For Those About To Rock

When Russian and American music promoters received permission to mount a huge outdoor rock concert in post-Soviet Moscow, film and video crews recorded the event from beginning to end. This MTV-styled rockumentary combines the conventions of the rock concert film (WOODSTOCK-influenced behind the scenes interviews, footage of the local reactions, etc.) with the kinetic, video-toasted look of the all-music channel.

The film begins with the inscription that in August 1991 "the young challenged the old" in the political battle that resulted in the overthrow of Gorbachev and the eventual installation of Boris Yeltsin. From there images of heavy rockers are supposed to represent the agents of political change who threw up barricades against the hard-liners and brought freedom to a repressive regime. Footage of Lenin and Brezhnev give way to shots of Yeltsin riding a tank and 500,000 screaming metalheads. Headbanging concert revelers clash with head-beating riot police trying to impose order on the unruly crowd.

Amid it all the "Monsters of Rock USSR" concert goes on. Those "cowboys from hell," Pantera, open the program with three numbers including "Primal Concrete Sledge" and "Psycho Holiday." The Moscow metal culture is shown turning out in force, looking much like their American counterparts, sporting tattered jeans, leather, tattoos, long hair and devil masks. Their raucous set is followed by a song from local Russian grunge-metal band E.S.T., who sing about bullying policeman--as the lyrics are illustrated by a montage of concert disorder and club-toting military forces. The supposed celebration of freedom and the "end to violence" threatens to end in chaos when the promoter appears on stage telling the metal-hungry fans to "settle down or we'll have to listen to Neil Diamond the rest of our lives."

Disorder seems to give way to drunken revelry as The Black Crowes play a short set that concludes with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Woman." The song's refrain "Everybody must get stoned," evokes images of multitudes of young Russian men hoisting bottles of vodka. Two somber interludes offset three songs by Metallica. One shows video footage from the evening of the violent August coup, the other a memorial service for those who died in the fighting. The Australian group AC/DC wrap up the event with a longer set, playing their hit "Highway to Hell" and concluding with the anthem that gives FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK its name. The production concludes with impromptu scenes of the rock stars paying irreverent visits to the sights of Moscow.

Fans of heavy metal, and of the featured bands in particular, will obviously enjoy the performances showcased in FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK. The links between Metallica and martyrdom for democracy, however, are troubling.

This huge event was obviously historic. The mere fact that such a show could be staged was a significant symbol of change in the liberated atmosphere of the new Russia. And the tension-releasing feelings of empowerment channeled through blaring rock guitars must have been tremendously cathartic for many. But the poignant scenes of memorials for those who died and scenes of pro-democracy heroes battling tyranny make the chaotic concert seem at odds with those constructive forces rather than in league with them; instead of peace signs, fans throughout the heavy metal mob flash only middle fingers and devil's horns.

No matter how much one might enjoy the music, the mood of the concert--even as documented by people trying to promote their efforts as good--leans more toward nihilistic anarchy than democratic liberation, more toward hooliganism than fandom. That being the case, it seems unfortunate that the chroniclers of this important cultural event should try simply to pass off their efforts as part of a victory for democracy. Rock on, but think about it sometimes. (Profanity, violence.) leave a comment