Big jet plane...

Hello world! I'm sorry I've been dead these days but this post won't be all about my apologies.

So, despite my awful insomnia, things are going pretty good.
It's weird but since autumn I've started talking out loud about my real wishes and what I'm planning to do with my life.

And, to be honest, I'm afraid of my future as long as my life's been so slow these past two or three years. I'm afraid that my life will eventually start changing and everything will happen so fast that I'll feel lost. Don't get me wrong, I want my life to change.

This year is going to be very busy because I'll be applying for studies in the UK, having an English language exam and attending auditions/interviews in the universities. Very busy year!

Anyways, I still have a plenty of things to write about in next posts, and I can ensure you, they will be more interesting than these random blurbs.

take care!x
Fuzz

The best conversation I've had so far

This happened about a month ago. Strange, but the best conversation I've had was with my dad. So, here it is:

My dad walked into my room, looked around and asked:

"So, who do you want to be in your life?"

I was sunned. He NEVER asks things like that.

"Eee... erm..." I mumbled. He was still waiting.

"Musician, no doubt." I said when my amazement was gone.

"Musician you say... Bohemian life... Drugs and alcohol... Are you sure you want to live life like that? These things are not good." Dad tried to be intelligent.

I was like: "Eh? What the heck?!?"

"Dad, music is not all-about getting high on drugs and drinking alcohol all the time. Some musicians do that, some don't. It's as same as this local stereotype that all artists and painters are alcoholics. Have you ever seen drunken art teacher?"

"Drunk art teacher is the worst example..." he said.

"It actually was the best I could think of right now."

"I see..." he said and walked away. I know he wants to be or to look intelligent and understanding in front of us as long as my mother always repeats how foolish he is.

The End.

xxx

Fuzz

Great Scenes from Old Soviet Sci-Fi Movies

This is my favorite video and I love the colors of  it. It's a short episode of 1959 movie which is called "Nebo Zovyot" (the heavens call). I think they did very great job for making these special effects.

 



This one is ahead of its time. This film is called Ikarie XB 1 (aka Ikaria XB1, Icarus XB1 and Voyage to the End of the Universe) and it is Czechoslovakia's first science fiction film. This 1963 movie tells the story of Starship Ikaria XB 1's 2163 trek to Alpha Centari. ("Voyage" was the savagely cut, English dubbed version released by American International Pictures.)

 



I love those old sci-fi movies. It is so exciting to see how people imagined the future. Watching these kind of movies, make me feel the spirit of those years when people were obsessed with space travel and ideas of futuristic life in space age.


That's all from me.
Fuzz x

Forbidden freedom: Rock music in the USSR and Soviet Lithuania (Part 5 of 5)

LITHUANIAN HARD ROCK

There were some bands who were playing hard rock. Here are some songs:

I really love the guitar riff of the song above which starts at 0:34. It is so catchy! 

By the way, I asked my dad how the things with rock music were in his eyes. He said that he knew one his classmate who was very artistic, played the guitar and was very good person. However, his parent's were drinking alcohol all the time and didn't take care of him. The teachers didn't like him, because he looked like a hippie. My dad also added that all the rock records they had owned back then were smuggled through the USSR customs.

What is more, I've found some old communistic newspapers which contained some articles about 'How Rock Music Makes People Destructive' and so on. I've also found a list of Lithuanian rock bands. I tried to find them on the internet, but there were no traces of them. Too bad that these musicians were forgotten.
Anyway, here's the photo of those magazines:

I'd love to quote the beginning of one article shown in the photo:

'Three broken chairs, one broken window and ten hours of music. This is how this article about the first  hard rock festival 'Hard express-88' in Kaisiadoriai cultural centre should be called'

A MOVIE WORTH THOUSAND WORDS
Back in 1990, Lithuanian film makers released a movie, called Kids From Hotel America. It's about the hard way of rock music in Soviet Lithuania, it shows how hard things were, shows the cruel reality. This movie has English subtitles. Well they aren't that good, but the meaning you will understand. In this movie there are some true facts, for example the man who burned himself was Romas Kalanta

CONCLUSION AND THE END OF SERIES

I had an idea about these posts a long time ago. While I was writing this post and searching for even more information, I started to feel proud that I'm Lithuanian because back then Lithuanians were very eager for freedom, they were all together in bringing forbidden rock music to our country. They didn't care about the penalties, limitations and other stuff. They wanted to be themselves by breaking long lasting Soviet system and laws. They were all dreamers of better life...

Hope you liked these series. I've learnt a lot about my own country. It's strange how people seem to forget this period of time.

But look what we've become. Popculture set its roots very deeply into peoples' lives. Any other different type or style of music, doesn't matter if it's new or very intellectual, if will be forgotten without ability to be heard in public...

Even in 1969 Lithuanians knew what NME is. And now… nobody knows, except those who are interested in British indie or alternative rock music… Those who want to change the rotten order of Lithuania...

Just look what Lithuania has become now: a country of loss and desperation….

Maybe this sounded pessimistic, but I am writing what I personally think.

The End

UFO Found Under The Baltic Sea?

Thanks to my good friend for telling me about this thing. AT LEAST! Something weird is happening near my country! So, this is how it all begun:

Swedish expedition who was searching for sunken ships under the Baltic sea had discovered mysterious object reaching 18 meters in diameter (about 59 ft) . However, the explorers are not willing to find out what this mysterious thing is.

Swedish explorers found weird object on the bottom of the Baltic sea. Photo made
by underwater sonar.

„The Ocean Explorer“ crew earned several million dollars after success in 1997 when they had discovered old traders' ship Jonkoping. Inside the ship old goods dating back in 1907 were found as well as bottles of wine, which costed about £ 7700 for each. This successful expedition made the Peter Lindberg, the captain of crew, to continue his research of Baltic sea.

A lot of details P. Lindberg still hadn't revealed yet. The only clues are published photos and loads of theories about the object.

Ones think this might be underground bomb, others consider it as some sea plants.

"A huge round-shaped object 18 meters in diameter was found in the Baltic sea in 87 meters deep [about 286 ft.] between Sweden and Finland." This announcement was made for local press.

The object remains unidentified.

P. Lindberg also said that there were 300 meters long tracks (about 990 ft.) leading to the object. According to the explorers there was a possibility that the object might be moving somewhere in the past.

Sadly, P. Lindberg told that he's not going to investigate the finding as "This is not what they've been searching for. We cannot spend the money only because we want to see it closely. Even if there would be new Stonehenge. We leave others to decide what this could be."

Hope you enjoyed this post!
Fuzz

Sci-fi in soviet era. Part five (the lost piece)

YES! I accidentally found one part of the legendary (at least for me) series of soviet Lithuanian comics about Gama planet. I found this goodie with other old stuff: old documents and stuff (spoilers! I'll post them here later).
When I read this I was like "OK. What the hell?" These where known to me for being sort of strange, you know... I think it is plausible that there were some comics before this one.

Anyways, here's the comic and it's translation:

"ACCIDENT IN GAMA"
Scenario by V. Mikailionis
Picture by V. Jakstas

'We used Selena's fuel tanks for the first settlements.' [Selena is the spaceship]
'These little ones have already learnt twenty two words. They will be the first grammarians of fen.' [I think 'fen' are the race of aliens]
'What's there, Soli?' 'It's the Big Five-Fingered Mother Goddess, which is me.'
'Captain, Akira is old. After half of a year a good mathematician will be needed for fen. I am sorry, I cannot return to the Earth.'
'Captain, Gedas is out of his mind' 'Maybe he's ill?' 'Or maybe he's fallen in love with Soli?'
'Regas is in danger!'
'Soli, stay!' 'No, I'm coming with you!'
'Akira, Why Soli is so worried?' 'She loves Regas.'


So this is it! The end. Sort of...
Anyway, have a great day!x Fuzz

Forbidden freedom: Rock music in the USSR and Soviet Lithuania (Part 4 of 5)

LITHUANIAN ROCK BANDS, ILLEGAL ROCK FESTIVALS AND ROCK CLUBS

“March of Rock over Lithuania” wasn’t the only festival in Soviet Lithuania. “Lituanica” was famous and very important festival as well. It was held in 1987-1988 in Vilnius and Kaunas.

On 7^th-8^th of March a new rock club in Vilnius was opened. This was very important event; to celebrate it, a brochure about the club was released. There was a lot of information about various bands and concerts as well.

On the opening day of rock club in Vilnius, a lot of bands from many countries were playing.

According to the brochure, the first club of rock was stated in Leningrad (now: Saint Petersburg) in 1981. “Back in those days, everyone was arguing about the need of these clubs, but they all have proven to have the right to exist: musicians participate in concerts, communicate much more, rock musicians don’t feel homeless and needless – they finally felt as a part of cultural life.”

The first rock club in Kaunas was opened officially on 6^th February, 1987. On this year, rock club in Vilnius had already had 28 bands.

cover of the brochure

one page of the brochure

“Today we hear Lithuanian rock again. Started with “Kertukai” (Slashers), “Gintarėlių” (Ambers), “Antanėlių”, “Gėlių Vaikų” (Children of Flowers) and others; rock which was unallowed, oppressed with instructions and limitations, which was hiding in basements and attics, which was burning in our hearts and thoughts, which made rebirth...”
One interesting fact is that all Lithuanian rock bands' names were inspired by old mythological stories, creatures or by pagan gods.

Vocal-instrumental ensemble (the name "band" was forbidden to use in USSR) "Kertukai" (Slashers). They were the first guitar collective officially accepted In Lithuania (1967 )

Lullaby by Kertukai

Kęstutis Ignatavičius, frontman of band "Aitvarai" (Brownies), with
self-made guitar. At that time in Lithuania it was able to get only
seven-stringed guitars in Russian  style.  Musicians were  redoing
or even making own new guitars. (1967)

Nuogi Ant Sleksčio (naked on Treshold) performing. They made covers of  songs by The Doors, Black Sabbath, Emmerson Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, etc. They were called as avant-garde rock keepers.

The Sun was a students’ cafeteria and rock club, established in one of hostels in students’ town, in front of Faculty of Automation. There popclub Smūtkeliai was organizing the first discotheques in Kaunas. In fact, those discotheques weren’t as people might think. There even weren’t any discotheques but for some reason people call them exactly like that. Actually, people there analyzed albums and listened to hard artrock, psychedelica and etc. Every evening had its own theme set. The head of discotheque told the history of the album itself, translated lyrics, and when the music started playing, it was allowed to dance. Finding petroleum in my town (which is absurdly impossible) was a lot of easier than getting a ticket to this discotheque. The selection of people was without any compromise. Only reliable and own people got a chance to get in…

a document of acceptance for popclub

This popclub was formed in autumn, 1969 and it was a perfect chance for youth in Soviet era to educate themselves musically. This club in faculty’s foyer publicized the top10 list of Radio Luxenbourg and top20 of NME (New Musical Express). Later, they started arranging discotheques in club The Sun. Shortly, these events caught attention of local hippies and avant-garde youth. This club gained more and more popularity; sometimes people from other towns and cities were attending discotheques. Sadly, The Sun was needed to be shut because national safety caught them in one meeting of hippies. Then, everyone shared out records and walked away on different ways…

We Will Meet Again by Gintarėliai (Ambers)

Mom and Dad Wonder by Gintarėliai (Ambers)

setlist of Gintaeėliai

cassette of Lithuanian punk-rock band Sa-Sa

Becoming a Pro Or: How Fuzz Installed Straplocks

Does this sound stupid?
ehhh I don't care.
On 7th July a postman showed up (finally) and gave me a little parcel. It's address on the back showed that this thing is from UK.
There was my oh-so-new guitar strap and a pair of straplocks in it. I searched in my dad's boxes of random stuff and found some screwdrivers, etc. and took them. At that time I knew - I will not die of boredom.

I'm actually glad about the result.
Straplocks work perfectly.
And this proves that Fuzz has balls to do a lot of cool things ;)

Take care!

As fuzzy as hell,

Fuzz x

Here's a song which fits my mood perfectly

Forbidden freedom: Rock music in the USSR and Soviet Lithuania (Part 3 of 5)

ROCK MUSIC AGAINST THE SOVIET SYSTEM

Katedra in one of Marches of rock, 1989

By years of “Perestroika” (literally: Restructuring. More info here) the bands started setting free from the claws of strict censorship. At that time, underground bands got an opportunity to show themselves in public, play their own songs, which had a lot of hidden messages and criticism for occupants of Soviet Union.

On 1987 Algirdas Kaušpėdas (the frontman of famous rock band “Antis” (“Duck”in English)) came up with idea to hold a tour of rock bands in Lithuania, called as “March of Rock over Lithuania”. The idea came right after success of his band on one of the most successful concert “Kažkas atsitiko” (“Something Happened”) in 1986 which was shot as a film with the same title and shown at cinemas. It was the first time when thousands of people were able to listen to the illegal underground rock music.

Some songs of "Antis" from successful and very famous movie "Kažkas atsitiko" (Something Happened). I remember listening to their songs when I was a child.

This band sneered down Soviet system, typical Soviet life and limitations through their lyrics (if you want, I'll translate the lyrics later). One of examples is the song called Alio, Alio (you can see some clues in the video, too). They shocked people of Soviet age with their Gothic and monstrous image

"Antis"

Next year, after success of the movie, the first “March of Rock” was held and many famous bands were participating this event. It is clear that it was the first experience for both – bands and audience. The idea that it should be not localized and traveling event succeed. New rock phenomenon gained attention even of those people who didn’t like rock music. These “Marches of Rock over Lithuania” encouraged youth to seek freedom of Lithuania. They all lasted until re-establishment of Lithuanian Independence. 

Back then, quoting Algirdas Kaušpėdas, “until then, nobody had made concerts and gigs in open areas or stadiums. We were absolute carriers of freedom. Even Sąjūdis [anticommunist independence movement] hasn’t been formed yet. Later, after it’s been formed, we took our PAZ [brand of soviet bus], raised Lithuania tricolor flags and went driving to villages. People there saw Lithuanian flag for the first time [the tricolor flag, national anthem and coat of arms have been banned by the USSR government until the re-establishment of Lithuanian Independence]. I remember, somewhere in Samogitia [Lithuanian region], an old woman dropped her buckets when she saw us.”

The band Bix, the same as Antis, was one of the main supporters of "Marches of Rock over Lithuania" (1988)

There were three “Marches of Rock” before the independence of Lithuania has been re-established. Every time in those concerts more and more people were talking about Lithuania’s aspiration of independence. In countries, occupied by the Soviet Union, this genre of music was a symbol of struggle against the system and occupant regime. It was a part of the “Singing Revolution”.

If you’re interested, here are the images of PAZ-672 buses (my town has 14 of them which are still in use)

Forbidden freedom: Rock music in the USSR and Soviet Lithuania (Part 2 of 5)

38 ROCK BANDS BANNED IN THE USSR

Record company/label of USSR

Representatives of government periodically compiled lists of forbidden bands and artists who “harmed” Soviet ideology and were “unacceptable” for values of Soviet people. As a result of this, songs of bands mentioned in those lists were not allowed to be played at youth discotheques to make sure people will live as the Soviet government wanted them to live and that they won’t try to seek for freedom. This document was released in 1985 as a banning order for committee of Komsomol (The Communist Union of Youth. More info about them here) of Nikolayev regional of Ukraine. What is more, this Cold War document below was kept in secret. It is funny how some bands and performers were called as “neofascist” or as “punk violence” acts with detailed reasons why they must be banned. 

I’ve translated this document in English, so did many people around the net.

Here is a part of document which is interesting and eye-catching:

“The following is an approximate list of foreign music groups and artists whose repertoires contain ideologically harmful compositions.

This information is recommended for the purpose of intensifying control over the activities in discotheques.

This information must be also provided to all vocal-instrument ensembles [that’s bands] and youth discotheques in the region”

“Group Name and Type of Propaganda”

1. Sex Pistols - punk, violence

2. B-52s - punk, violence

3. Madness - punk, violence

4. Clash - punk, violence

5. Stranglers - punk, violence

6. Kiss - neofascism, punk, violence

7. Krokus - violence, cult of strong personality

8. Styx - violence, vandalism

9. Iron Maiden - violence, religious obscurantism

10. Judas Priest - anticommunism, racism

11. AC/DC - neofascism, violence

12. Sparks - neofascism, racism

13. Black Sabbath - violence, religious obscurantism

14. Alice Cooper - violence, vandalism

15. Nazareth - violence, religious mysticism

16. Scorpions - violence

17. Genghis Khan - anticommunism, nationalism

18. UFO - violence

19. Pink Floyd - distortion of Soviet foreign policy ("Soviet aggression in Afghanistan")

20. Talking Heads - myth of the Soviet military threat

21. Perron - eroticism

22. Bohannon - eroticism

23. Originals - sex

24. Donna Summer - eroticism

25. Tina Turner - sex

26. Junior English - sex

27. Canned Heat - homosexuality

28. Munich Machine - eroticism

29. Ramones - punk

30. Van Halen - anti-Soviet propaganda

31. Julio Iglesias - neofascism

32. Yazoo - punk, violence

33. Depeche Mode - punk, violence

34. Village People - violence

35. 10cc - neofascism

36. Stooges - violence

37. Boys - punk, violence

38. Blondie - punk, violence

It’s funny how Depeche Mode, the band which I loved listening as a child, was called as ”punk violence” band… And imagine Julio Iglesias as a neofascist…


And recently I remembered the fact i heard a long time ago. Back then, the band from USA called The Beach Boys wanted to have a concert together with Alla Pugacheva (singer who was very popular in the Soviet Union). The concert was announced, tickets were sold immediately. Strangely, the concert was cancelled when people were standing near arena and waiting for the concert. Of course after this announcement, they got really disappointed as most of them came from very far places. What is more, the militia (Soviet police) thought that this might become a protest against the Soviet system, so came up and started expel peacefully minded people with water flushes. It was a hot summer day, so the girls were accused for showing too much body (because the flush of water slopped their shirts). Everything ended up with less than a half of people punished for various reasons.
Why? Because the Beach Boys were Americans and Soviet government hated America...

P.S. See you in the next posts ;P