Controversy

Damiano David, Lead Singer of Italy’s Eurovision-Winning Band, Will Undergo Drug Test

A viral video of the rocker has roused suspicion.
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By Sander Koning/ANP/AFP/Netherlands Out/Getty Images

As the group Måneskin accepted their Eurovision trophy at this year's competition in Rotterdam, lead singer Damiano David gave a message to the world: rock 'n roll never dies!! As if he set out to prove that sentiment true, David is now dealing with a familiar rock 'n roll tradition, getting hassled by The Man.

After the heavily favored Italian pop-metal band took home the top prize with their track "Zitti E Buoni" on Saturday, the winning group was seated at a table, reveling in their victory. As other performers said nice things about the upbeat event, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and only existed as a Will Ferrell-Rachel McAdams comedy, the live broadcast cut back to Måneskin. At first glance, it does kinda-sorta look like David is leaning over to reenact scenes from Scarface. But there also is an ice bucket filled with bottles placed right in front of him, obscuring the view. The shot, naturally, was an instant viral sensation. Feel free to inspect this video, which slows things down to Jim Garrison-like levels.

When asked at a later press conference what he was doing, David said that he was bent over because his guitarist, Thomas Raggi, had broken a glass. He added, "I don't use drugs. Please, guys. Don't say that really, no cocaine."

Måneskin's supporters were quick to hit social media with images that supported David's claim.

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While drug laws in The Netherlands are notably different than in other countries (cf. "Hamsterdam"), possession of cocaine is, in fact, illegal.

The band said via their Instagram stories that they would be willing to take a drug test. Eurovision's organizing body, the European Broadcasting Union, said they were unable to organize one on Saturday night, but that they were "still looking at footage carefully and will update with further information in due course." The EBU also confirmed broken glass was found on site. The band stated that they will voluntarily submit to drug testing when they return to Italy.

Assuming the win will stand, this marks Italy's third victory since the competition began in 1956. The first win was in 1964, by Gigliola Cinquett with the song "Non Ho L'Età," and the second was in 1990, when Toto Cutugno won for "Insieme 1992." Eurovision tradition holds that the winning country hosts the following year. When Italy first hosted in 1965, France Gall won with Serge Gainsbourg's "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son."

Måneskin, Danish for "moonlight" as a tribute to bassist Victoria De Angelis's Danish heritage, took home the top spot with their tune "Zitti E Buoni," which translates into English as "shut up and be quiet." Other lines read "People talk unfortunately/They talk, they don’t know what they’re talking about." If Damiano David is exonerated, this will surely add a nice double meaning.

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