A few weeks ago I wrote about Pussy Riot. Now freed, I envisioned them doing a world tour, being on Saturday Night Live, opening for the Stones. From criminals to stars, soon millionaires going about in their Rolls Royces singing protest songs. Now, however there is a new wrinkle. The two most prominent members of the group, freed from the dungeons of Siberia, now have been expelled from, well, Pussy Riot. Apparently the more idealistic of the group back home want nothing to do with the commercialism afoot in the twosome and their recent public appearances.
The old battle among liberals returns. Like Trotsky and Lenin. Or Pete Seeger and Joan Baez on one hand and Bob Dylan after he plugged in his guitar. Pete and Joan saw music as a tool for a wider goal. Music was there to instruct the audience on liberal causes, the unions, the civil rights movements, the opposition to the Vietnam war. Bob Dylan and most of the stars that followed him saw music as a way to have a few laughs, make some money and maybe one day do a car commercial on the Super Bowl.
I remember once seeing Utah Phillips in Philadelphia and he commented that John Lennon was an s-o-b for not speaking out for union causes. It is the old schism that hinders liberals. Idealism vs. wealth and fame. Now the two lassies will have to tour as the artists formerly known as members of Pussy Riot. It's a god darn shame.
Update: Now they were arrested and released apparantly in Sochi. I guess some people seek out trouble.
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