Andrew W.K. Cheers on Pussy Riot's 'Courage and Ballsiness'

Pussy Riot, the embattled Russian punk band, are just hours away from facing hooliganism charges. The all-female art collective's rogue performance in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in February landed the band's top members in jail. Now, artists all over the world are voicing their support, asking for President Putin to release the women from prison.

Spinner sat down with the Professor of Partying, Andrew WK, to discuss the band's plight and their impending court case. Pussy Riot faces up to seven years behind bars, and WK admires nothing more than the political punks' collective courage.

"It's one of those mind-bending scenarios," he says. "Peaches, who I've become friends with and is old friends with my friends back in Michigan as well as friends with my incredible wife and soul mate Cherie Lily. And Cherie actually performed some segments in the video Peaches made for Pussy Riot. Of course, Madonna is talking about them in her shows, and it's all very exciting.

"I mean, these are rabble-rousers. These are instigators, for a good cause. And it's hard for me and probably other folks who are outside of Russia to fathom what it would be like to live in a place where saying something can get you arrested. It has happened here, there have been people that have gotten arrested for saying things or for drawing things. Like Mike Diana, the first and only artist arrested for his drawings in Florida.

"But still, it's a sign of progress, one way or another. I admire their courage and full blown ballsiness. I know they're Pussy Riot, but they might as well be called Ball Riot. It's a lot of courage to go up against potentially deadly powers. I don't know the entire story, and most of us can't because we weren't there. But I certainly cheer for people that are trying to stir up some shit."

Watch Peaches' "Free Pussy Riot"