Hope in Iran stoked by song: Toronto band

A Toronto band's rendition of Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall is keeping alive hope for human rights activists in Iran, long after protests against last year's elections faded from headlines, according to band members.

Blurred Vision, whose members Sohl and Sepp fled Iran with their family in 1988, have a YouTube sensation with their version of the song that has the words "Hey Ayatollah, leave those kids alone."

"It actually inspires the youth and people there to continue with the struggle. We have had response that says, 'You're our voice in the West and keep it up and we’ll get things done,'" said Sohl in an interview Friday with CBC News.

He doesn't give a last name because of the risk to family remaining in Iran.

The song has been effective in keeping the issue of rights in Iran alive in the West when media interest in the issue has waned, he said. Iran kicked out foreign media outlets to discourage coverage of opposition to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election last year.

Sohl said he and his brother were "very much" touched by the courage of young activists in protests against the election last year.      

"Iranians outside of Iran ... felt sort of helpless and wanted to do something to show our solidarity with the youth that were rising up there," he said. "We did this at a concert and the crowd went absolutely crazy and we knew we had to record it."

Contacted Roger Waters

Getting permission to change the lyrics to Another Brick in the Wall meant approaching one of their all-time heroes, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters.

"We were nervous. But all we had to do was ask," Sohl said, adding that they approached Waters through legendary rock producer Terry Brown.

To their surprise, they got a quick go-ahead from Waters, which was "very gracious" of him, Sohl added.

Government restrictions in Iran and filters on the internet make it difficult for young people to see YouTube, yet their tune has had 150,000 hits.

This despite a ruling by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday that young people should steer clear of music and stick to science and "healthy sports."

People from all over the world have responded to the song, Sohl said.

"They're sending messages and saying what you are doing is keeping the hope alive."