In a novel expression of raging against the machine that is equal parts Tahrir Square, ’68 Czech Rebellion and Riot Grrrl Manifesto, an all-female punk outfit called (appropriately, we suppose) Pussy Riot are speaking truth to the ultimate power in modern Russia–Vladimir Putin–all while clad in ski masks and day-glo dresses.
But, as NPR reports, this protest is no mere publicity stunt–this feminist collective is willing to go not only to the barricades, but to jail. After playing their new single, which loosely translates as “Putin Has Pissed Himself” at an impromptu flash mob concert in Moscow’s Red Square, the police locked the band up for five hours. As you can see from this video, these post-Soviet punkers are taking up the mantle of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Bikini Kill, Kathleen Hanna, Sleater-Kinney, Kim Gordon, L7, and Bratmobile–they take their message seriously, but with an appropriate dose of humor.
Nevermind the Bollocks, indeed!
