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Pussy Riot

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance group, founded in the autumn of 2011 by the then twenty-two-year-old Nadya Tolokonnikova. In all the group had about eleven women. Some of the members came from the art collective Voina. In 2011 Tolokonnikova and Samutsevich gave a lecture on punk feminism, and the group grew out of it. The members played unannounced, provocative guitar shows in public places. These were filmed as video clips and put on the internet. The music began as provocative punk rock and later became more accessible.

Music and breakthrough

The lyrics dealt with feminism, LGBTQ rights and opposition to President Vladimir Putin, his policies and his ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. In February 2012 five members performed in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. The church condemned it as sacrilege. Three members were arrested, tried and convicted, later receiving an amnesty and being released on conditions. The trial and the sentence attracted a great deal of attention and criticism, especially in the West. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International regarded the women as prisoners of conscience, and many well-known artists spoke up for them. Russian public opinion was on the whole less sympathetic.

Influence

In December 2025 the Russian Ministry of Justice put Pussy Riot on the list of extremist organisations. The group shows how punk as a form of protest is still used politically in the twenty-first century, with the public performance as a weapon.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a song by Pussy Riot and notice the raw punk sound and what the lyrics say. Try to hear what role the vocals play.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists