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Musicians evicted from New West studio

Musicians were abruptly notified of their eviction from a New Westminster studio and jam spot Tuesday, because of the owners unknown financial circumstances.
Danny
Danny Jardão, packs up his equipment after being abruptly evicted from his band's rehearsal space at Diamond Sharp Studios.

Musicians were abruptly notified of their eviction from a New Westminster studio and jam spot Tuesday, because of the owners unknown financial circumstances.

Musicians received a Facebook message from a user named Styler Scott (Scott Thompson), the alleged operator of Diamond Sharp Studios, located at 431 Front St., telling them they had until noon, the next day (Wednesday) to get all their equipment out of the studio or it would become subject to the property and the locks would be changed.

“We’re just trying to get our gear out before the bailiff shows up. We'll be able to get our gear after that but we'll have to go through court or we have to prove that it's all ours, which really, I don’t have receipts for amps I bought 25 years ago,” said Rob Leishman a member of the Lower Mainland band Boy Breaking Glass.

Leishman has rented a rehearsal room for three years and stores roughly $60,000 worth of gear in it.

The studio is used a 24-hour recording studio while also allowing bands to rent out rooms to play in and store their equipment. Renters say they pay the operator, Thompson, monthly. Thompson leases the building, according to the renters, but they have no idea who owns the building.

Battery Mouth drummer Juan Carlile, has been renting space for more than 10 years. He has no no idea why the renters were evicted without notice. 

“If a bailiff is involved, I'm sure that money wasn't paid and if that is the case that is probably why we're in this situation,” Carlile said. 

According to the studio’s website, it came under new ownership two years ago.

“It's always been about the money. He's (Thompson) also being like 'You know guys I really gotta up your rent, I'm having a hard time paying it,' and I'm sure there's been a bunch of bands that have skipped out without paying,” said Danny Jardão who has only been renting for two months.

Thompson, operator of Diamond Sharp Studio, did not return the Record’s call for comment.