Paul McCartney recovers treasured piece of his past that was stolen in 1972

NBC News reports that legendary musician Paul McCartney has been reunited with his four-stringed violin-shaped Höfner 500/1 bass guitar, which was stolen from a van in 1972.

The instrument was a vital component of The Beatles' image in the 1960s. According to McCartney's website, he recovered the coveted bass guitar due to the Lost Bass Project campaign launched in 2018. Höfner and McCartney have authenticated that this is the original guitar purchased by McCartney.

Purchased in 1961 in Hamburg for 30 pounds (around $37), the bass was McCartney's first and became a staple in Beatles image and songs, including "Love Me Do," "Twist and Shout," "All My Loving," "She Loves You," and many other hits by the band. It would become his backup instrument in 1963, but he retained it even after the band broke up in 1969. Then, in October 1972, the guitar was stolen, and McCartney believed he would never see it again.

Due to the diligence of the Lost Bass Project, the instrument would be discovered, in its original case, in Hastings on the south coast of England.

"We are extremely proud that we played a major part in finding the Lost Bass. It has been a dream since 2018 that it could be done."

The Lost Bass Project

The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show

On this day in 1964, The Beatles made their second live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, one week after their first. The short clip below features McCartney and his treasured bass during this performance. They performed in front of 3,500 attendees at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. The set list included "She Loves You," "This Boy," "All My Loving," "I Saw Her Standing There," "From Me to You," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand."