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[Updated] Heavy metal musician's stolen vest ends up in Ralph Lauren display

A heavy metal musician had his one-of-a-kind denim vest stolen from a show three years ago. Now, it's mysteriously shown up in a Ralph Lauren window display at Macy's department store in New York City.
CBC Radio ·
Meshach "Attack" Babcock lost his favourite personalized vest three years ago. But now, it has mysteriously appeared in a window display at a New York City Macy's department store. (Facebook)
As It Happens6:38Heavy metal musician's stolen vest ends up in department store display

Update (02/19/16): Meshach Babcock got his vest back! He even received a package from Macy's along with a gift card for Ralph Lauren. A metalhead like Babcock seems like just the guy to wear Ralph Lauren, right? Check it out here.

He had a vested interest in finding out the truth. But Meshach Babcock had all but given up.

For three years, the Portland heavy metal musician wondered where on earth his one-of-a-kind denim vest could be, after it was stolen from a gig.

But now, out of the blue, he finally got the call — someone found his vest — and in the most unlikely place.

"It's in New York, at Harold's Square, in Macy's of all places," Babcock tells As It Happens host Carol Off. "They've been using it as a display but I still have no idea how it ended up there."

This 2013 photo shows Babcock in his beloved vest. (Facebook)

The vest is reportedly framed in a glass display for Ralph Lauren. Babcock says his drummer, Sergio, called him after he spotted a photo of the unmistakable vest in a Facebook group.

"He took a double take and he's like 'oh my god, that's Meshach's vest,'" Babcock explains. "I started jumping up and down and screaming because I couldn't believe it."

Babcock says the vest is impossible to replicate. It is lovingly adorned with hand-sewn patches of some of his favourite bands: Judas Priest, Scorpions and Misfits. On the back of the vest there's a Ronnie James Dio patch, which Babcock says is particularly rare.

"It's a picture of a barbarian holding up a severed head and it's all really cool bright neon coloured," Babcock explains. "I put all the patches on myself so even before seeing the picture I could remember every single band that was on there beforehand."

Meshach Babcock, second from the right, wearing his one-of-a-kind vest. (Brady Walsh Photography/Facebook)

The vest was stolen after Babcock played a Battle of the Bands night at a local Portland high school. He remembers asking the staff, checking the lost and found and even rooting through the school garbage looking for it.

"I was pretty much just trying to entertain all possibilities at that point because I was devastated," Babcock recalls.

Babcock says the priceless vest probably dates back to the 60s. It passed between hands before it got to him but Babcock was told it first belonged to one of his friend's grandfather — who wore the vest as a biker.

It's got to be somewhat of a crazy story to go from coast to coast.- Meshach Babcock

Babcock is waiting to hear back from the Macy's and Ralph Lauren representatives who are trying to authenticate the vest. If all goes well, once the vest is returned, Babcock says he plans to celebrate with a reunion show and a vest-only sky-diving stunt.  

"The plan was to go sky-diving naked but I think I might try to wear some underwear at least!"

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