Translation from Anarchistická federace
December 26, 2023

Review of the book "They told us that the engine burned down and they are not flying anywhere", which consists of an interview with David Čechura, who is currently active in Knockout Booking.

In the 1990s, we sometimes discussed the problem of the lack of generational continuity of the anarchist movement, which was usually formed by barely grown boys and girls connected to the punk and hardcore subculture. And it seems that we are now at a time when some actors in similar debates have decided that they are old enough to share their memories. One such attempt is a book prepared by the Archive of Czech and Slovak Subcultures, which consists of an interview with David Čechura. Those who have been in the movement for some time, or in the broadly defined punk subculture, probably don't need to be told who it is. For those who are younger or unfamiliar, he introduces himself in the book. And over the years there is really something to talk about.

As with all such "memoir" books, where you have a personal relationship with some of the characters or events described, of course you can't help but remember your own memories. Three came to mind at first. As a surprise, in February 1993, at the Hanging Castle concert in the Petynka club, I came across the Opozice support band. She presented herself quite radically as a red skin, which did not please me much with the engagement of Pepíček, who sang, and David, who played the drums. I couldn't imagine that he was driving nags somewhere. Another memory is of a concert by the reggae punk band Inner Terrestrials, which David organized as a benefit for the Czechoslovak Anarchist Federation shortly after expanding its ranks for some time. And finally, a memory of David's willingness and helpfulness when he let me sleep for a week in his then apartment in Holešovice.

The book They told us that the engine burned down and it's not going anywhere is the first publication of the Archive, which in this way wants to "give space to the witnesses so that the voice of the subcultural environment can also be heard in the history of Czech and Slovak society". The main driving force of the Archive - Miro Michela - did not go very far for the first time, as he currently plays with David in the band The Publers. I'm just a little sad that he didn't "exploit" his bandmate a little more. I think that a lot of personalities whose names are mentioned in the book deserve a more in-depth discussion, as well as many events.

The conversation itself follows a more or less chronological line, which consists of various thematic circles, such as David's first encounter with subcultures, playing in the Opposition, VAP (you will learn, among other things, why the band was nicknamed the Great Anarchist Fraud) or The Chancers, organizing concerts, problems with neo-Nazis from the early 90s, collaboration with Jakub Polák, friendship with people from bands like Conflict and Schwartzeneggar, club Prepast, Movement of Civic Solidarity and Tolerance (HOST), production work at club 007 in Strahov, running Jahquita Records... All this is extra accompanied by a number of photographs, which together with the nice typesetting make the book a very impressive whole.

When asked how he perceived anarchism, David answers: "As a direction promoting freedom, which I have always liked. I was fulfilled by solidarity, cooperation with people and creative work, whether it was music or zines." But I miss the question in the book about the fact that, although David always subscribed to anarcho-pacifism, he previously had no problem playing in a red skin band and now for example, to co-organize under the banner of Knockout Booking concerts for anti-fascist skinhead bands, which are not twice as far from "positive violence", to borrow a nice phrase from the Slovak song Rozpor. I don't think it's necessarily a "contradiction" and I'm sure the answers could be interesting.

Memory books are nice, it's even nicer when they're not just about memories. As David says in the very end: "I'm happy that I returned to the activities that were always closest to me and that I can create something again." I'm also happy about it personally. So don't hesitate, get the book if it's still available, and if it isn't, maybe go to Strahovská seven to one of the concerts organized by Knockout Booking (facebook.com/knockout.booking).

Miroslav Michela, Ondřej Horák: They told us that the engine had burned down and they were not flying anywhere. An interview with David Čechura about the music and alternative scene of the nineties and zeroes. Archive of Czech and Slovak subcultures, Knockout Booking 2023. 96 pages, 200 CZK. Can be ordered at cs.archiv.subkultur@gmail.com.

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