Yusef Hashish: Salaam B*tches ! We are blessed, please call me Yusef. First let me explain greeting. In the beginning some fans were offended and ask: “Yusef, why you say to us“b*tches?” They misunderstand my sarcasm; When I say, “Salaam B*tches”, I’m talking to the spies of Iranian regime who watch show, the censors, and the Metal “posers”, etc., ……those b*tches - True Metal Warriors know who they are !
UM: Well what makes you quit al-Qaeda and Islam and join USA?
Yusef: Well, I’m a little rusty, pardon my awkwardness, it’s been a while. Last time I do interview, it was with immigration authorities.
I was indoctrinated from childhood in my village in Yemen. Then I went to madrassah in Pakistan & studied Shariah and Jihad. We joined al-Qaeda, back when Russians invade Afghanistan. At the time, it seemed like a noble cause.
But soon, I see many bad things, hypocrisy of leaders, Osama‘s men take new young al-Qaeda recruits & make them “b*tches, cause there are not enough goats. Then I realize something was missing in my life, …….like electricity, women, Heineken, sunglasses, S.U.V.’s, ………. After a long time I start to wonder why everybody hate Islam & why I’m stuck in this fucking cave with Osama. I think if allah is really behind al-Qaeda, then why am I’m living like dog, hiding in cave, with these smelly bastards and no women ? Then one day I’m on Osama’s computer, looking at “martyr farewell” Videos, when I find this band, from Iran, that play the Metal, and I read how they have new life in Hollywood, after they escape crazy Islamist.
So, I think, What the hell, ……, maybe I find new life, maybe I, too, can escape and get away from old life and make one new. I decide then to say no to allah, and fuck this bullshit ! I make escape.
UM: And how you did that?
Yusef: One day, when Osama was busy with the goat, I slip away and make it to nearest town in valley. Then I find my way to Yemen. I soon realized I was tired of living in this 12th century “shit-hole“, and I decided to leave for the west.
Good thing, too, because Osama send his “hit man”, Mustaf bin-Yumahma, to take me out for betraying the high sheik. So, I fake passport & fly to Mexico. Once there I make it by bus to Tijuana; there I buy a sombrero & walk acrossborder to San Diego. Very nice place. Like paradise compared to Osama’s cave !
UM: Tell us about your metal journey?
Yusef: Well, things get pretty crazy in San Diego. Immigration authorities almost picked me up in a raid; I look too much like Mexican. My money was almost gone and I was looking for work, when one night I met this dude, Max, while watching the ladies at a strip club. He says he has a friend on East Coast that can hook me up with a job helping to work for a music video show in Baltimore. It sounded like a good thing, plus I get to travel to East Coast & see America. While driving east he played the Metal music for me & I was hooked. I was pissed at Osama & Islam for deceiving me, I was full of rage at not being allowed to say what I think all these years. Max told me the young people who play the music are also pissed at being deceived by society & are expressing their emotions & thoughts through the Metal. I liked it, because I always secretly dreamed of the free expression and going to America. These fuckers here in America don’t know how good they got it.
Eventually we get to Baltimore. As we researched & explored the internet we hear Metal every day, and find many Metal bands in Islamic countries. I was very surprised of this because Islamist & Taliban don’t like music, except for prayer. One of the Islamic writings, ‘Umdat as-Salik wa Uddat an-Nasik’ (Reliance of the Traveller and Tools of the Worshipper), says: “Allah Mighty and Majestic sent me as a guidance and mercy to believers and commanded me to do away with musical instruments, flutes, strings, crucifixes, and the affair of pre-Islamic ignorance..... Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever listens to a songstress......who will hold musical instruments lawful”.
I think these bands are the rebels, just like me, but much younger. Anyway, the more I hear METAL, the more I like the free expression & have admiration for these bold, brave, talented young people who play the Metal. I start to be hooked and say, good bye allah, Hello METAL !
UM: What is "Rock el Casbah" ? How you come up with it ?
Yusef: Well I hear this song, long time ago, when I visit England. You know, The Clash. The song stayed in my head. I thought it would make a good theme song, so we decide to call the show: Rock The Casbah; (We hope nobody sue us.) Since we had decided to feature videos from Middle East, we decided to change to Rachid Taha’s version of the song, because it was in Arabic. Then we change to “Rockel Casbah” to fit the new theme song. The show would have music videos, humour, and telling the truth about Islam, and laughing at it. I would also occasionally give commentaries on things in Metal & politics. I would also encourage the young metal fans & musicians to realize their dreams. It sounded fucking crazy!…….but, I was willing to give it a go, and see what happened.
UM: Well seems like you promote Iranian Metal, what makes you do that?
Yusef: Then, while we were still in the planning stages, The post-election protests in Iran occurred. The young people in Iran were being oppressed; Metal was taboo.
The government did permit some concerts, but only under strict supervision; no Metal T-shirts, No “moshpit“, No lyrics, No “horns” sign, everyone must stay in seat - all, with government “goons” watching. As protests became more brutalI began to communicate with musicians & fans there. I hear stories of guys, being pulled out of classroom by police & taken to jail for wearing SLAYER T-shirt; Another dude said he did prison time for being caught with “Pink Floyd” cassette.
Many of the talented musicians there were very sad & depressed. They were not permitted to publish & sell there CDs. There was no place to play live to public, and practice must be secret with, low volume. If fact I spoke with a guy who told of friends jamming in basement during July ‘09 protests; The police heard them playing and threw tear gas though the windows, came in and beat everyone, until they couldn’t walk; then they destroyed instruments. But these true Metal warriors, keep on rocking, they defy the authorities. They are desperate, and just want to play METAL ! They would pay in hell, if there was electricity. We admire this; Nothing can stop Metal.
About this time, I as involved in following events in Iran on ‘facebook’ and was encouraged by administrators of some of the pages for Free Iran & Student Protesters to help encourage these young people, to give them a platform to have their musical free expression heard & seen outside Iran. So, we make Metal from Iran the main feature of ‘Rock el Casbah”. But anything truly excellent regarding Iran, or resistance to authority, can make it on the show.
UM: Tell us about your success till date?
Yusef: Success. How does one measure success? Do we compare to others, or do we achieve a level of personal satisfaction?
On November 4th, 2009 we posted SHOW 1 of “Rock el Casbah” since that time, we have made contacted by dozens of METAL Bands. Our YouTube Channel had over 10,000 hits in the first year; We have produced 6 Shows, consisting of 28 videos; Also, with the help of THE RED SWITCH - CHRY 105.5 FM in Toronto, We have gotten radio airplay for over 20 songs by Iranian metal bands. Not too, bad for an old man, no ? I am satisfied, I feel blessed.
UM: Have you registered for copyright protection with the U.S. copyright Office (www.copyright.gov) Have you affiliated with a performance rights organization? (which one? ASCAP, BMI, SESAC?)
Yusef: You’re kidding, right ? Ha, ha, ha! Hell No! Most all bands in Iran are not with record labels, and they want me to promote their stuff anyway. I always ask for permission from bands to use videos, even major dudes in Metal, but most are too, busy to get back to me. So we take a chance. Besides, we don’t make no money & we don’t take any money from “them“. Warner Music Group is only one who blocked use of videos. If I use a copyrighted video without an answer to request, I always leave message to buy the music in my video description. As far as copyright for “Rock el Casbah”, & don’t care who uploads, I want to spread the METAL to all, and make it the ultimate weapon against islamo/Fascism.
“Rock el Casbah” is purely for educational purposes. Musical education.
UM: How fans can have access to your shows online?
Yusef: Metal fans can come explore the World of METAL from the real fucking “underground” of Iran on: YouTube, MySpace, NETLOG & facebook.We have recently expanded our face book presence & have been added to REVERBNATION. Hell, once I was searching internet & found that someone in Iran had uploaded “Rock el Casbah” to World News IRAN TV website, Until authorities take it down.
LINKS for “Rock el Casbah”
YOUTUBE : Rock el Casba
MYSPACE : Yusef Hashish
MYSPACE : “Rock el Casbah”
MYSPACE : INFIDEL Productions
NETLOG : Yusef Hashish
REVERBNATION : Rock el Casbah Hosted by Yusef Hashish
Facebook : "Rock el Casbah" hosted by Yusef Hashish
Facebook : Yusef Hashish
Facebook : Robert Edgar Keller
UM: Any last word(s)?
Yusef:
For the fans: I say stay Metal, be true to yourself, don't be afraid to break from the herd.
To musicians: I say, the key to success is persistance, never give up, be dedicated. Persistance is even more important than education or talent.
To both: I say visualize the dream. Remember:"The higher you soar, the smaller you appear to those who cannot fly."
To Unholy Maunder: We are both invoved in similar missions, that of trying to get recognition for Metal, for our respective groups.
As far as dealing with cultural differences, it is sometimes hard to understand why man behaves like such stupid creatures. All one can do is keep an open mind, stay focussed on the mission; but make sure we realize the big picture. It is wrong to hate people, but righteous to have rage & contempt for unjust governments, institutions & religions. It would be immoral, if we did not speak out against injustice.
Remember, my brother, "METAL Ain't Easy" !
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.