Russian ban creates EMO-tional response (Sep 5 2008)

If you haven't heard by now, the Russian government has deemed it necessary to work on putting into action a nationwide legislation, which upon completion would heavily regulate Emo and Gothic style music, and their websites. In addition, the government's regulation would ban the wearing of any and all Emo/Goth garb such as black or gothic style clothing, facial piercings, long hair that drapes down the front of the face and paraphernalia of regulated bands, inside schools and government buildings. Although not fully put into action in the whole of Russia, the ban has already been put into effect in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia and, as expected, has been met with protest by Russian fans and musicians alike.

So, the question remains, why, is this former cold war communist superpower turned democratic republic restricting the freedoms and rights of one specific group and the artform that they all share? The answer, the government believes that this type of music, exalts suicide, creates national instability, and incites violent behaviour.

Some of these presumably insurrection inciting bands considered to be on their regulation list are, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Billy Talent and countless others.

The segregation of a musical subculture is not a new practice, and similar legislations have been implemented in dozens of countries some successful, some not. In 1975, the South Korean government saw fit to ban all Heavy Metal music from airplay on its radio stations and police were gathering up metalheads and giving them haircuts to rid them of their anti-social long hair. In modern day Iraq, fans of music genres such as Rock, Emo, Punk and Heavy Metal are usually arrested and/or beaten by the religious police usually having contraband like band t-shirts and their long locks confiscated and destroyed. Although Russia will more than likely not go to these extremes, the situation currently ongoing is very reminiscent of a ban that was trying to get off the ground in the mid 80's in the United States by the Parents Music Resource Center political-advocacy group (PMRC), headed up by former Vice President and "An Incovenient Truth" author Al Gore's wife, Tipper Gore. The PMRC, like the Russian goverment was trying to ban certain types of music and musicians that they claimed the "moral majority" deemed harmful to the youth of the country. Unlike Russia, however, the PMRC in conjunction with the Senate Commerce Committee was willing to hear from select members of the musical community they were raising allegations against. Two of the key speakers called before the committee, were Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and Frank Zappa. Snider and Zappa, both suggested to the committee that parents should be responsible for the music that enters their house via their kids not the government. With this testimony given by these two men and others, an effective compromise was reached. An all out ban would violate the Constitution, so some five years later in 1990, the now commonplace Parental Advisory Warning Labels were required on all music media with certain types of "subversive" content.

Russia could extrapolate a solution to their own moral plight from the events that transpired in the U.S. with the PMRC in the mid 80's, however, as the situation continues to develop it appears that the goverment remains steadfast in their opinions and remain unconvinced despite an outcry from nationals and foreigners alike. Inevitably, in any Democracy, the elected officials will have the final say, I hope that they accept the input of the people and reach a peaceful and non civil rights restricting compromise.

Here in Canada, these events do not directly affect us, as fellow children of freedom we should take an interest in the goings on in the world around us, allowing us to appreciate what we have and not take our freedoms for granted and if necessary, like Russian Emo fans, fight for our right to free expression. It certainly crosses my mind everytime I pick up my electric guitar, listen to my vast Metal playlist on my iPod, watch a re-run of Metalocalypse on cable late at night, or go see Iron Maiden play at Rexall Place.