Free to Rock

You might not expect former President Jimmy Carter and former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev to have much to say about rock ‘n' roll. But in filmmaker Jim Brown's fascinating and illuminating documentary Free to Rock, narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, both are compelling spokesmen regarding the significant role that rock music played in the Soviet sphere's gradual opening to the outside world. Being in charge of the world's great superpowers during a slice of the Cold War, Carter and Gorbachev were paying attention to the influence of music on a younger generation not just in Russia but also every satellite nation in the Eastern Bloc. Rock ‘n' roll became the soundtrack for the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent collapse of the Soviet empire. The film traces the long, often brutal history of rock music in the Soviet world, beginning with the violent suppression of anyone showing interest in listening to or performing rock after it debuted in the 1950s. With the arrival of the Beatles, a passion for both Western and homegrown rock led to a surge in underground music scenes and a black market in "bone records"—bootlegged recordings printed onto old X-rays. There are interesting chapters here on Soviet efforts to placate rock fans with official bands playing catchy tunes featuring uplifting socialist messages, and a grudging acceptance bestowed on groups pedaling a soft, non-threatening sound (one such band pulled a switch in later, rougher albums, only to be shut down). Footage of concerts performed in Russia, East Berlin, and elsewhere by Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, the Beach Boys, and Scorpions capture the pent-up energy of rock fans who were generally denied such experiences. But there are also darker stories of legendary bands such as Plastic People of the Universe, a Czech ensemble frequently arrested and tortured. Extras include the feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary Rockin the Kremlin. A fast-paced, informative look at rock music's impact in the U.S.S.R. during the last half of the last century, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)