Russian Rock Band Picnic Returns to Stage After Moscow Terrorist Attack, Remains Apolitical as Pro-Kremlin Media Blames Ukraine

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, most of the country’s musical acts have taken sides, either supporting or condemning the war – but not Picnic.

The aging Russian rock band notably refrained from making any statements about the invasion of Ukraine. Many of their fellow musicians faced touring bans or exile for voicing their opposition, while others performed on the frontlines in solidarity with the Kremlin or in occupied Ukrainian territories.

Now, 46 years after its formation, Picnic has grabbed more global attention than ever for tragic reasons: Its planned concert at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow became the site of a mass shooting last Friday (March 22), with at least 137 lives lost in the terrorist attack. ISIS-K, an offshoot of the terrorist group ISIS, claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack.

Since then, some Russian media outlets have claimed that the band supported Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, suggesting this was one of the reasons that terrorist gunmen targeted the show.

The band did not comment on these reports. In fact, the band’s current frontman, Edmund Shklyarsky, who joined in 1981 as a guitarist and soon became Picnic’s main songwriter, has remained steadfastly apolitical since the terrorist attack. In his only public comments in the wake of the tragedy, he released a video address expressing “condolences to everyone who, involuntarily and naturally, found themselves involved in this terrible tragedy, utterly senseless. It is clear that there are no words that can resurrect or console people. But, of course, we offer our condolences to all relatives.”

Picnic will brave the stage again on Wednesday (March 27) at St. Petersburg’s Oktyabrsky concert hall. The concert will be dedicated to the victims of the Crocus City Hall attack, with the band announcing on social media that proceeds will be donated to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured in the attack.

The band’s manager, Yuri Chernyshevsky, wouldn’t comment on Picnic’s views on the war with Ukraine, and told Billboard that “you would need to ask the terrorists why they targeted Picnic’s show or why they targeted Crocus City Hall. I hope law enforcement will determine that.”

In the early 1980s, Picnic became part of the Leningrad Rock Club, an organization, allegedly controlled by the KGB, that facilitated underground and semi-underground rock bands to perform at a time when rock music in the Soviet Union faced scrutiny, if not outright bans. Later, Picnic’s songs drew criticism from Communist authorities for lyrics referencing illegal drug use.

In the latter half of the 1980s, Picnic, like other bands, benefited from the perestroika and glasnost reforms in the Soviet Union, which allowed formerly underground rock bands to officially tour and record. However, unlike some prominent bands of the period, Picnic largely avoided social and political issues, focusing more on esoteric and mystical themes in their lyrics.

Currently, the band includes the 68-year-old Shklyarsky, his son Stas on keyboards, bassist Marat Korchemny and drummer Leonid Kirnos. The band’s fan base is diverse, ranging from older listeners who have followed Picnic since the 1980s to younger fans introduced to the band through social media.

At the time of the March 22 attack, musicians from Picnic and a 65-piece orchestra set to accompany the rock band were in their respective dressing rooms and were promptly evacuated. However, Ekaterina Kushner, a member of Picnic’s administrative staff manning the merchandise table, died in the attack.

Another concert by Picnic and the symphonic orchestra was scheduled at the same venue on March 23. Almost all tickets for both performances at the 6,200-seat Crocus City Hall had been sold.