Free Pussy Riot, the Only Band that Matters in 2012

“A female sex organ which is supposed to be receiving and shapeless suddenly starts a radical rebellion against the cultural order, which tries to constantly define it and show its appropriate place.” Garadzh of Pussy Riot, speaking to Vice Magazine

Pussy Riot is a Moscow-based anonymous feminist collective who play unauthorized “flash gigs” to protest Vladimir Putin’s conservative rule. They claim their average age is 25. Formed in September 2011 as a response to Putin’s decision to run for re-election, Pussy Riot occupy the space where creative protest, political art and punk meet. There are approximately eight to 10 women in the collective who perform, and 15-20 others involved in their technical crew who create videos of their shows. Members cover their faces with colorful balaclavas when they play live or do interviews and don’t reveal their real names, choosing to identify by shared pseudonyms that rotate among members along with their outfits.

Pussy Riot haven’t made any records yet, but they have released several songs as soundtracks to YouTube videos of their guerilla theater actions. Each performance shows them seizing control of public space and jumping up and down in colorful costumes to wild, frenetic punk songs with aggressive female vocals, singing political lyrics that question authority and challenge the status quo. The chaotic, celebratory nature of their shows is invigorating. In an interview with Miriam Elder for the Guardian in early February, the band said they were interested in creating a “culture of protest,” arguing that there’s a need for many different kinds of actions, explaining, “We want to create a new form of protest — maybe not such a huge one, but we compensate for that with the bright provocative and illegal nature of our performances.”

Their uniform not only disguises their identities, it congeals their individuality into a unified set of symbols. Their neon balaclavas clash with the individual pieces of clothing worn by each girl, but also express a visual unity. Bright purple, pink, green, red, yellow and blue; one girl’s tights clash with her dress, but match another girl’s balaclava, which match a third girl’s tights, whose balaclava matches the first girl’s dress, and so on. The result is an image that is striking and memorable.

Their music is fucking fantastic. The sheer kinetic life force in their sound brings a fresh urgency and exhilaration to punk. They use repetitive riffs as tools to create and release tension. Pussy Riot songs communicate, in a single instant, both the joy of freedom of expression and an anger at tyranny. Their tight, tense song structures highlight their multiplicity of female voices — the audio equivalent of their visual strategy. Both techniques work together to celebrate the annihilation of the self while allowing each girl to reconfigure her individuality in service to the group, which in turn serves a larger political purpose.

In a February interview with VICE Magazine, Pussy Riot explained that anyone could be in their band, inviting new members to join either by coming to Moscow or by starting their own local chapter of the group. When asked about the possibility of getting arrested, they said, “We have nothing to worry about, because if the repressive Putinist police crooks throw one of us in prison, five, 10, 15 or more girls will put on colorful balaclavas and continue the fight against their symbols of power.”

At the time of this interview, members of Pussy Riot had been detained and cited for participating in an action onRed Square, but they were let go later that day. In early March, three women associated with the group were arrested for allegedly participating in a “punk prayer” on February 21 that took place inMoscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior (see video below). As of this writing Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Irina Loktina have been held in solitary confinement for two months in pre-trial detention, which was recently extended for an additional two months in a controversial court hearing that resulted in 30 Pussy Riot supporters being arrested. If convicted, the three women face a possible prison sentence of seven years for “hooliganism.” Two of them are mothers of small children, and have spent at least part of their incarceration on a hunger strike. Recent articles report that Tolokonnikova is being denied medical attention.

The women’s imprisonment has sparked actions of solidarity around the globe. After FreePussyRiot.org put out a call for an international day of action, videos began to appear on YouTube made by Pussy Riot members in Poland, Germany, the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Rallies have been held in Moscow and St. Petersburg to protest their imprisonment.

Amnesty International is demanding their immediate release, claiming that the incarcerated women are political prisoners: “The entire action lasted only a few minutes and caused only minimal disruption to those using the cathedral…Instead of prosecuting members of Pussy Riot for their political opinions criticizing the Russian government and some Church officials, the Russian authorities must recognize that their protest is protected by the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed in international human rights law.”

The fact that three alleged members of Pussy Riot are being treated as if they are a danger to society proves they are genuinely subversive. They’re in prison for questioning authority and, as Nadezhda Tolokonnikova’s Manifesto states, deserve to be given a chance to participate in the discussion their work has inspired. What is Putin so afraid of? Nobody was hurt and no property was damaged during their actions. No one deserves to be imprisoned for her convictions and no little kid deserves to be separated from their mom because she’s in a feminist punk band. Make your own balaclava, hit the streets and demand the immediate release of Nadezhda, Maria and Irina. Free Pussy Riot, the only band that matters in 2012.

Tobi’s Top 10 for April, dedicated to Pussy Riot and political punk rockers and revolutionary feminists everywhere:

1. Flux of Pink Indians, “Progress”
2. Vice Squad, “Angry Youth”
3. Mecca Normal, “Fight for a Little”
4. Chrome, “March of the Chrome Police (A Cold Clammy Bombing)”
5. OOIOO, “Right Hand Ponk”
6. Black Flag, “Police Story”
7. Articles of Faith, “Prison”
8. Dicks, “George Jackson”
9. Team Dresch, “Hate the Christian Right”
10. Sleater-Kinney, “Combat Rock”