The documentary RocKabul by director Travis Beard celebrated its world premiere at the 47th International Film Festival Rotterdam in February. The film shows the birth, rise and fall of Afghan heavy metal on the front-line of one of America’s longest wars and follows the members of Afghanistan’s first ever metal band, District Unknown, who put their lives on the line for their music. Moreover, RocKabul features never before seen footage of Kabul and the underground expat party scene, at odds with an extremely conservative society.
 
Executive Producer to the film is Bill Gould, bassist of American rock band Faith No More, he says:-

     “RocKabul is a fascinating view in an Afghanistan that is rarely seen - from a perspective that anyone who has ever been in a band can relate to. With District Unknown I see the energy and enthusiasm that I had when I just started playing. I got into music because of the feeling of empowerment that it gave me and it is obvious that this is what motivates District Unknown, which is why we connect so well. But then again they are living in a hostile environment - and they are not afraid to do it. They are making it happen. That’s the kind of rock and roll spirit we have to admire.”
 
RocKabul is a coming of age documentary which deals with youth identity and freedom of expression that existed on the precipitous of the fragile city of Kabul. It shows the strength of the human spirit as Afghanistan's first and only metal band, District Unknown, reach out to the disenchanted Afghan youth, the expat community and eventually the outside world. However, by challenging this traditional Islamic republic, District Unknown literally put themselves and their fans in the firing line. The grassroots music movement which encouraged the participation of men and women alike ultimately crumbles under the weight of the conservative society that shadows them. Captured by Australian film-maker, Travis Beard who lived in Kabul for seven years, the film features a side of Afghan life rarely shown in Western media.

www.rockabul.com
www.argusproductions.org

By GMA's Afghan correspondent Abdul Basir Shakeri

Hojat Hameed, who is the leader of White Page, decided to establish a rock band. He established White Page on March 8th, 2011 after he came to agreement with the other members of the band; Rateb Ramesh, Rabi Adib, and Reshad Afzali who were active in another rock band from the Afghanistan National Institute of Music called ‘Afghan Vision’.

White Page resumed it's music practicing in a small room located at 6th street of Qala-e-Fatula, however they had to leave there because of the people, who were giving unfair names to rock music, and loud voices of rock music. White Page restarted its music practicing in a smaller room located at Karte Char after a delay of one and a half months, but they had to leave there due to the same problems. It took one month for White Page to restart its practices temporarily again at the Afghan National Institute of Music. One month later, they found a place entitled Youth House and carried on their practices over there even though they were compelled to leave Youth House due to frequent complaints made by people. Eventually, they moved to the Venue Restaurant located on 6th street of Qala-e-Fatula and continued their practices there.

At this time, they got familiar with Archibald Gallet, who had a positive effect on promoting the band. Archi started working with White Page as a mentor. At the same time, White Page attended the biggest music concert in Afghanistan – Sound Central – which was a rock festival. White Page could prove itself as the best Afghan Rock Band and draw the attention of others.

After the festival ended, White Page members decided to compose their own songs. The first song is called ‘Fuck The War’ but the name was later changed to ‘Stop The War’ because of social and cultural conditions in Afghanistan. This song is blended with Afghan Music; the song is in Afghan 7/8 rhythm which expresses three decades war and the issues of this period in Afghanistan. The second song is called ‘Bridge’; this song expresses to create a relative bridge between Afghanistan and the and other countries across the globe. White Page members decided to compose the song when the band leader (Hojat Hameed) traveled to the USA as the first Afghan Rock Ambassador; he played music with some of musicians there like Copal Band. It should be mentioned that White Page is the only Afghan Rock Band that Rolling Stone magazine, which is one of the most popular rock magazines through the world, has published an article about it.

White Page has had great performances at many stages such as: Embassies, Afghanistan Rock Festival, a young festival, and many public centers. The White Page members decided to separate after an excellent performance at American University of Afghanistan on March 4, 2012. The decision happened due to major problems like: having no possibilities and equipments for recording the songs and having no financial support. But as time went by.....

Hojat Hameed decided to re-establish White Page. Finally, he re-established White Page again on June 21st, 2012. With other members: Reshad Afzali, Sasan Fanoos and Maqsoud Sadid. White Page are currently active in the Afghan Youth Orchestra with Hojat Hameed working as concert master and violinist, Reshad Afzali as percussion soloist. Sasan Fanoos as guitar soloist, and Maqsood Sadid as the rhythm guitarist.

In brief, White Page is an Afghan band that is made of Afghan Youth. It works for promoting the music especially rock music in Afghanistan in order to show the real and good face of Afghanistan to the world.

Now, there is a new and blank page for Afghanistan music, a white page over all black pages of which reflect adversity of three decades war. It could be written using good words, the good days of Afghan people and unsaid and unheard words of them, the words which are in the hearts, and finally the development of Afghanistan. That’s why it is called “White Page”.

White Page hopes that it can represent the music of Afghanistan on great stages all over the world. White Page exercises utmost to pave the way and never gives up any effort to achieve this goal.

Recently they performed at the US embassy and they got an award from the US Ambassador in Kabul about 2 weeks ago and they also performed at the Sound Central Festival 2013. They recently  changed the vocalist.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/WHITE-PAGE/134246383334585?fref=ts