Thread: Music in the USSR

It sounds funny nowadays, so I even wanted to post it in 'Fun' forum . But it is not a joke, the things did really happen.

Here is the list of music bands, 'not recommended' (or prohibited in plain words) for open performace in the USSR in the 80s.

(I give a link only, because the original picture (a paper scan) is too wide).

I wonder what they regarded as neofaschism.

Which groups were allowed? If they even consider эротизм and секс as 'anti-communist', I don't think a lot of groups remain...

Ban Halen?
Julio Iglesias, neofascist?

Phew...glad ABBA and Bee Gees weren't on the list!

Why Tina Turner qualifies as "sex", but Donna Summer is plain "erotism"?
It's very interesting, how them made distinction between these two categories.

Originally Posted by Zeus

It sounds funny nowadays, so I even wanted to post it in 'Fun' forum . But it is not a joke, the things did really happen.

Here is the list of music bands, 'not recommended' (or prohibited in plain words) for open performace in the USSR in the 80s.

(I give a link only, because the original picture (a paper scan) is too wide).

Интересно... почему то ни Deep Purple в список не попал, ни Rainbow. Uriah Heep тоже не вижу... и Led Zeppelin нету... даже обидно
Кстати, слышал такую версию, что Manfred Mann чуть ли не рекламировался в СССР соответствующими органами, потому что лидер группы был коммунистом. Да и Pink Floyd они тоже полюбили после The Wall (79г). А те взяли потом и спели:
Brezhnev took Afganistan,
Begin took Beirut...

Originally Posted by Zeus

It sounds funny nowadays, so I even wanted to post it in 'Fun' forum . But it is not a joke, the things did really happen.

Here is the list of music bands, 'not recommended' (or prohibited in plain words) for open performace in the USSR in the 80s.

(I give a link only, because the original picture (a paper scan) is too wide).

Where did you take this document? I'm asking because it does not look genuine. For example, I do not believe they would use the word "punk" verbatim. It might have been used by the fans of the "Sex Pistols", but hardly by the старшие товарищи из ЦК (who must have approved such documents). Another example is "Pink Floyd (1983)", what does "1983" mean here? The year when this "ensemble" became particularly anti-Soviet?

"Oi...Get your filthy hands off my desert!"
"What 'e say?"

Brezhnev took Afghanistan.
Begin took Beirut.
Galtieri took the Union Jack.
And Maggie, over lunch one day,
Took a cruiser with all hands.
Apparently, to make him give it back.

As if it had been pro-Soviet before that...

And, as correctly noticed by Scorpio, the document is inconsistent in its use of "sex" and "eroticism". Actually both words strike me as completely alien to the official Russian language of that time; it would most likely have used something like "половая распущенность".

The biggest problem with that document, though, is that it does not appear to be written with a typical typewriter of the 80's. Its font is not monospace but proportional (and looks very much like "Times", the default in MS Word) and the formatting of the document is too elaborate to be possible for a typewriter.

Lastly, you misinterpret the document. It does not ban anything. The Komsomol actually owned discoth

"The Final Cut" was released in 1983.

The word панк (punk) was very common in the USSR 20 years ago.
Commies didn’t know what exactly it means but they knew it’s something bad.

Originally Posted by Alexander

Интересно... почему то ни Deep Purple в список не попал, ни Rainbow. Uriah Heep тоже не вижу... и Led Zeppelin нету... даже обидно
Кстати, слышал такую версию, что Manfred Mann чуть ли не рекламировался в СССР соответствующими органами, потому что лидер группы был коммунистом. Да и Pink Floyd они тоже полюбили после The Wall (79г). А те взяли потом и спели:
Brezhnev took Afganistan,
Begin took Beirut...

Ну... все-таки список составлялся, исходя хоть из какой-то логики. Видимо Rainbow, DP, LZ и так далее просто не нашли что пришить.
По поводу Rainbow даже разговоры ходили о том, что они приедут в Москву (что, конечно, не случилось, но все-таки).

А по поводу Manfred Mann's Earth Band - не знаю, "рекламировали" ли их, но один их диск на Мелодии вышел. У меня он где-то валяется.

Originally Posted by bad manners

Where did you take this document? I'm asking because it does not look genuine.

It is not my scan. I've just found it in the Internet. Maybe a year ago or so. And it may by a reprint, which doesn't change anything.

For example, I do not believe they would use the word "punk" verbatim. It might have been used by the fans of the "Sex Pistols", but hardly by the старшие товарищи из ЦК (who must have approved such documents).

Not necessarily. It is ВЛКСМ's internal document, not so important to bother ЦК. And I remember using the word панк in the 80s perfectly, as many other words like that. For example, try to get the videotapes of Музыкальный ринг of the mid-80s, they are available. I've seen ones with Курехин and Аквариум just a couple of months ago. Looks funny nowadays

Another example is "Pink Floyd (1983)", what does "1983" mean here? The year when this "ensemble" became particularly anti-Soviet?

Exactly, the year of 'The Final Cut' release with the verse about Brezhnev. Of course, they couldn't 'ban' all Pink Floyd as it was always regarded as anti-war, anti-fascist band; and just too famous. So they settled on one particular album.

And, as correctly noticed by Scorpio, the document is inconsistent in its use of "sex" and "eroticism". Actually both words strike me as completely alien to the official Russian language of that time; it would most likely have used something like "половая распущенность".

This document is obviously not as 'official' as you may think. Just a current internal paper, not for public release. And I think комсомольцы can be forgiven for inconsistency

The biggest problem with that document, though, is that it does not appear to be written with a typical typewriter of the 80's.

Typewriter?? You're kidding?

Its font is not monospace but proportional (and looks very much like "Times", the default in MS Word)

It is not Times New Roman, that's for sure. But it looks very much like common typographic font. Of course it is not a typewriter. I believe ВЛКСМ could afford a printing office for itself

Lastly, you misinterpret the document. It does not ban anything.

No, I don't. I didn't say it 'bans' something. Of course, it just 'doesn't recommend'. Which means, actually, that this 'recommendation' would be enforced on all venues under ВЛКСМ's control.

You were free to listen to whatever you liked at home (if you were not a member of it).

Of course.

Originally Posted by Alexander

Интересно... почему то ни Deep Purple в список не попал, ни Rainbow. Uriah Heep тоже не вижу... и Led Zeppelin нету... даже обидно

Да, и именно это похоже на правду. Эти группы никогда не были запрещены. Один мой знакомый своими глазами видел подобный документ, предназначенный для таможни. Он тоже удивлялся: никаких Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin и т.п., зато куча таких вещей как 'Ансамбль германско-польской дружбы' и т.п. Половину названий он вообще не знал, хотя сам отъявлянный меломан.

Originally Posted by Zeus

Originally Posted by bad manners

Where did you take this document? I'm asking because it does not look genuine.

It is not my scan. I've just found it in the Internet. Maybe a year ago or so. And it may by a reprint, which doesn't change anything.

It does for me. I have seen quite a few fabrications (too many of them in Russian history if you ask me) so I am not too excited about "reprints".

[quote:2k9o6n8x]For example, I do not believe they would use the word "punk" verbatim. It might have been used by the fans of the "Sex Pistols", but hardly by the старшие товарищи из ЦК (who must have approved such documents).

Not necessarily. It is ВЛКСМ's internal document, not so important to bother ЦК. And I remember using the word панк in the 80s perfectly, as many other words like that. For example, try to get the videotapes of Музыкальный ринг of the mid-80s, they are available. I've seen ones with Курехин and Аквариум just a couple of months ago. Looks funny nowadays [/quote:2k9o6n8x]

Even internal documents are written in the official language. "Punk" just does not fit.

[quote:2k9o6n8x]And, as correctly noticed by Scorpio, the document is inconsistent in its use of "sex" and "eroticism". Actually both words strike me as completely alien to the official Russian language of that time; it would most likely have used something like "половая распущенность".

This document is obviously not as 'official' as you may think. Just a current internal paper, not for public release. And I think комсомольцы can be forgiven for inconsistency [/quote:2k9o6n8x]

This (and the above) is not consistent with mass production of this document, which is implied by using a print office (which would explain its quality). If it is an internal memo, addressed to a few chiefs, they would use a typewriter. If it is document warranting mass production in a print office, then the style must be a lot more polished.

[quote:2k9o6n8x]Lastly, you misinterpret the document. It does not ban
anything.

No, I don't. I didn't say it 'bans' something. Of course, it just 'doesn't recommend'. Which means, actually, that this 'recommendation' would be enforced on all venues under ВЛКСМ's control.[/quote:2k9o6n8x]

Well, anybody disliking the Komsomol might simply not join. They might simply not use any services (such as discoth

Originally Posted by bad manners

Originally Posted by Zeus

It is not my scan. I've just found it in the Internet. Maybe a year ago or so. And it may by a reprint, which doesn't change anything.

It does for me. I have seen quite a few fabrications (too many of them in Russian history if you ask me) so I am not too excited about "reprints".

Me too. But the thing is that this document (whether genuine or forged) fits very well to what I remember from the times. I've seen myself that kind of documents (not about the music, I mean, but essentially very similar), and this scan did not raise my eyebrows. I put it here rather to demonstrate typical relationship between officials and the "underground" culture of the times.

Even internal documents are written in the official language. "Punk" just does not fit.

Not exactly. In a word, I don't feel something much wrong with this word in papers in mid-80s.

This (and the above) is not consistent with mass production of this document, which is implied by using a print office (which would explain its quality). If it is an internal memo, addressed to a few chiefs, they would use a typewriter.

A few? Suppose it has to be distributed from Moscow to all "комсомольские ячейки" of the state. A few thousand copies, I presume.

Well, anybody disliking the Komsomol might simply not join. They might simply not use any services (such as discoth?ques) provided by it. But, strangely, the Russians would join this organization, only to complain later how restrictive it was.

It seems quite right nowadays. But it does not look strange for that times. It was not that 'simple'. However, it is rather another long topic.

Who heard British singer/drummer Robert Wyatt? As far as I remember he was member of Britain communist party. That's why soviet authority liked him...

Я бы и сейчас половину этих групп запретил!
(If it is possible I would forbid a half groups from this list! )