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VOICES FROM THE FIELDTHE IRC BLOG
Metal band's Baghdad "hell," New York reunion
Marwan Riyadh, drumer from the Baghdad heavy metal band Acrassicauda, is greeted by two of his bandmates at Newark Liberty International Airport. Photo: Lisa Whiteman
If you watched "Heavy Metal in Baghdad" you know how the band Acrassicauda ("Black Scorpion") became a target for extremists for daring to play heavy metal rock in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
A story in today's New York Times describes the hell the band had been through in wartime Baghdad. Its practice space was bombed. Its members were branded Satan worshipers and received death threats for making Western-style music.
They did the only thing they could do to survive – separate and flee the country.
They lived as refugees in Syria and Turkey for nearly three years, getting together when they could, "killing time and dreaming of rocking out in the land of the free." Then the United States offered them asylum.
Lead guitarist Tony Aziz and bassist Firas Al-Lateef arrived four months ago, settling just outside New York City. They were followed by Faisal Talal, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Drummer Marwan Riyadh was the last to arrive, last Friday.
The band mates celebrated their reunion on Sunday with a concert and a backstage meeting with their idols, Metallica.
You can listen to Acrassicauda's music and read about how the International Rescue Committee helped bring the band back together on the Times Web site.
To learn more about Iraqi refugees and how you can help, visit our special report.
The IRC's Emily Holland had a chance to meet up with the band members this week – check back soon here for her exclusive report and photos.
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