Epic. I didn't anticipate a Metallica video would have me emotional but I suppose it brought back memories of USSR and for some reason what Metallica represented here - freedom. I grew up on the border with Poland in Belarus and maybe because of that, my father had a huge collection of vinyls, including Metallica. I grew up listening to it and AC/DC and Van Halen but I never appreciated past that stage because it was my father's music, but listening to this today made me tear up. I also remembered my first visit to Moscow and having my first ever Filet o Fish, milkshake, and apple pie at the only McDonald's in USSR at that time.
How did an American flag end up in the front of the crowd? But not surprising. My dad's friend, a Jew who still lives in Belarus, who was anti-communist and pro-American had connections and was always able to obtain things that weren't quite legal (maybe that's how my dad had all these vinyls? I need to ask). I remember him having an epic leather jacket with an American flag lining.
BTW, Sikorsky is an American company founded by Ukrainian-born immigrant Igor Sikorsky in 1923. It makes helicopters used by US armed forces including the UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53E Super Stallion. The Soviet Union never used Sikorsky's designs. I'm not sure exactly what types of helicopters flew over the Monsters of Rock, but at least one appears to be a Mil Mi-8.
Interesting! Thanks so much for the information. I believe I got the "Sikorsky" from Baptista in the documentary and, clearly, don't have much of an eye for them myself.
It totally does! Would have loved to get more into it here, but didn’t want to lose focus. I might write it in the future, but in the meantime, you might enjoy this. https://www.x-rayaudio.com/x-rayaudiohistory
Just yesterday I had sent a Chron.com article on Yeltsin’s supermarket visit to my friends, after one of them posted a Best Of montage featuring Drunk Yeltsin.
I felt he needed to be contextualized as not just a funny cartoon, but a powerful liberalizing force, and only because the story around it is actually quite remarkable and heartfelt. That he saw all this food, was in disbelief then profoundly discomfited by the realization of the senseless suffering of his countrymen.
Epic. I didn't anticipate a Metallica video would have me emotional but I suppose it brought back memories of USSR and for some reason what Metallica represented here - freedom. I grew up on the border with Poland in Belarus and maybe because of that, my father had a huge collection of vinyls, including Metallica. I grew up listening to it and AC/DC and Van Halen but I never appreciated past that stage because it was my father's music, but listening to this today made me tear up. I also remembered my first visit to Moscow and having my first ever Filet o Fish, milkshake, and apple pie at the only McDonald's in USSR at that time.
How did an American flag end up in the front of the crowd? But not surprising. My dad's friend, a Jew who still lives in Belarus, who was anti-communist and pro-American had connections and was always able to obtain things that weren't quite legal (maybe that's how my dad had all these vinyls? I need to ask). I remember him having an epic leather jacket with an American flag lining.
Thank you for writing this. 🙏 A
This is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing these memories! It means a lot. ❤️
The Metallica video is epic. Wow, what a rush it must have been to play in front of that many people. Rock on
Thank you for sharing. People of all backgrounds and beliefs can agree that an ideology that keeps out metallica is an ideology we don’t want. 🤘🏼🎸
Most inspiring piece I’ve read n a while!
BTW, Sikorsky is an American company founded by Ukrainian-born immigrant Igor Sikorsky in 1923. It makes helicopters used by US armed forces including the UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-53E Super Stallion. The Soviet Union never used Sikorsky's designs. I'm not sure exactly what types of helicopters flew over the Monsters of Rock, but at least one appears to be a Mil Mi-8.
Interesting! Thanks so much for the information. I believe I got the "Sikorsky" from Baptista in the documentary and, clearly, don't have much of an eye for them myself.
Uhhh..that bone music is super cool. Deserves an article on its own.
It totally does! Would have loved to get more into it here, but didn’t want to lose focus. I might write it in the future, but in the meantime, you might enjoy this. https://www.x-rayaudio.com/x-rayaudiohistory
Just yesterday I had sent a Chron.com article on Yeltsin’s supermarket visit to my friends, after one of them posted a Best Of montage featuring Drunk Yeltsin.
I felt he needed to be contextualized as not just a funny cartoon, but a powerful liberalizing force, and only because the story around it is actually quite remarkable and heartfelt. That he saw all this food, was in disbelief then profoundly discomfited by the realization of the senseless suffering of his countrymen.
I really enjoyed this, thank you!