Music

Pulp and the Black Keys are boycotting Russia after the Pussy Riot verdict

by Tyler Munro

Because nothing says solidarity like punishing your fans, right?

I mean, we get it. That three members of Pussy Riot were jailed for two years in prison for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” is completely and utterly asinine, but it’s not as though fans of the Black Keys and Pulp were likely supporters of the cause.

For his part, Patrick Carney tweeted about this weeks ago with nary a mention from him on it since. Some of the responses have been a little less than kind.

And what about Pulp? Jarvis Cocker was one of Pussy Riot’s most vocal supporters, and that’s led to two years of negotiating being tossed out the window for one local promoter.

“I got a letter from the agent, in which he said that the band wouldn’t come to Russia this year or ever,” said Andrei Samorukov to Colta.ru. “According to the agent, the [Pussy Riot] verdict was one of the reasons for the refusal, but I think that was the only reason.”

And it seems that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Talent buyer Dmitry Zaretsky tells the Hollywood Reporter that a handful of artists are refusing to come to the country since the gavel dropped, but says he can’t name names. He does however think it’s going to be temporary.

“The Western media’s rhetoric about Pussy Riot is already losing steam,” he added. “In a few months’ time, the whole thing is going to die down.”

While the Russian Federation in its current state is governed by elected officials, the controversy surrounding the re-election of Vladimir Putin is what lead to Pussy Riot’s outraged protest in the first place. There is unrest in a country where the political climate has been radically shifted by protest and uproar on more than one occasion. While the stance of these two big name bands (and brands) is admirable in that they’re being more than money-making mouth pieces (cough, Madonna), it’s not benefiting anyone. It’s unlikely their boycott has any real impact on Russian officials or any of the decision makers responsible for the unjust imprisonment of three objectively innocent punk rockers. In fact it’s unlikely they’ve even noticed. To stir the pot you’ve got to actually go there, and in the mean time fans who’ve likely been waiting years to see these bands are left twiddling their thumbs once more. Musicians often talk about oppression of the people from their government, and in this case, they’ve denied their fans the escape they’re likely clinging to.