Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist rock collective that stages extemporaneous politically provocative performances on such topics as the situation of women in Russia, LGTBIQ+ rights and freedom with music and art. The members of the group usually wear brightly colored, tight-fitting dresses and cover their faces with balaclavas, both in their performances and during interviews, in which they often use pseudonyms. Their vindication has led them to be arrested on several occasions and they were even taken to jail in 2012 for singing their protest song “Virgin Mary, deliver us from Putin” in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, which sparked a movement for their release led by Amnesty International.

Among their musical influences, the group cites punk-rock and Oi! bands such as Angelic Upstarts, Cockney Rejects, Sham 69, Era (musical project) and The 4 Skins. The group also cites the punk-rock band Bikini Kill and the 1990s Riot grrrl movement as inspirations.

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