Memories of a Different Planet: Roentgenizdat
The article discusses the practice of recording Western music on used X-ray plates in the Soviet Union, known as Roentgenizdat. This method emerged due to the unavailability of vinyl and the strict control of music distribution by the authorities. It highlights the ingenuity of music lovers who sought to circumvent censorship and share forbidden music.
- ▪Soviet authorities restricted the distribution of Western music, leading to creative solutions among music lovers.
- ▪People recorded music on used X-ray plates, which became known as Roentgenizdat.
- ▪The practice began in St Petersburg and spread to other major cities in the Soviet Union.
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History Memories of a Different Planet: Roentgenizdat Eugene Volokh | 5.17.2026 4:37 PM <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-8382133" style="font-weight: bold; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Arial, Gadget;" src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/2026/05/Rock_on_Bones21.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="639" srcset="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/2026/05/Rock_on_Bones21.jpg 800w, https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/2026/05/Rock_on_Bones21-300x240.jpg 300w, https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/2026/05/Rock_on_Bones21-768x613.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /> From Wikipedia, photo by Dmitry Rozhkov of display "Rock on bones" in Gallery "Vinzavod", Moscow (2008) My…
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