Laibach have performed a show in North Korea. I love Laibach.
Laibach and think of North Korea
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
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Laibach have performed a show in North Korea. I love Laibach.
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I am fascinated by the thought of a silent crowd enjoying the show.
The other ground-breakers I recall are Elton in the USSR, around the time that Life of Brian came out – and Wham! in China. Although I think Jean Michel Jarre was in China before them.
I get the feeling that there were some others in China too in the 70s- Judas Priest perhaps? – I might have made that one up.
Curiously, the Dooleys recorded a live album in the USSR in 1975, released in 1976 (only in Russia). It was their debut release, consisting of their English working men’s clubs cabaret set. The following year they released a studio album ONLY in Poland.
These were their first two albums. After that, someone in the camp must have thought, ‘Shall we try releasing records in a western economy?’ And then they started having hits. They were the chosen few.
I think the above must surely be the most interesting facts about the Dooleys, and you never hear anyone talking about it. Then again, you never hear anyone talking about the Dooleys at all, do you?
I just knew that there was someone but not in my wildest dreams would I have picked the Dooleys. They really were ever-present for a couple of years there at the height of post-punk.
In fact, they were the kind of contemporary act that Costello, Strummer, Lydon etc were kicking against – and you can’t have a ying without a yang. In many ways, they had an important role to play – as important in the history of popular music as The Clash. So yes, we should talk more about The Dooleys.
Once again Colin I stand here marveling in awe at the amazing things you know.
Respect.
It is a knowledge base for which the world has little need 🙂
Here’s their third last single, from 1982. It was indeed a different world.
Any band at all playing in North Korea is odd. Laibach is oddisimo.
That is utterly bizarre – I’m sure Laibach would have had a great time (although I read that the censors cut half the songs from their set) but I’m not sure what NK would have to gain from this..it’s not Wham in China, the vast majority of people reading that news item will have no idea who Laibach are so it’s never going to be seen as NK embracing western culure.
The ‘Idea’ of North Korea is so enticing in the Modern World. If you just look at it for what it is, It’s such a marvelous conundrum.
BTW Mr. Black Celebration. “Laibach and think of North Korea”. Genius.
Thanks bri!
I was trying to think of other unexpected gigs but ended up cheating.
http://www.nme.com/photos/22-gigs-in-bizarre-locations/201961#/photo/21
I’m still trying to get my head around Rod the Mod on the beach in Rio playing to the largest crowd in the history of pop music. What did all those girls from Ipanema make of Mr Do ya think I’m sexy?
As a subscriber to their mailing list I knew beforehand that they were going to do this; given their nature, it genuinely didn’t occur to me that this was news-worthy, because Laibach are very internationally-minded and creative.
I couldn’t think of a more appropriate band to play North Korea. Good old Laibach.