Ukrainian blackened death metal band 1914 have spoken out after an incident involving Italian authorities left them fined and frustrated, despite what they described as an otherwise successful first show in the country.
The band shared a statement on social media detailing what happened as they were leaving Italy following the performance. According to 1914, they were stopped by the country’s financial police and subjected to a thorough inspection, which ultimately led to a fine connected to funds they had been collecting during their tour.
Those funds, the band explained, consisted of cash donations intended to support the Ukrainian army—something they have been actively raising throughout their live dates. However, the situation escalated when authorities took issue with how the money was being transported.
Below is the band’s full statement: “Despite the fact that our first show in Italy yesterday was great and full of wonderful moments and meetings, we ended up in a very unpleasant situation.
“On our way out of Italy, we were stopped by the financial police (no, no, it had nothing to do with our Ukrainian license plates) and checked as if we were some kind of criminal elite.
“We were carrying cash donations for the army – funds we collect during the tour. And this didn’t sit well with the officers, because the cash was kept together in one box.
“Even though we did not exceed the declaration limits per person and did not break any laws, the Italian Guardia di Finanza saw it differently and fined both us and the donation funds.
“This is the first time we’ve ever encountered something like this. We explained what the money was for and what we were doing – it didn’t matter. We called a lawyer, but that didn’t help much either. Even explaining that this money was meant for drones, medical supplies, or a vehicle made no difference.
“We hope that the €4,800 taken from us by the Guardia di Finanza will help them continue their work confidently and feel satisfied. But i want you to know – your people completely f’cing wrong.
“Thank you to everyone in Italy who supported us, helped us, and donated.
“See you on October!”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.