The BBC's international radio station (B2B)

No Master Brand

BBC World Service Core

Witness History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

Witness History: Musicians of the Iranian Revolution

16/09/2015 GMT

Musicians of the Iranian Revolution

BBC World Service - Witness History, Musicians of the Iranian Revolution

In 1978, Iran's top musicians took a stand against the Monarchy

In September 1978, in the heat of Iran's revolution, the country's top musicians decided to join the popular uprising.

In September 1978 in the heat of Iran's revolution, the country's top musicians decided to join the popular uprising. After the massacre of demonstrators by the Shah's armed forces in Jaleh Square, state employed musicians went underground and started recording revolutionary songs. These songs became some of the most iconic in recent Iranian history. Bijan Kamkar remembers how the group secretly produced music in a basement. 

(Photo: Bijan Kamkar, on the far left, with a group of Iranian musicians. Courtesy of Bijan Kamkar)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Musicians of the Iranian Revolution

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Core

About this data