Red Hot Chili Peppers Confused With Metallica by Customs Officials

While on a tour around Europe, members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were stopped by the custom officials at an airport in Belarus. According to the band's bassist, Flea, the officials thought they were Metallica.

Rolling Stone reported that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were traveling from Kiev, Ukraine to Moscow, Russia for the last leg of their tour in Europe when they passed through Belarus on Saturday. Shortly after arriving at the Belarusian airport, they were invited inside the facility's customs' office.

Through his Instagram account, Flea noted that he and his bandmates were instantly greeted by the officials who also happen to be big music fans. However, instead of recognizing them as the artists behind the hits "Give it Away," "Under the Bridge" and "Californication," the customs officials actually thought that they were members of Metallica.

Flea and his bandmates, Anthony Kiedis, Josh Klinghoffer and Chad Smith, tried to explain that they are actually the Red Hot Chili Peppers but the officials still treated them as the members of the iconic metal band. They even handed out various Metallica memorabilia such as photos, album inserts and DVD covers for the band to sign.

Despite their explanation of who they are, the Red Hot Chili Peppers still agreed to give their autographs to the customs officials.

"We tried to explain to them that we weren't Metallica but they insisted that we sign anyway," Flea posted. "They had the power. Well I did play "Fight Fire with Fire" with Metallica once. I love Metallica anyways but I'm no Robert Trujillo."

The European leg of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' tour is part of the band's promotion for their latest album, The Getaway, Diffuser reported. They are also expected to perform live in Canada, Japan and South Korea this week. As for fans in the U.S., they will be able to see the band live on July 30 as a headliner at Lollapalooza. The event, which will be held from July 28 to 31 at the Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, will also feature various bands and artists from different genres such as Radiohead, Jane's Addiction, Martin Garrix, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding.

Tags

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Flea, Anthony Kiedis