There is a Need for Heavy LiftingAcrassicauda, Creative Communities, and the Luxuries of the United States

E-MAIL THIS

PRINT THIS

MOST POPULAR

XML VERSION

As readers you have all been privy to articles relating in one-way shape or form to Iran.  That is the purpose of this magazine; to share the wonderful world of Persian culture and it’s people with not only the Orange County Persian community, but anyone else who lives in the area and who happens to pick up the magazine as well.  Now I ask my readers to take a step away from that world and step into a world that is dear to my heart; the world of underground music.  However this tale is one that is quite eye opening and relevant in more ways than people can imagine.

As a person who has successfully come together with other people my age to make music, my frustrations have merely stemmed from the people that I have worked with. Usually these people lack the follow through and motivation to accomplish As readers you have all been privy to articles relating in one-way shape or form to Iran.  That is the purpose of this magazine; to share the wonderful world of Persian culture and it’s people with not only the Orange County Persian community, but anyone else who lives in the area and who happens to pick up the magazine as well.  Now I ask my readers to take a step away from that world and step into a world that is dear to my heart; the world of underground music.  However this tale is one that is quite eye opening and relevant in more ways than people can imagine.

As a person who has successfully come together with other people my age to make music, my frustrations have merely stemmed from the people that I have worked with. Usually these people lack the follow through and motivation to accomplish any of the goals that they set out.  Practice times are forgotten, shows are rarely booked, miscommunications and let downs are just part of the creative process when you are working with multiple people.  For the Iraqi band featured in Heavy Metal in Baghdad, these are the least of their worries.  Their worries consist of staying alive, having a safe practice/performance space, and avoiding the persecution that comes with doing anything remotely Western in a place where all things Western are associated with evil.  

Heavy Metal in Baghdad is a documentary feature film that follows the Iraqi heavy metal band Acrassicauda, which is Latin for the deadly black scorpion that is native to Iraq, from the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to their eventual exodus to Syria.  The band members were all reared on American heavy metal bands (a genre which I have participated in, but know very little about).  In fact from my understanding, to say the term American metal is a huge misnomer, but I digress.   They didn’t learn English in a school, they learned how to speak English by listening to bands like Slayer, Metallica, and Slipknot.  Their struggle is a unique perspective on what is going on in Iraq today.

The band formed in 2002 and is still the only heavy metal band to ever emerge out of Iraq.  Their persecution ranged from having constant complaints about their loud Western music, to their inability to grow their hair long, to even being accused of being Jewish due to the head banging that occurs at their shows.  Some people associated the head banding with the actions that occur during Jewish prayer.   The film continuously showed time and time again how the simple things that bands take for granted in America are extremely complicated.

An example of this would be trying to get the documentary makers (the fabulous Suroosh Alvi and Eddy Moretti of Vice Magazine) to check out Acrassicauda’s old practice space.   The building it had been in was destroyed by a rocket and in turn, left Acrassicauda without a place to work on the only thing that made their lives worthwhile,-music.  The area was completely blocked off and every time the film crew made an attempt to take some footage of the demolished practice space, local security forces told them that they needed to turn off their camera and leave.  This leaves me in a state of rage and frustration.

I am trying to make it my own personal life’s work to raise the standard of living for artists here in the U.S. and abroad.  Hearing Acrassicauda’s story makes me realize how much the creative community here in the U.S. is spoiled.  There are too many egos getting in the way of creating something amazing for all to enjoy let alone finding a strong outlet for people to express themselves. It makes me ill to think about how many creative people in this country realize exactly how much we have in this country in regards to the opportunity to be creative.  

Thankfully, Acrassicauda made it out of Iraq and into Syria. While in Syria, they were forced to leave and eventually found safe haven in Turkey.  Their story is not uncommon.  The world’s fastest growing humanitarian crisis is the Iraqi exodus.  To date, over 400,000 Iraqi’s have fled Iraq to places like Iran, Syria and other surrounding nations.  Only 466 Iraqis have been allowed into the U.S., which makes one continue to wonder about the reasoning behind America’s military endeavors.  This film made me think how we as a creative community can help show solidarity with other creative communities around the world.   

The first thing that comes to mind is creating socially conscious art that documents and displays the plight of those creative communities in conflict zones.  This type of art has always persisted throughout history (think Woody Gunthrie way back when) and will continue to be made as long as creative communities continue to maintain a conscience.  This art can help not only bring our two worlds closer together, but it can also get people who traditionally would not care about these issues engaged and looking for something to do.  

Another thing I know that we as a creative community can do is to raise awareness on this issue and be the voice for those who cannot speak.  The best part about raising awareness for the creative community is that it allows us to share our art with people while sending a message.  A lot of the time this process can also raise funds to support groups in continuing their creative process.  So if you or someone you know is creatively inclined, please remember all of the luxuries we have here in this country and think about how you can use those luxuries to benefit those who need it the most.   

E-MAIL THIS

PRINT THIS

MOST POPULAR

XML VERSION