August 24, 2023

"The Killers" Kill the Mood in Georgia


"The Killers" Kill the Mood in Georgia
Concertgoers boo the American Rock band "The Killers" in Georgia. G.Shavdatuashvili, Twitter.

On August 15, the American Rock band "The Killers" invited a Russian fan on stage to play the drums at their concert in Batumi, Georgia, stirring anger in the audience. In response, the lead singer, Brendon Flowers, referred to the Russian fan as a "brother" to Georgians. The concert was ended shortly afterward.

"The Killers" invites a fan to play the drums with them at every concert. At the Batumi concert, a Russian fan held a sign that read, "If destiny [is] kind, I'll be your drummer tonight." The sign caught Flowers' attention.

After finding out the fan was Russian, the singer said, "We don't know the etiquette of this land. This guy is a Russian. Are you guys okay with a Russian coming up here?" The answer from the crowd was no. Flowers invited the fan onto the stage anyway.

Startled by the boos, Flowers said, "You can't recognize if someone is your brother? He is not your brother?" Concertgoers walked out in protest, chanting "F*ck Russia."

Russia has a long history of aggression towards Georgia, including its 2008 invasion. Russian forces currently occupy 20 percent of Georgian land. The War in Ukraine has strained relationships with Russians living in Georgia, as Georgians identify in many ways with Ukrainians.

Radio Tbilisi has removed "The Killers" songs from the air. The Georgian "Shame Movement" posted on their Instagram an image reading, "The Killers supporting Killers." The Killers later issued an apology via social media. 

You Might Also Like

Notes at the Front
  • August 15, 2023

Notes at the Front

More poignant and brave “last words” of dissenters, and a look at one popular place (again) of exile.
  • August 15, 2023

"I Am Horrified"

The founder of Russian tech giant Yandex publicly condemns the War on Ukraine.
Georgians:
  • May 25, 2023

Georgians: "Stop The Wedding!"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's daughter was at a wedding in Georgia. Protesters interrupted the event.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955