Behind the Shocking History of the Band Name Pussy Riot

Question: When is a band not a band? Answer: When it’s the Russian musical collective, Pussy Riot.

But beyond the members, the music, and the message, where did this shocking group get its moniker? Let’s dive into that story.

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The Band

The feminist Russian rock band and performance art collective is based in Moscow, Russia. Today, with the now-year-long invasion of Ukraine and the influence of the country’s oligarch, Vladimir Putin, that is now easy reality. In fact, the group’s frontwoman Nadya Tolonnikova recently spoke out about how Russia can be a bad place, especially for former Russian prisoner, American Brittney Griner. Tolonnikova should know, she was imprisoned in the country for protesting with Pussy Riot (more on that later).

Founded in 2011 as a mode to criticize the Russian oligarchy, the Pussy Riot collective is comprised of about a dozen women. Together, they’ve created memorable protests, known as guerrilla gigs, in Russian public spaces. Many of these videos have gone viral, earning the group support and derision, at the same time. The latter especially so from Russian governmental officials. In its music, Pussy Riot sings about human rights, the corrupt Putin, and the harmful affections of religion.

Arrest and Imprisonment

Pussy Riot became globally known when five of its members staged a performance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior in early 2012. Later that year, Tolokonnikova and member Maria Alyokhina were arrested and charged with “hooliganism.” Member Yekaterina Samutsevich was also arrested. They were denied bail and held for multiple years.

Many in the West criticized Russia for its harsh treatment of the collective members. Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina served nearly two years in prison, released in late 2013.

In 2014, Pussy Riot performed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the members were attacked with whips and pepper spray. Later that year, Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were sprayed with green dye by Russian youths.

Former President Trump

Ahead of the U.S. election in 2016, members of Pussy Riot predicted former President Donald Trump’s win. They talked about a dystopian world in which Trump, like Putin, would enforce his policies with a dictatorial sensibility, that would include shaming, branding of critics as evil, and even beatings. The band released the song “Make America Great Again,” which has since garnered millions of views on YouTube.

The Name

Pussy Riot, which is also written as Пусси Райот, is a name that raises eyebrows and perks up ears. Have two more significant words ever been put together before? There are other bands with similar names, including Seattle’s Thunderpussy, an all-woman quartet led by vocalist Molly Sides, but Pussy Riot—that’s really something to get the adrenaline pumping.

While there are about a dozen people on the performance side of the collective, several more are part of the group, responsible for video shoots, editing, and the like.

Prior to forming Pussy Riot, Tolokonnikova and her husband, Pyotr Verzilov, were part of the anarchist artist collective in Russia known as Voina. That protest art collective, active from around 2007 to 2009, was comprised of upwards of 60 people. There was drama in the group, though, and it fractured over the years.

[RELATED: Russian Band Pussy Riot Speaks Out About Putin’s Attack on Ukraine]

According to members of Pussy Riot today, anyone can join the collective. The members, though, strive for anonymity, since their art and their protests can endanger their lives and even those of family members. Many have seen the members in videos and the like wearing brightly colored masks, which is also to aid in anonymity.

In the end, the name speaks to the feminist mission of the band and also its fervency to make a change and gain attention. Overall, it seems like they’ve succeeded in their mission. Truly, to many people, the band is comprised of heroes.

Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage