When Politics and Punk Rock Collide

Recently, the Russian punk rock band Pussy Riot was attacked and whipped by Cossack thugs sent personally by Vladimir Putin. So what is it about this band that set off Putin? Well, one of their songs is anti-Putin. In this case, political protest and performance arts are colliding and yielding various results. These musicians took their political views and shared them with the world, not caring that one of their viewers is Vladimir Putin. Not caring that they were imprisoned as a result of one song. Not caring that they were attacked by thugs. Not caring about anything but their beliefs and Russia's freedom. This is just one of many instances where musicians took advantage of their musical ability and fame to express their political beliefs. What makes this story different from, say, American singer Patti Smith's songs of political protest is location. These protesting bandmates are not just from any country. They are from Russia. These emphatic singers are not just protesting about anyone. They are protesting about the president of their country who is not someone to be messed around with. These punk rockers are using their medium - music - to fight the power and to fight for freedom. This power that they are fighting is prepared to fight back...in this case, with his Cossack thugs.