My Guitar, My Past: A Man's Search for His Vox
Reunited: Chris Butler with the object of his search. Christine Mass hide caption
In 1981, the New-Wave band the Waitresses recorded the song "Christmas Wrapping." On the song, band leader Chris Butler played a baby-blue Vox electric guitar.
After the Waitresses disbanded, Butler sold all his gear -- including the guitar -- in 1987. The Vox brand was especially popular, having been the foundation for music by the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and other British Invasion bands.
But some years later, Butler kept thinking about the guitar. The effort to track it down and reclaim it led Butler to embark on a trans-Atlantic journey. Finally, he learned that the Belgian woman who bought it was ready to sell it -- but only to someone who would appreciate it.