They say punk died in 1978, but this isn’t the case in Russia. The three members of the feminist punk rock collective Pussy Riot who have been sentenced to criminal punishment for ‘hooliganism’ would beg to differ. Talk about suffering for your art! Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, the three members of Pussy Riot, are facing up to seven years in jail for their public demonstration against Vladimir Putin in a Russin Orthodox Cathedral in Moscow. Russia really doesn’t seem like the place to fuck about, especially when you’re in a girl punk bank called Pussy Riot
The pussy-prayer entitled ‘Virgin Mary, Send Putin Away’ was performed by the Pussy Riot punks on February 21st at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which followed by three members of Pussy Riot being arrested and jailed by Russian authorities shortly after. Two of the women of our Pussy Riot have now denied being members of the group and are on hunger strike, protesting being held in jail and away from their young children. Yes, children. Shouldn’t they realise by now that protesting probably isn’t the method of getting yourself out of a pickle? The detained punks are now rallying encouragement from like-minded anti-Putin feminist punk collective activists around the world (surely there’s loads) to support their appeal for their trial in June.
And support Pussy Riot have received, in the form of an axe weilding manic who threatened the judge of the Pussy Riot case, demanding the release of the three women ‘or else’. At the court hearing, thirteen protesters were also arrested and jailed. And so the cycle continues, the Pussy Riot protesters are now appealing for support from the community in order to save their punk asses also. It’s like the bit in the film where the sidekicks try to help the hero escape captivity but end up in the cell next door. I hope to see the next headline as Pussy Riot On Run In Mexico After Tunnelling Out of Russian Prison with Toothpick.
Pussy Riot formed in late 2011 is renowned for random provocative performances, typically protesting women’s rights and generally causing a kerfuffle as punks seem to do best. Sticking it not only to the man but to the bitterly cold Russian weather, they jump about in brightly coloured summer dresses and balaclavas while banging on about freedom of expression and ‘fuck the police’ etc. Pussy Riot’s music is shit, as to be expected, but the statement is strong and who can argue that this is indeed the foundation of punk music itself?
Check out Pussy Riot’s offending performance below. If you want to sing a long, the chorus goes as follows (In Russian, of course):
Holy shit, shit, Lord’s shit!
Holy shit, shit, Lord’s shit!
St. Maria, Virgin, become a feminist
Become a feminist, Become a feminist
The news coverage of Pussy Riot is also worth watching, not only to see the hysterical nuns try to stop the cameras rolling, but to hear the news reporters choke on the words ‘Pussy Riot’ every time they have to say them.
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