Pussy Riot at Glastonbury: ‘The toilets aren’t so bad. At least they have doors’

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/28/pussy-riot-glastonbury-toilets-peoples-republic-putin

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Pussy Riot’s Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Pyotr Verzilov (in and out of character as an ultra-conservative Russian freedom fighter wearing a balaclava and wielding an AK-47) met G2 backstage at the Leftfield, fresh from declaring an independent People’s Republic of Glastonbury from the top of a surplus Russian military van.

Hi Pussy Riot! How is your Glastonbury?

Nadezhda: We just arrived before our performance so we didn’t see much, but we like the audience and it was probably the best questions we’ve faced in our experience. It’s very political. Active!

How does that compare with Russian festivals?

Nadezhda: In Russia we also have rock festivals, but we have guys like him [points at Pyotr] at rock festivals.

[G2 laughs]

Nadezhda: That’s not a joke.

Maria: Because of the money which rock festivals took from the government, they look not like this. Are they corporate? Unfortunately, yes. But some of the underground clubs try to do independent festivals and succeed.

What would Vladimir Putin make of Glastonbury?

Maria: He will not have this opportunity. I think it’s not for him.

So, where did you get the military truck?

Pyotr: Well, when we had a rally down in the Park stage, I gave a speech and said that today is the founding day of Glastonbury’s People’s Republic. And as with any people’s republic, you need surplus military vehicles. So we just purchased them down at the corner store along with some equipment and some clothes.

Er, is that a real gun?

Pyotr: Obviously it is, look at it. [Rests his hand proudly on it.] Look at the weight, it’s heavy!

How did you get it in? We couldn’t get a glass bottle of whisky through the gate.

Pyotr: Well, you know. Russian rebels have their ways.

You said during your speech on the Park stage that you wanted people to start the day with a riot. Where do we start?

Maria: It’s the decision of every person and some of the riots can be inside riots, inside you, rather than going and attacking people.

So, the Glastonbury’s People’s Republic, eh? How do we sign up?

Pyotr: Well, you buy your own military vehicles, you recruit men who will fearlessly fight to separate the republic from the United Kingdom and then install nice conservative values here, not the bullshit you have going on down in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. People in Donetsk [the Ukrainian city held by pro-Russian separatists since 2014] and other parts of the Russian world are really having a nice time these days, so we just need people down in Glastonbury to really feel their power.

You said on stage that you wanted the crowd to inspire Russian peace. How do we do that then – buy a stranger some chunky chips and funky dips?

Maria: By music! If music will become more political like it was in the 60s and 70s we will be happier.

You were introduced on stage by Charlotte Church. She said that she was inspired by your ideas. Did she have anything to inspire you?

Nadezhda: She just told us that she’s not usually an interviewer, so we appreciated that she decided to be an interviewer especially for us. It’s a big honour. She’s a real cool activist right now, so it was cool to have a chat with her.

Pyotr: I asked her to perform at the foundation concert for Glastonbury’s People’s Republic and she agreed. We have plans to turn her into one of the pop icons of the new republic.

Who do you want to see while you’re here?

Nadezhda: I want to see some food.

People know you for political acts designed to shock. I’ve seen some pretty shocking things at Glastonbury. Do you think this crowd is unshockable?

Maria: I don’t think people come here for shock. But they come here for inspiration. If we found a way to do that, it’s a pleasure for us.

The crowd thought it was quite shocking when Pyotr started talking, in character, about banning gay parades. They didn’t know what to make of it.

Nadezhda: It’s cool to explore what can embarrass people in different countries because this type of character is a usual character for Russians. People will applaud him and nobody would be embarrassed.

Pyotr: If you had said the same words in Russia, you’d definitely get a massive cheer. And people would be incredibly happy that their hero has appeared.

OK, time for the really important question. How do the Glastonbury toilets compare with the ones in a Russian penal colony?

Nadezhda: Yes, I visited the toilets. But they’re better than the penal colony.

Maria: What’s wrong with the toilets?

No, not these nice ones backstage. The ones out in the campsite.

Nadezhda: It’s cool. I’ve seen some pictures. It’s not so bad. At least they have doors. In penal colonies they don’t have doors. So it’s OK for me to pee in public.