It always sucks when we have to write about bands who’ve had their vans or studios broken into and their gear stolen. Of course, it sucks even more for the band, who’ve now been robbed of often irreplaceable items and even their livelihoods.
That said, it really sucks when you get ripped off and it leaves you stranded in an entirely different country. This was the situation that Victorian rockers Dream On Dreamer found themselves in during their European tour earlier this month.
In a message addressed to “friends and fans”, the band described how their tour van was broken into before a show in Milan. “We lost passports, electronics and loads of personal belongings,” the band wrote on Facebook.
“I’m sure you can imagine our devastation having to let others down because of the actions of a few selfish people. Missing out on shows and being unable to cross borders for connecting flights home is the last thing that we would ever want to be facing, but unfortunately it is the position we are now in.”
Desperate and in the midst of the worst situation an expat band can find themselves in, the guys launched a crowdfunding campaign in the hopes of raising $8,000 to acquire replacement passports and continue their tour.
Fans of the self-managed band quickly rallied and raised $7,861, allowing the band to get the replacement passports and continue the tour. However, they were forced to cancel three shows and were stuck in Milan for three nights.
“We are incredibly overwhelmed and speechless at the support you have all shown us already,” they told fans on Facebook. “To anyone that has donated, shared the campaign or even provided words of support, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
