[Dancecult-l] [Dancecult & IASPM] Metal in Teheran

[Adam Walker]

WOW!  I don't know anything about it but that's pretty amazing....is this 
the product of hybrid cultures?  Integrating the western format of a concert 
with Muslim ideology?

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>From: hillegonda at zoo.co.uk
>To: Subscribers of iaspm list <IASPMLIST at liverpool.ac.uk>, 
>Dancecult-l at listcultures.org
>Subject: [Dancecult-l] [Dancecult & IASPM] Metal in Teheran
>Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2006 14:52:10 +0100
>
>Does anyone know more about metal, hip hop or, even, trance in Iran?
>
>Today I read an old-ish Dutch newspaper clip from February 06, about a 
>concert by a metal band SDS, at the university of Teheran. The band's crowd 
>control, as well as 'secret' police, were present to curb any singing or 
>dancing. The crowd was sitting still on chairs; 90% male in black T-shirts 
>and long hair, while the women had their heads covered with black 
>headscarves. The band performed whilst standing quite still and played 
>instrumentals only, while the audience whispered parts of SDS' death-wish 
>lyrics. Anyone heard reciting more than just the occasional single word, or 
>making mild head banging or other rhythmical movements, was immediately 
>removed from the room ... After 40 minutes, when it seemed impossible to 
>keep the crowd sitting still, the authorities stopped the gig, upsetting 
>the students who in despair asked the reporter (a concert pianist on 
>professional visit in Iran) to report about it back in Holland.
>
>Such 'moral panic' reminds me of orthodox Christian reactions in the US to 
>'immoral' (but arguably amoral) music and its events, from metal to hip 
>hop, and from raves to night clubs. It speaks of clear fear of the 
>'uncontrollable' communal dancing/singing body. Despite a long religious 
>tradition of tranced out dancing and singing in Sufism, some Muslim 
>authorities seem to take the Koran quite one-sidedly when it warns of the 
>possible dangers of music.
>
>Looking at the web site for SDS-band, the twist for me is its imagery of 
>Western medieval gothic 'anti-Christ' fantasy. This can be understood as a 
>flat simulacrum, but it may be interesting to follow possible changes in 
>its meanings as current international politics produce new contexts?
>
>Metal info:
>http://www.sds-band.com/
>http://www.explode-band.com/
>http://www.dad-band.com/
>
>More on Iranian or 'Persian underground' popular music:
>http://www.pink-purple.com
>
>Gonnie.
>
>----------
>Dr Hillegonda Rietveld
>London South Bank University


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