1991 was a time of turbulence in Russia - at the time USSR. Gorbachev was pushing reforms that were not welcomed by hardline communists including the KGB. The situation boiled over when in August '91 the hardliners attempted a coup against Gorbachev's government. During the coup when the KGB forces attempted to take control of parliamentary buildings, young Russians came out in their defense. The buildings were symbolic of the Russian peoples' right to freedom and democracy and the youth were not prepared to be mute spectators as KGB took control over them. In the ensuing clashes, many of the young defenders lost their lives. In the end, the coup failed and the sacrifice of the kids who died - choosing death to a life of subjugation and propaganda - etched into the hearts and minds of the Russian public the preciousness of their hard won democracy.
One month later, in the September of 1991, a one day rock concert was organised at a huge airfield Tushino, just outside Moscow. Though this was said to be part of the Monsters of Rock European tour, this particular concert was made special by the circumstances that had just preceded the event and for the fact that it was free - open to everyone. For the first time there were western bands, particularly American, playing in Russia to salute the spirit of the youth and what they had stood up for.
I laid my hands on the fantastic video coverage of the event. That this DVD is out of print makes it a collector's item for any music lover worth his salt.
The concert received around 500,000 in audience. But as though a shadow of the era that had just passed, truncheon weilding police are seen deployed at the concert to keep the crowd "in check". The show starts off with images of the police beating up the young rockers trying to have a good time; perhaps, because such an outward show of youthful celebration as displayed by the rockers was never witnessed in Moscow before that day. However as the concert proceeds, and as the music and vodka continues to flow, the police eventually throw away their batons, rip off their uniform coats and sway to the music right along with the crowd. Wow! now that's what I call a rock concert.
Musically, there's Pantera, Metallica, AC DC, the Black Crowes and a Russian band EST on the show. Being aware of what the guys in the crowd had been through , one can make out how all of the bands play their heart out for them making sure the crowd have the time of their life. Perhaps some of the best live acts from Metallica and AC DC are on this video.
High points for me are the performances of "Everybody must get stoned.." by the Crowes (the crowd getting stoned on the music, liquor and God knows what other shit), "Creeping Death" by Metallica (five hundred thousand humans chanting "Die") and I must say the whole set by AC DC - the final act of the show. If Maiden have Eddy, then AC DC have Rosie - she comes up as a backdrop blow up on "A whole lotta Rosie" and on "Highway to hell" complete with the devil horns. Now I know what "whole lotta Rosie" refers to - a whore with an ample body :). AC DC sets a standard of live performance I've hardly seen anyone, really, anyone match. On the song "For those about to rock, we salute you.." Brian Johnson builds up to an earth shattering 21 gun (firework) salute to the crowd and Angus Young simply lets himself loose on all the tracks pulling off some of the fastest ass kicking riffs. Loved it!
I spent the two hours or so headbanging away to the great music on this DVD - a wonderful catharsis for a shit week gone by. It continues to amaze me how powerful this kind of music is - filling in for that what people find incomplete in themselves or for what they lose to the toll that life takes.
Woodstock '69, Live Aid, The Rising; now I have one more added to the list - Monsters of Rock '91.
