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  1. BBC Radio 3
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  3. Andy Kershaw
  4. Iran - Axis of Evil

Iran - Axis of Evil

Media :

Listen now (105 minutes)

Availability:

Available to listen.

Last broadcast on Sun, 12 Jun 2005, 22:15 on BBC Radio 3 (see all broadcasts).

Synopsis

Episode image for Iran - Axis of Evil

Andy and his production team were granted unprecedented freedom to travel the length of Iran without minders or official translators. The result is a surprisingly truthful account of musical life in Iran.

Andy uncovers the underground music scene and describes the programme as "putting the fun into fundamentalism". He discovers underground heavy metal, rock, and attends an illegal rave in North Tehran. He records music all over the country including the self-mutilating Sufis of Kurdistan, a classical band in Esfahan, and African-influenced rap in the searing heat of the Persian Gulf .

He gets to grip with the appalling traffic in Tehran and has a go at crossing the road. He meets an urban planner who's just released Iran's first legal rap cassette, and, in a bored moment, discovers that the real reason for Persian music is to "stop old people being grumpy."

Andy also discovers a country full of young people desperate to perform and listen to music of whatever style, whenever and wherever they like. This programme is a unique mixture of professionally made, and extremely rare music recordings, as well as frank discussion with Iranians eager for change.

Propaganda

Propaganda for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Jahle

The group Jahle with pots and double flutes in Bander-Abbas on the Persian Gulf.

Esfahan

The Island of Hormuz

Music and featured items

Timings are shown from the start of the programme in hours and minutes.

  1. Chapter 1

    00:00

    Andy Kershaw in Tehran

    (06.29)

    Andy Kershaw starts his journey on the island of Hormuz before plunging straight into the chaotic, gridlocked traffic of Iran’s capital city, Tehran.

  2. Music Played

    1. 00:01

      Mr Ahmadi, Mr Kamal, Mr Mohammed, Mr Mostafa — Shoor

      Composer: Trad

      BBC Recording
    2. 00:03

      Hasan Payghan — Drop by Drop

    3. 00:05

      Hasan Payghan — The Las Moment

  3. Chapter 2

    00:06

    Beethoven’s Music Shop

    (05.40)

    In Beethoven’s Music Shop, Andy learns about the strict censorship rules governing Iranian pop – no politics and women can’t sing solo.

  4. Music Played

    1. 00:10

      Shakar — Khannande

  5. Chapter 3

    00:12

    Andy goes in search of Ohum.

    (09.07)

    Andy goes in search of one of the best bands in Tehran – Ohum. He finds the bass player of this underground group teaching at a private music institute in western Tehran.

  6. Music Played

    1. 00:12

      Ohum — no title

      White label
    2. 00:17

      Ohum — no title

      White label
    3. 00:19

      Ohum — no title

      White label

  7. Chapter 4

    00:21

    Islamic Revolution of Iran.

    (04.50)

    Andy explains the historical background to the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

  8. Music Played

    1. 00:24

      Mr Ahmadi, Mr Kamal, Mr Mohammed, Mr Mostafa — Dashti

      Composer: Trad

      BBC Recording

  9. Chapter 5

    00:25

    The secret police.

    (03.34)

    Andy has been told that he’s being followed by the secret police, but still finds Iranian society very relaxed and welcoming.

  10. Chapter 6

    00:28

    Iran’s first professional rapper.

    (06.35)

    Andy meets Iran’s first professional rapper – Shakar. He tells Andy how his music is passed by the censors, even though he has been banned in the past.

  11. Music Played

    1. 00:28

      Shakar — Khannande

    2. 00:31

      Shakar — Eskansas

  12. 00:34

    Shakar — Khannande

  13. Chapter 7

    00:35

    Imam Khomeini mosque

    (09.20)

    Andy is at the Imam Khomeini mosque in Esfahan. Walking inside, Andy’s guide demonstrates the amazing acoustics of the building designed to amplify the voice.

  14. Music Played

    1. 00:40

      Mr Ahmadi, Mr Kamal, Mr Mohammed, Mr Mostafa — Bayate Esfahan

      BBC Recording

  15. Chapter 8

    00:44

    Andy has a haircut.

    (05.52)

    Andy has a haircut in Esfahan and discusses the previous night’s music with his guide. He also finds a young man singing underneath a bridge.

  16. Music Played

    1. 00:48

      Adel Kamaly & Fareidoon Kamaly — Sartarz

      Composer: Trad

      BBC Recording

  17. Chapter 9

    00:50

    The Kurdish area of Iran.

    (08.21)

    Andy is in the Kurdish area of Iran with a musician from the Kurdish community living there.

  18. Music Played

    1. 00:54

      Grooh-e-Erfan-e-Ghaderi-ye-Kurdistan — Rafighan-e-Taright

    2. 00:57

      Grooh-e-Erfan-e-Ghaderi-ye-Kurdistan — Allah-o-Labeik

  19. Chapter 10

    00:58

    Kurdistan Province

    (08.04)

    Andy Kershaw is in Kurdistan Province at a centre where Sufi dervishes gather during the week.

  20. Music Played

    1. 01:03

      Grooh-e-Erfan-e-Ghaderi-ye-Kurdistan — Allah-o-Labeik

      BBC Recording
    2. 01:08

      Jahle — Gol e Bostan

      BBC Recording

  21. Chapter 11

    01:01

    The straits of Hormuz

    (11.38)

    Andy arrives at a village on the straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. He heads to a compound belonging to a group called Jahle - a band of African musicians mixing Persian and African styles.

  22. Chapter 12

    01:15

    Underground Heavy Metal

    (08.00)

    Andy meets an underground Heavy Metal group who play in the attic of lead singer’s father’s house. They face the risk of danger should the neighbours hear and complain to the authorities.

  23. Music Played

    1. 01:14

      Jahle — Sharji o garma (hot and humid)

      BBC Recording

  24. Chapter 13

    01:24

    Iranians having having fun.

    (06.20)

    Andy reflects on what Iranians do to have fun. . An article in a newspaper informs that Persian Music should have worldwide recognition as it ‘stops old people being grumpy’.

  25. Music Played

    1. 01:22

      Maj Noon — Mine

    2. 01:29

      Penhan Cho Del — Sham

      BBC Recording

  26. Chapter 14

    01:30

    Andy visits a secret party.

    (11.02)

    Andy visits a secret party - despite the clerics banning dancing, drinking alcohol and mixing with the opposite sex – parties like this go on all the time.

  27. Music Played

    1. 01:39

      Lullaby — Jahle

      BBC Recording

Broadcasts

  1. Sun 5 Sep 2004
    22:15
    BBC Radio 3
  2. Sun 12 Jun 2005
    22:15
    BBC Radio 3

More details

A programme from

  1. Andy Kershaw

Duration

105 minutes

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