When you think of rock ‘n’ roll, you may think of some legendary artists such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or even Elvis Presley. While these rock ‘n’ roll artists were popular for their catchy rhythmic beats, they symbolized important rebellious attitudes that challenged societal norms and political ideologies. Since the 1950s, rock ‘n’ roll dominated the American music industry and ultimately diffused its cultural influence worldwide, even reaching Communist Czechoslovakia.

Recognized as a Communist state since 1948, Czechoslovakia was under strict government control that limited citizens’ access to culture beyond its borders, including Western rock ‘n’ roll. To suppress local access to Western music, the government jammed radio signals and banned Western albums as sellable products in local markets. They even permitted Czech artists, such as Karel Gott and Jiří Korn, to cover popular Western rock ‘n’ roll songs in Czech to divert attention from the West.

However, the government’s efforts were futile.

Instead of yielding themselves to the government, Czechs developed sneaky yet effective methods to consume and circulate Western music. One method frequently used was ‘magnitizdat’-- the unofficial process of recording and copying music often distributed under the government’s nose.

Using ‘magnitizdat’ was an opportunity for Czechs to empower themselves by controlling their access to popular culture. This was considered a necessary practice as many risked the danger of persecution and imprisonment to have some semblance of self-autonomy.

A 1964 tape recorder with the ability to record and copy illegal music.

Though the process of ‘magnitizdat’ and its circulation was intrinsically anti-communist, the underground music scene took a more visible political stance against the regime following the Soviet bloc invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. This invasion dismantled the reforms established in early 1968 that loosened the government’s restriction on speech and press, and instead enforced a period of “normalization” that strengthened the Communist regime once more.

In response to this “normalization” period, Czech musical artists took it upon themselves to create their own rock ‘n’ roll music that defied the communist regime.

One of the most influential Czech rock ‘n’ roll bands recognized for their non-conformist attitude was The Plastic People of the Universe, or the PPU. Created in 1968, the group lost its government-approved license to perform music because the band lacked a Czech name and didn’t sing Czech lyrics, which was against the law. As a result, the PPU were forced to become a rebel band, performing secret, unannounced gigs at weddings, school dances, and more. While the PPU didn’t perform songs with obvious political messages, they sparked political movements and discussions by operating against the law and performing illegal shows, often resulting in police violence and imprisonment for both the band and their fans.

Beyond their music, the PPU helped form Charter 77, a manifesto signed by 242 politicians, writers, musicians, and intellectuals calling on the Czech government to honor the basic human rights conventions outlined by the United Nations and Helsinki Accords. The creation of Charter 77 ultimately served as the foundation for the Velvet Revolution in 1989, leading to the overthrow of the communist regime.

Plastic People of the Universe, circa 1974. Courtesy of Stray Satellite.

Another politically influential Czech rock ‘n’ roll band was Katapult. While the PPU opposed the communist regime through performance, Katapult’s lead singer, Oldřich Říha, was well known for occasionally speaking out against the government during shows, leading to banned performances. To combat this, Katapult sometimes performed under the name Studiova skupina Oldricha Rihy to continue playing music.

The Plastic People of the Universe and Katapult are only two out of many influential Czech rock ‘n’ roll bands who performed underground to keep their voices and artistic visions alive. By performing outside the parameters of the communist government and participating in ‘magnitizdat’, Czechs used music as a means of opposing the censorship policies imposed on the population and to, ultimately, encourage political change.

After the Communist Party ceased its control of the Czech government in 1989, music became less restricted as Czech musical artists were allowed to sing in English once more, and Western artists were allowed to perform in the country.

Rock ‘n’ roll was a genre of music that helped to lead political change in Czechoslovakia. Today, the genre remains largely popular but with less charged political implications and, instead, embracing its freedom of expression.

Written by Ryan Banda

Sources:

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