Chechnya has staged its first ever major rock concert today, four months after the entire event was cancelled due to security fears.

The event took place in Gudermes, just east of the region's capital, Grozny, with 7,000 people braving the possible dangers to see such bands as Dead Dolphins, Prezident and the somewhat insensitively named Night Snipers.

While only 7,000 of the anticipated 20,000 plus crowd for the original concert showed up, they were kept adequate company by the 3,000 police that guarded the stadium:

The concert had been due to take place in July but was cancelled after the authorities said security could not be guaranteed.

In 2003, a bomb exploded at a rock festival in Moscow, killing 16 people - an incident blamed on Chechen separatists.

But Chechnya's Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, whose president father was assassinated in a bomb attack by rebels in Grozny last year, said: "We will start holding these festivals against the enemies of the republic."

Perhaps this is a new tactic the White House could adopt to the war on terror. Holding rock concerts against its enemies. I know if they targeted some Phil Collins or Chris De Burg concerts against Al Qaeda, there would be some dramatic results.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister had this to add:

"We would like to show the world that Chechnya is a calm region where large-scale music concerts could be held."

Next on the list? I propose a Spice Girls reunion tour of the region.

gut666

Moreno Valley, CA

April 2005

NOV 07, 2005 08:33 PM

how about lets send ashley simpson over there .

Jimbo

Dallas, TX

August 2003

NOV 07, 2005 09:32 PM

thrashmaster74 said:
how about lets send ashley simpson over there .

yeah i'm all for that.. dumb bitch

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

NOV 07, 2005 10:17 PM

Did they rock them like a hurricane?

Hana

Germantown, MD

October 2005

NOV 08, 2005 09:07 AM

Holy shit. I'm a big advocate for Chechen rights and peace in Chechnya, that's amazing.

sovietcanada

Montreal, QC

February 2005

NOV 08, 2005 11:00 AM

Kadyrov is a Moscow crony.

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NEWS: Chechens Rocked, For Once Not By Explosions.

ICY

Ireland

March 2005

NOV 07, 2005 07:26 PM