On October 10th, 2007, the visas of the members of Iraqi metal band Acrassicauda will start to expire. The Syrian government has made it clear that they will not renew them, meaning the band will be forced to return to Iraq. We don't need to stress just how dangerous this will be for them. It could very likely be a death sentence, and the time in which we can help them is quickly running out.
We are asking for donations to assist Acrassicauda in leaving Syria for a safer haven. The band has no bank accounts, and Paypal doesn't function in Syria, so we've setup a Paypal account on their behalf. No donation is too small. By giving as little as ten dollars, you can be a part of keeping the heavy metal dreams of four young Iraqi men alive.
Born out of a basement rehearsal space in Baghdad, Acrassicauda (Latin for "black scorpion") is Iraq's only heavy metal band. Inspired by western bands like Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot, they began writing and playing metal in 2001. Their dream of performing live in Iraq soon became the struggle of their lives.
Original members Firas (bass), Tony (lead guitar), Marwan (drums), Faisal (rhythm guitar), and Waleed (lead vocals) were only able to play three shows before the war started in 2003. Soon after, Waleed retired from the band and fled the country, leaving Faisal to take over as lead singer. Due to increased security precautions throughout Iraq, it became difficult to practice--much less get through a show--without literally risking their lives. As the situation worsened in Baghdad they began receiving death threats from insurgents and religious fundamentalists accusing them of Satanism.
The war has now all but destroyed their dream of living in peace, growing their hair long, banging their heads, and shredding as loud as they want. The members of Acrassicauda are currently refugees in Damascus, Syria. All of their visa applications to foreign countries have been denied.
Thank you for your support and your concern.
who doesn't vice donate all the money it's making from the heavy metal in baghdad movie????
don't pretend you're not selling the shit out of that.......
Posted by: humph | 19/09/2007 at 00:21
great point humph
im a poor student so its hard for me to help..
Posted by: Jebus | 19/09/2007 at 04:03
They did donate, if it wasn't for vice, would you have ever even heard of them?? Jesus.
Posted by: dude | 19/09/2007 at 06:03
yeah, they put them on the map, now they can help them w money that they need.
Posted by: Jebus | 19/09/2007 at 07:45
but... they're shit!
Posted by: ha | 19/09/2007 at 12:28
why are donations only in canadian dollars??
Posted by: hmm | 19/09/2007 at 18:47
bunch of bitches... Just do IT!
Posted by: youngblood | 20/09/2007 at 01:38
ma andate a cagare idioti pieni di boria
Posted by: io | 20/09/2007 at 09:56
Ha ha, okay, so NOW, after maybe 15 years of ignoring hundreds of social causes they might have been involved with, and instead focusing on drugs, violence, and pessimism, Vice decides to become a charity cause with their attempt to save an Iraqi Heavy Metal band that they made friends with. Suddenly they're trying to help other people! What about AIDS, Cancer, environmentalism, poverty, starvation, illiteracy, etc.? Are you going to set up paypal funds for them too? I always admired this magazine for it's ability to totally defy and avoid social causes in all forms, and often debunk them! I guess they had to give in at some point, there's just too much love in the world.
Posted by: Optimists Club | 20/09/2007 at 14:56
I genuienly feel for these guys, but what the fuck were they thinking starting up a heavy metal band when they live in the arsehole of the world aka the middle east? All you have to do is fucking sneeze the wrong way and it's against their god.
Posted by: Jesus Loves You | 20/09/2007 at 18:39
you people all make me sick. vice can do and say whatever it wants ( you put out your own mag). i may disagree heavily with half of the shit they say, but at least theyre doing something about it. so go ahead and sit there masturbating to your smug ass pixel tan reflection on your monitors and think of how smart you are for lambasting a publication for trying to help a couple lives. these comments are so fucking detached and cynical it makes me sick. i shouldnt be surprised though, this is the voice of the american consumer. either A) shut the hell up and help, or B) shut the hell up, cos your comments arent gonna help these guys out. they can do whatever the fuck they want and if starting a metal band in a country like that is what they do, well they still have more balls than any of you out there commenting on this shit.
Posted by: jfwhiteside | 20/09/2007 at 19:25
This isnt the first tribute they've done, they had one for the decendants guy's kid, hopefully a new trend.
Even if they are libertarian arseholes.
Posted by: Jooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooola | 21/09/2007 at 17:03
WHY DONT YOU GIVE THESE GUYS THE MONEY YOU GET FROM SELLING THEIR FILM? OR MAYBE BUY LESS COKE AND SAVE THE MONEY FOR THEM?
Posted by: hectorory | 22/09/2007 at 00:41
is it surprising to anyone else that every visa application has failed?? - you guys need to find someone who can fill out a government form.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-immigration-faq-refugee-status.html
there you go - go tell Stephen Harper you're super gay for gavin's moustache and you're in... go be lifties in whistler and play for the winter olympics in 2010.. just a suggestion.
Posted by: dudley donothing | 22/09/2007 at 04:42
If anyone has a direct contact to the band, I would love to do anything I can to help. There's got to be something else beside money that can keep them in a safe country. If any Vice staffers read this and would be willing to get me in touch with the band, I'm on the job. I'll be promoting this donation page at a music festival I'm hosting next weekend in Richmond, VA. Please call if you have any relevant info - 804-399-2448
Posted by: Christian Detres | 23/09/2007 at 20:31
You guys should try and get them students visas in Berlin. It costs next to nothing to study and live here, and there are many Lebanese guys doing something similar. What is the plan? Without a blueprint for action I can't see many people throwing money your way..
Posted by: Madarab | 24/09/2007 at 20:00
THIS FRIDAY - SCREENING:-HEAVY METAL IN BAGHDAD WITH A Q&A WITH THE DIRECTOR SUROOSH ALVI
RSVP ESSENTIAL: This is a private event – If you would like to request tickets please e-mail fps@aljazeera.net with your name and phone number. Please put FPS Guest in the subject line of the email. This is a free event and includes refreshments.
TIME: Audience members must arrive by 12:00pm and the event will end around 5:00pm.
Venue: Everyman Cinema Club, 5 Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead, London, NW3 6TX Buses: 46, 268, N5 / Underground: Hampstead, Northern Line (Edgware Branch)
The event will be filmed for The Fabulous Picture Show on Al Jazeera English, and your presence will be taken as permission to use your image and contributions in the programme and on Al Jazeera English. Visit english.aljazeera.net/programmes for more info on The Fabulous Picture Show.
Posted by: Fabulous Picture Show | 05/03/2008 at 12:10