JAILHOUSE ROCK: Music and Musicians behind bars in India

Over the years, some amusing music experiments have been born within prison walls. When it comes to musicians in jails, the list will have a bazillion names. From unruly hipsters like Jim Morrison to activist-poets like rap group NWA, many musicians have gone to jail for their music or just their personality.

- Shaurya Singh Thapa

Sometimes, the reasons for being incarnated might be something like murder, destruction of public property or sexual abuse. So, let’s not delve towards that side. Most of the musicians in the US and Europe might go behind bars only for such notoriety but in modern times, musicians of the Third World mostly go to jail for political reasons.

Take the case of Vo Minh Tri, a major Vietnamese drummer who had to serve time for four years, only to be released in 2015. What was his crime? Writing politically sensitive songs Similarly, Uighur singer and musician Abdurehim Hey it was mysteriously taken captive by Chinese authorities two years back and he’s still missing.