Draft:Public Voice

Public Voice is a progressive rock band founded in Iran by brothers Reza and Bahman Khalili..

Reza Khalili
Reza Khalili (born 1979 in Tehran) is the vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and composer for the band. He began playing the electric guitar at 15 in a rock and blues style. In addition to music, he studied music at Equippers College, Auckland, New Zealand.

Bahman Khalili
Bahman Khalili (born 1977 in Tehran) is a progressive rock musician  and the band's drummer. He began playing drums at 17 in a progressive rock style. While pursuing music, he also studied veterinary medicine. He recently graduated from the Film and TV Production programme at Yoobee College in Wellington, New Zealand.

Discography
"Escape from Darkness" is the name of the first album by Public Voice, which was released in 2005. This band has also released two underground albums named "Peaceful Farm" (2007) and "The Fall" (2009).

History
The Public Voice band was formed in 1997 and was one of the first rock groups to emerge in Iran after the Islamic Revolution. Their music was influenced by progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd. The content of their music clashed with the religious ideology of the Islamic Republic of Iran, leading to harassment, imprisonment, and at one point, a forced name change of the band to "Atashbad." The early years of the band's activity in Iran were fraught with difficulties. Additionally, they faced challenges such as financial difficulties in acquiring instruments and finding practice spaces due to government restrictions. Despite these obstacles, their unique music and passionate performances led to a growing audience. At that time, Public Voice attracted the largest concert audiences for rock music in Iran and was the first group to officially use the term "rock" in their concert promotions after the revolution. These factors led to tensions between the band and the religious regime. One of the horrific incidents included the deliberate poisoning of the band members by government agents before a major concert. This event, along with their arrest and imprisonment, symbolized the repression they faced for their art. Following this incident, in late 2009, the group decided to leave Iran.

Escape and New Zealand
Public Voice's escape from Iran was a long and arduous journey. They fled through Turkey (2009-2010), Azerbaijan (2010-2011), and Malaysia (2011-2021) before finally settling in New Zealand in March 2021. This escape was fraught with challenges, including limited visa options, danger from gangs, and police surveillance. They also grappled with the psychological impact of their experiences in Iran.

Life in New Zealand
Public Voice continues to make music in New Zealand, performing at a variety of venues and events. They have embraced their new home while still staying connected to their Iranian roots. The band is active in the local Iranian community and has been vocal in support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement