University of Portland Pilot Scholars History Undergraduate Publications and History Presentations 12-2017 Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Soviet Union 1955-1991: Reflections of a Divided Society Vincent Verspieren Follow this and additional works at: https://pilotscholars.up.edu/hst_studpubs Part of the Music Commons, and the Political History Commons Citation: Pilot Scholars Version (Modified MLA Style) Verspieren, Vincent, "Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Soviet Union 1955-1991: Reflections of a Divided Society" (2017). History Undergraduate Publications and Presentations. 5. https://pilotscholars.up.edu/hst_studpubs/5 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the History at Pilot Scholars. It has been accepted for inclusion in History Undergraduate Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of Pilot Scholars. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Soviet Union 1955-1991: Reflections of a Divided Society By Vincent Verspieren Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in History University of Portland December 2017 Verspieren 1 In December of 1991, German rock band the Scorpions met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a private meeting in the Kremlin.1 This marked the first meeting between a Soviet leader and any rock band in history. Rock ‘n’ roll finally gained the unquestioned acceptance of a Soviet leader, even if it was in the wake of a coup. At the meeting Gorbachev and the band discussed the current events and music. Their main focus was the Scorpion’s newest single “Wind of Change”; a power ballad about the changing political tide under the deposed leader and its liberalizing effects on Soviet society.2 According to Klaus Meine (lead singer of the band) the group met “because of the song that hit the spirit of the time perfectly.