Myanmar Punk Band Rebel Riot Featured On New Track Raising Funds For Black Lives Matter

Frontman of Myanmar’s The Rebel Riot Kyaw Kyaw has joined UK hardcore punks Throwing Stuff on their new single ACIYHAB, which is raising money for Black Lives Matter UK and Food Not Bombs Myanmar.

The single was recorded across Manchester, UK, and Yangon, Myanmar, where Throwing Stuff vocalist Ben now lives. They enlisted Kyaw Kyaw of Yangon punk band The Rebel Riot and founder of Food Not Bombs Myanmar to provide guest vocals on the incendiary track, bringing together the British and Myanmar punk scenes across continents.

ACIYHAB, which stands for “all coppers inside your head are bastards”, is about how police forces serve to both consciously and unconsciously control those considered a “threat” to the status quo.

“Police violence restricts civil liberties, stokes fear and ultimately threatens the lives of individuals. The song talks about destroying the policeman ‘inside your head’ to release society from these shackles, but we know he can’t be destroyed without a dramatic overhaul of this arm of the state. Restrictions on police powers, justice for victims of police brutality and the effective defunding of the police are needed now the world over to make this a reality,” the band said.

“We were so happy we could make this work despite the more than 5,000 miles that divide Yangon and Manchester, the city we call home. Kyaw Kyaw being so enthusiastic about lending us his voice was the icing on the cake too, giving an extra layer of meaning to all that distance. We hope that we can raise a bit of money to help both these vital causes in Myanmar and the UK,” the band added.

The “pay what you want” song is up now and all the money raised will go directly to the artist. Throwing Stuff will be donating all proceeds from the song 50/50 between Black Lives Matter UK and Food Not Bombs Myanmar, and the band themselves will match the donations.

Download the track here: https://throwingstuff.bandcamp.com/

Black Lives Matter UK is a coalition of Black activists and organisers across the UK. They have been organising since 2016 for justice in communities through advocacy, education, police monitoring and support to victims and their families.

Food Not Bombs Myanmar was established in 2013 by members of The Rebel Riot to help feed homeless people in Myanmar. More recently, its volunteers have been working to donate food to people affected by the economic fallout of COVID-19.