russia
Police detained a Pussy Riot member for alleged 2019 riot involvement
Pussy Riot have faced a number of run-ins with police in the past. Nika Nikulshina, a member of the Russian punk activist group, was arrested back in 2019. As well, the group have previously faced various deportation problems after trying to seek asylum in other countries. Now, Pussy Riot member Peter Verzilov has been detained […]
Vladimir Putin on Russian rap: "We must lead it and direct it”
Seeing no way to stop the growing popularity of rap music among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin is looking for a means to control the popular genre, rather than ban it. Russia currently has a high censorship of the arts, and is seeing a crackdown on contemporary music. Read more: Donald Trump singing Slayer’s “Raining […]
Russian group urges concert cancellation over “amoral” lyricism
In Russia, a group by the name of What Is Good 2.0, or the “Teach Good” community, are working diligently to cancel concerts hosted by bands and artists who use foul language and untraditional ideals in their lyrics. The group is additionally citing bands and events to authorities to “properly” get the events cancelled. Strangely enough, members […]
Gallery: Our Last Night headlining in Russia
Photographer: Kolby Schnelli “All of our fans in Russia have always shown nothing but pure respect and love since the first time we toured there. We just played three unbelievable shows to kick off our Younger Dreams tour and it was an unreal feeling, a feeling that is hard to put into words. Walking out on stage, looking […]
Pussy Riot members launch independent Russian news service
After recently announcing that they’re suing Russia, formerly jailed Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova have now launched their own independent news service, Mediazone, focusing on Russia’s “Justice Zone” and protecting prisoners’ rights. The outlet plans to monitor Russian prisons, police stations and courts and has appointed political science journalist Sergey Smirnov as […]
Soviet hipsters kept Western music alive by pressing records on X-Rays
It’s already pretty well known that the communist regime of the Soviet Union was extremely anti-Western music. There’s even a massive list of bands that were banned by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. But according to FastCoDesign (h/t Consequence Of Sound), there were a group of Russians called “Stilyagi” (basically hipsters) who distributed […]
Pussy Riot are suing Russia
According to the Guardian, two members of feminist punk band Pussy Riot are suing the Russian government over their imprisonment. Members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are asking for $161,000 each in compensation and $13,437 in court fees. The women are arguing that the prosecution and 21-month prison sentence violated their rights and are taking their claim […]
Bomb threats, protests cancel Marilyn Manson shows in Russia
Shock rocker and former AP cover star Marilyn Manson’s Russian tour has not been going so well. One of his performances was just canceled due to a bomb threat, while another show was scrapped due to a protest. Manson was set to perform in Moscow today (June 27), taking part in the Park Live Festival, […]
These bands were banned in the Soviet Union
The Cold War-era Soviet Union was a pretty restrictive place, with laws enabling the government to control what music was being broadcasted on the radio stations. As Consequence Of Sound points out, Uproxx has unearthed a list with a title that translates to “The Approximate List of Foreign Musical Groups And Artists Whose Repertoires Contain […]
Metal band Behemoth detained by Russian authorities
It looks like Polish metal band Behemoth (who are signed to Nuclear Blast/Metal Blade) have been detained by Russian immigration services (the Federal Migration Service). Band member Nergal posted a message to their Facebook account, detailing that there was a problem with the bands’ visas. Read the message below. Bad Polish to English translation via MetalSucks: “We were […]
Pussy Riot found guilty on charges of hooliganism, sentenced to two years in prison
A judge in Moscow has sentenced three members of Pussy Riot to two years in prison on charges of hooliganism driven by religious hatred, following international protests over the arrest. The band were originally arrested in March after an impromptu performance in Moscow's main cathedral, playing a song that called for the Virgin Mary to […]
Norma Jean announce summer tour dates
Norma Jean have announced summer tour dates spanning the US, Europe and Russia. View them below. USA SUMMER 2012 w/ THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE & ICE NINE KILLS 7/5 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown 7/7 Bushnell, IL @ Cornerstone Festival 7/8 Dayton, OH @ The Attic 7/10 Joliet, IL @ Mojoes 7/11 Bloomington, IL @ The […]
Russian feminist punks Pussy Riot profiled in new article
A new article titled “Punk's Cultural Revolution” takes a look at Russian feminist punks Pussy Riot, members of which have been facing criminal charges of hooliganism related to protests against the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin. Via Salon: “The band has derived their success — and scorn — by turning contemporary punk […]
Pussy Riot were doing devil's work, according to head of Russian Orthodox Church
(Photo: Andrey Smirnov/AFP/Getty) A new update on the ongoing story of Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot, a group in which members are currently incarcerated and awaiting trial on charges of hooliganism for a Feb. 21 performance at Cathedral of Christ the Saviour: Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has come out and claimed the three […]
