"Moscow Music Peace Festival: history of the festival, iconic performances and participants, Ozzy Osbourne on stage

"Woodstock, Live Aid, Glastonbury, Monterey... All these festivals in one way or another deserve to be called iconic in the history of music. Thanks to this form of cultural perception of popular music, the art has gained a rapid popularity in the context of the relationship between music and politics. Rock music festivals, in particular those that emerged in the late 1950s, were landmark events in terms of their socio-cultural goals, then charitable ideas were added to them.

Was there anything like this in the Soviet Union - Another no less important part of the musical world, which for many years was behind "Iron Curtain? This article is about the incredible and legendary Perestroika-era festival that got young people seriously interested in rock music. It's about Moscow International Peace FestivalThe first of these is the "The Great Game", which brings together different cultures under the umbrella of freedom and equality.

Background to Russian Woodstock

Everyone knows that professional musicianswhose inspiration is very dependent on the events happening around them, often abuse The history of music knows numerous cases in which, at the peak of their careers, the lives of millions of idols have been abruptly cut short by adverse addictions. The history of music knows numerous cases when, at the peak of their careers, the lives of the idols of millions were abruptly cut short because of unfavorable addictions.

Many people have tried to draw attention to this problem, creating various assistance programs, social plans, and so on. However, it is noteworthy that on the level of music, they decided to overcome it by holding charity festivals. And one of these festivals was Moscow International Peace Festival ("Moscow Music Peace Festival"), which was organized by both the U.S. and USSR.

It was the brainchild of musicians from two opposing countries: the Moscow MusicalStas Namin Center and the Change the World for the Better Foundation formulated an inspiring motto. And the phrase "Rock Against..." became a household name.

"It took us a long time to sort out the legalities of the festival... No one knew what to do. And then it turned out that Gorbachev had once uttered the phrase "what is not forbidden is permitted. It was a sin not to use it!", said Stas Namin.

Famous members The guests of the festival were staying at the Hotel Ukraina, which surely every Soviet person at one time or another wanted to be in. However, their arrival in the Soviet capital seemed to guests from abroad something like an amusing spy seriesThe KGB was constantly accompanying them in the course of the event. For foreign spectators and groups they also brought food from other countries to entice them more.

The story with the equipment is also interesting: everyone knows that musical equipment often weighs a lot and its transportation requires more than one car. So for a good organization "Russian Woodstock All the things for the performances were brought in more than sixty huge trucks. The Russian and U.S. sides seemed to have worked it all out in an intelligent trivia.

Invited rock stars

The Peace Festival was truly a landmark. In many ways, it was also because its participants were the leading bands that had enjoyed tremendous popularity in the late 1980s. For example, Stas Namin, who produced the Soviet band Gorky Park, collaborated with Bon JoviThe band is a resident of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Other American bands performed in a similar manner and style: Mötley Crüe and Skid Row.

In addition, we were able to reach an agreement with the Scorpionswho were incredibly adored in the USSR. On the British side, Cinderella and even the Prince of Darkness himself agreed to perform, Ozzy Osbourne! Russia, in addition to Gorky Park, was represented by less "metal" bands: Nuance and Brigada S with Garik Sukachev.

Ozzy takes the stage...

The Soviet people were very much looking forward to the appearance on the stage of the Ozzy Osbournewho had a bad reputation (in a good sense of the word) and was ready to turn any concert into a real super show. That's what happened at the Moscow International Peace Festival, where Ozzy and his team performed on the second day of the festival.

Osborne then released an album "No Rest for the WickedThe Soviet audience was treated to a hit about living against the rules, "Breakin' All the Rules", to "warm up" the Soviet listener and get him ready for a dose of hardcore heavy metal. Ozzy came to perform old hits as well. His set list was considered the biggest at the festival and looked as follows: "I Don't Know", "Shot in the Dark", "Suicide Solution", "Tattooed Dancer", "Flying High Again", "Sweet Leaf", "War Pigs", "Crazy Train", "Paranoid.".

"Luzhniki" literally "exploded" when the former frontman appeared on stage Black Sabbath. As befits a real rocker, Ozzy couldn't help but make a little mischief, even though everyone probably liked it... except law enforcement officials.

The fact is that the British musician at some point began on that hot August day douse front rows with bucket water. The main thing is that almost everyone was satisfied!

The show is over, but not the adventure

It is impossible not to remember one curious episode Osbourne in Moscow. According to a representative of the technical team of the festival with access to all the premises of Luzhniki, Ozzy was caught by two policemen after he left the dressing room while intoxicated. They did not take him for a world-class star, but for an ordinary working-class man, some Soviet plumber.

Osborne's behavior and his appearancethat corresponded to the rock ideology. At the time, the policemen tried to kindly conduct Ozzie outside the protected facility, but the musician was rescued. No one realized anything, fortunately or unfortunately.

Generally trip to Moscow Ozzie liked. This was the artist's first performance in Russia, so it was very memorable for him. Most of all, as Ozzy noted, he was shocked by the fact that he was very warmly received in the Soviet Union: people walked around with posters of his own authorship with the following inscriptions "I love you, Ozzie."and sang along vividly to Osborne's hits to the full.