Text consists of an interview with David Cechura, who is currentlyactive in Knockout Booking. ---- In the 1990s, we sometimes discussedthe problem of the lack of generational continuity of the anarchistmovement, which was usually formed by barely grown boys and girlsconnected to the punk and hardcore subculture. And it seems that we arenow at a time when some actors in similar debates have decided that theyare old enough to share their memories. One such attempt is a bookprepared by the Archive of Czech and Slovak Subcultures , which consistsof an interview with David Cechura. Those who have been in the movementfor some time, or in the broadly defined punk subculture, probably don'tneed to be told who it is. For those who are younger or unfamiliar, heintroduces himself in the book. And over the years there is reallysomething to talk about.As with all such "memoir" books, where you have a personal relationshipwith some of the characters or events described, of course you can'thelp but remember your own memories. Three came to mind at first. As asurprise, in February 1993, at the Hanging Castle concert in the Petynkaclub, I came across the Opozice support band. She presented herselfquite radically as a red skin, which did not please me much with theengagement of Pepícek, who sang, and David, who played the drums. Icouldn't imagine that he was driving nags somewhere. Another memory isof a concert by the reggae punk band Inner Terrestrials, which Davidorganized as a benefit for the Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation shortlyafter expanding its ranks for some time. And finally, a memory ofDavid's willingness and helpfulness when he let me sleep for a week inhis then apartment in Holeshovice.The book They told us that the engine burned down and it's not goinganywhere is the first publication of the Archive, which in this waywants to "give space to the witnesses so that the voice of thesubcultural environment can also be heard in the history of Czech andSlovak society". The main driving force of the Archive - Miro Michela -did not go very far for the first time, as he currently plays with Davidin the band The Publers. I'm just a little sad that he didn't "exploit"his bandmate a little more. I think that a lot of personalities whosenames are mentioned in the book deserve a more in-depth discussion, aswell as many events.The conversation itself follows a more or less chronological line, whichconsists of various thematic circles, such as David's first encounterwith subcultures, playing in the Opposition, VAP (you will learn, amongother things, why the band was nicknamed the Great Anarchist Fraud) orThe Chancers, organizing concerts, problems with neo-Nazis from theearly 90s, collaboration with Jakub Polák, friendship with people frombands like Conflict and Schwartzeneggar, club Prepast, Movement of CivicSolidarity and Tolerance (HOST), production work at club 007 in Strahov,running Jahquita Records... All this is extra accompanied by a number ofphotographs, which together with the nice typesetting make the book avery impressive whole.When asked how he perceived anarchism, David answers: "As a directionpromoting freedom, which I have always liked. I was fulfilled bysolidarity, cooperation with people and creative work, whether it wasmusic or zines." But I miss the question in the book about the factthat, although David always subscribed to anarcho-pacifism, hepreviously had no problem playing in a red skin band and now forexample, to co-organize under the banner of Knockout Booking concertsfor anti-fascist skinhead bands, which are not twice as far from"positive violence", to borrow a nice phrase from the Slovak songRozpor. I don't think it's necessarily a "contradiction" and I'm surethe answers could be interesting.Memory books are nice, it's even nicer when they're not just aboutmemories. As David says in the very end: "I'm happy that I returned tothe activities that were always closest to me and that I can createsomething again." I'm also happy about it personally. So don't hesitate,get the book if it's still available, and if it isn't, maybe go toStrahovská seven to one of the concerts organized by Knockout Booking(facebook.com/knockout.booking).Miroslav Michela, Ondrej Horák: They told us that the engine had burneddown and they were not flying anywhere. An interview with David Cechuraabout the music and alternative scene of the nineties and zeroes.Archive of Czech and Slovak subcultures, Knockout Booking 2023. 96pages, 200 CZK. Can be ordered at cs.archiv.subkultur@gmail.com.https://www.afed.cz/text/8070/letme-vzpominani_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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