Today in the International Herald Tribune I read a report, by Michael Schwirtz, on the Russian rock musician Yuri Shevchuk. It describes Shevchuk’s frustration with the waning influence of Russian rock, and its incitements to freedom, on Russian politics.  (I have not yet been able to find an online link to it.)

Until he recently confronted Vladimir Putin on television, I did not know of Shevchuk’s music or role on the Russian scene in musically preparing the way for the end of the Soviet Union.

This story touches on some elements relevant to the rock and theology conversation, the question of rock’s decline as a social-political force (interpreted often here at R&T as also a force of ‘spiritual’ significance) chief among them. The regret in Shevchuk’s remarks is evident: “The battle for freedom was very important for many but, as it turns out, not for all.” It sounds like he really means “not for many.”

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