Whatever you thought you were doing in March 2007, it's time to reschedule. A music festival billed as the rebirth of Woodstock, is set to shake the planet for four days. Only there will be no sex and drugs. Or politics. And it'll be in North Korea.
Although it may sound eerily similar to the fictional plot of Team America, the festival is for real. Billed as "Rock for Peace", the event is an attempt to promote the values and stability of North Korea. "We are not a mad, isolated country. We are part of an ordinary world, just like yourselves," organisers told The First Post.
The decision to invite bands to play "western, capitalist" music was designed to change people's perception of the Hermit Kingdom.
What it will resemble musically is anyone's guess as no bands have yet been confirmed and anyone who accepts the invitation will have to
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North Korea wants a ‘western, capitalist’ rock festival. Oh yeah? By joe mackertich |
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refrain from mentioning war, sex, violence, drugs, imperialism or "anti-socialism". Despite these strictures, the organisers hope to attract rock musicians such as Eric Clapton, U2 and - most surprising, given their redneck credentials - Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Bands that are invited to play will also be given the privilege of being able to explore any part of North Korea the government deems suitable.
If the Rock for Peace festival is a success, there is talk of making it a regular occurrence and even staging the next one in the DMZ (demilitarised zone) between North and South Korea, the most heavily guarded border on earth.
Kim Jong-il, North Korea's leader, will not attend the concert for security reasons. Known to harbour a taste for Western music and film, he will surely be watching closely on the state's single TV channel. 
FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 14, 2006
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