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Iranian Rockers Won't Stay Mute on Crisis

Plan to get so famous they're unstoppable at home

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 19, 2009 1:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – Iranian band Hypernova arrived in the US in 2007 ready to rock—but not prepared to be caught condemning their home government. Now, as demonstrators flock to protest Iran’s election results, singer “King Raam” is turning up the political volume, the Global Post reports. “There are so many flaws in this election one doesn’t even know where to begin,” he says.

His goal: to get so big he’s “literally untouchable” when, someday, he goes home. “I’ll be so famous that they can do their worst—throw me in jail or whatever—I’ll be on the cover of Time,” Raam says. Meanwhile, “I’ve actively been helping other kids in the underground” of Iranian rock—amid a ban on Western music—“trying to get their visas, trying to get them into festivals.”

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Members of the music group Hypernova attend Pangea Day at Sony Studios on May 10, 2008 in Culver City, California. (Getty Images)

Hypernova is opening up about politics. (YouTube)

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Iranian Rockers Won't Stay Mute on Crisis