PUNK FOR UKRAINE: A Compilation to Benefit Doctors Without Borders, Vol. 1

PUNK FOR UKRAINE: A Compilation to Benefit Doctors Without Borders, Vol. 1

Compiling multitudes of fiery, restless bands across five volumes of music, Punk for Ukraine showcases underground and countercultural global solidarity in the face of Putin’s terrible war on Ukraine. It forcefully draws attention to heinous crimes against humanity, slaughter and injustice, and a savage war aimed at causing mass casualties, plus the ongoing, high-risk, strenuous efforts of doctors from all over the world converging and risking everything to save lives on the front lines.
International in scope and extremely urgent, 300 bands have contributed songs from over 30 countries, including Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Japan, Columbia, Holland, UK, Philippines, China, Mexico, and more. Hence, the effort shows how punks and resistance cultures are willing to help, no matter the corner of the globe.

Bands for all the compilations include classic potent punk acts like Subhumans, Toxic Reasons, Borgon (“Kiev Calling”) Millions of Dead Cops, Dr. Know, Conflict, Reagan Youth, Culture Shock, and a solo effort from Kevin Seconds, singer of 7 Seconds. They are joined by a younger crew of equally ferocious and powerful bands, like Urban Waste, Days and Daze, Acidez, The Elected Officials, and many more. In spirit and style, mode and manner, this release embody the legacy of punks struggling for social progress and social change, including the efforts of pioneer Dave Dictor of MDC. He is joined by Sophie Rousmaniere of Issue Television 501c3 (www.issuetv.org) and John Hale of Rival Studios, who constitute the core of Grimace Records, a digital label dedicated to highlighting, underscoring, and supporting various righteous causes and punk music itself.

Volume One is a staggering collection of disruptors, including fierce Myanmar street punks and Food Not Bombs activists Rebel Riot; powerhouse politico feminist icons like Naked Aggression and Elected Officials; ongoing UK troublemakers Subhumans, ska-agitators Better Off Dead, and French melodic rockers Garlic Frog Diet; new school Texas hellraisers Noogy; murky and snarling San Francisco’s queer punk Lolly Gaggers; Italian thrash-punk maniacs Raw Power and seismic Canadian rockers Terminal City Rats; thundering heavy-hitters Sexcult and zealous speed-shredding thrashers Conflict Resolution, and so many more!

In 1984, Dave Dictor of MDC released the international P.E.A.C.E. Compilation, a spellbinding, seminal punk collection featuring vital bands, such as DRI, MDC, DOA, Articles of Faith, the Dicks, Dead Kennedys, BGK, and plenty more that defined the era’s insurgent music. The proceeds went to anti-nuclear groups, such as the Clamshell Alliance and the Greenham Women’s Peace Group, and the Great Peace March, which MDC joined in 1986.

In 2020, Grimace Records re-released the Peace Compilation. Over the course of one year’s worth of listens, $1,000 was raised to distribute to Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, an anarchist organization working on the ground to stop the spread of COVID-19. In May of 2021, Grimace released the Myanmar Resistance Compilation, featuring over 40 international bands, which supported Food Not Bombs Myanmar. An upcoming 3rd compilation will support the ongoing 20-year Occupation of Che Guevara Auditorium in Mexico City.

To support the causes and enjoy the music, people can simply listen to the playlists online on Spotify by searching for the album titles. Due to their ‘stream to donate’ system, “Anyone who can listen to the music can support the cause!” says John Hale, co-founder of Grimace Records. This means that people, anywhere in the world, despite borders and differences, can support resistance, medical efforts, and social justice simply by listening to music, for free. This will help put that money in the hands of people who, despite constant mistreatment and violence, have chosen to fend for the rights of everyday people.

Pick it up HERE.