Russian Anti-Putin activists and punk group Pussy Riot teamed up with Dave Sitek for a new video. The group is best known as a feminist punk art movement and the video, titled Bad Apples reflects such definition. According to Dazed, the band accompanied the release of the clip with a statement that reads: “Hey comrades. Hope you are not going to like our new track, since it’s dedicated to really disgusting things, hope you will turn it off, go out, and act.”
Much like all previous material from Pussy Riot, the video addresses social issues such as corrupt political systems, inequality, sexism, violence, inability to access healthcare etc. while putting forth the major issue which is police brutality.
Some of the lyrics include slogans like “Bad apples are good for something/When they’re six feet underground” and “Damn fools, drunk on power, dirty thieves, tiny cowards,you wouldn’t act like this in front of your kids – NO!”.
The band also cared to point their fingers at all of those artists who sing about frivolous subjects such as friday nights and partying in their music. None of the crucial issues of our time (Climate Change, Gun Control etc) are addressed, which is something the Russian group finds intolerable.
The video was produced by Matt Creed and saw the prestigious feature of TV’s on the radio’s Dave Sitek.
The band rose to prominence after being arrested in 2011 by Russian police for playing a protest performance at a Moscow Cathedral, for which they spent 2 years in jail. Upon being released the band immediately started raising their voice against Putin and Russian political system.
According to Consequence of Sound,however, as of February 27th, 2018, two members of the group have gone missing in Crimea. Other members of the group have revealed via twitter that Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev were arrested by Russian authorities and impossible to be reached, either via phone or email.
Meanwhile the band has first-ever headlining North American tour scheduled to kick off on March 6th.
Two Pussy Riot members are missing. Olya Borisova & Sasha Sofeev disappeared in Crimea yesterday.
FSB detained them several times. Yesterday cops broke their phones and computers. We can not reach out to them.
We don’t know what has happened to them. pic.twitter.com/6pRtgCIbi3
— Pussy Riot (@pussyrrriot) February 27, 2018
Photo Credit: Brett Padelford