harley and Rose” – The Black Sorrows (1990)
This ballad about love and memory is among his most beloved compositions. The smooth archtop stylings of his 1956 Gibson L5 or the J-200 acoustic would have been fitting companions for its emotive songwriting.
“The Chosen Ones” – The Black Sorrows (1988)
With its rich, rootsy arrangement and uplifting message, this song showcases the kind of full-band groove where the Gretsch Rock Jet or Fender Stratocaster may well have helped shape the sound during live sessions or studio work.
“Hold On to Me” – The Black Sorrows (1988)
Another top track from the Hold On to Me album, blending soul, rock, and gospel influences. The Les Paul cherry top or Airline reissue could easily have provided those deeper, sustaining tones in live or electric arrangements.
“Hit and Run” – Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons (1979)
This high-energy classic came out earlier in Joe’s career, but a guitar like the 1975 Fender Stratocaster would’ve been right at home delivering its punchy licks and swagger.
While specific guitars tied to each recording may not be documented down to the serial number, Joe’s sound has always been shaped by a deep love for blues, R&B, and roots rock—genres that live and breathe through vintage instruments like these. They weren’t just part of the studio toolkit—they were part of the story.
The guitars will turn up. They’re too hot not to. But whoever took them didn’t just steal instruments—they robbed a bit of Aussie music history.
Wilbur Wilde weighs in
Not surprisingly, the Australian music industry is rallying behind Joe Camilleri. Here’s a pôst from Wilbur Wilde
| To the dumb punks who stole Camilleri’s guitars, Here’s why you’re dumb. Joey C has too many mates. Which means, any one to whom you try to sell the guitars will know they’re Joe’s. Any collector or person who knows enough about guitars to pay anywhere near their market value will know that they’re Joe’s. And even if that person is unscrupulous enough to consider taking them off your dumb hands they won’t because if anyone finds out they have them, the cops will, and they’ll have to give them back and then go to jail. It takes just one person to hear about a rare and precious Gibson, Fender, Gretch whatever and news spreads fast in collector-land. Joe has lots of mates. If you take them overseas, same, one person. If this dumb violation of decency has been a ‘request’ from someone who knows their value, that ain’t gonna fly either because they’ll eventually show them to ‘someone’ and it’s over. No refunds. Criminal charges (reduced if sources are revealed). No more guitars. Forty-eight years ago, in Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons we used to joke with Joey about a game called ‘Maltese Monopoly’. The rules were simple; there were only two squares; GO and JAIL. Every time you passed GO you collected two hundred dollars, but you had to pay that to get out of JAIL. Welcome to that world punks. Leave ‘em in a safe place, make an anonymous phone-call. |
Related stories
A short history of Icehouse ° Where is Iva Davies now?
Vicky O’Keefe presents ‘The Wild One’ Johnny O’Keefe Story
Where is Australian legendary guitarist Randall Waller now? Album review “More”
Down Under Rhythms: The Men at Work Saga
Where is Angry Anderson & Rose Tattoo now
Ringside: from the man behind superstars Cold Chisel
You might also like Jesus Christ Superstar Australian Cast – Theatre Photography
Moonwalk to Immortality: The Michael Jackson Story
Down Under Rhythms: The Men at Work Saga
Advertisement:
