Mon January 3, 2011 Music Interviews  Yuri Shevchuk: Russia's
Musical Advocate For Democracy  At U2's first-ever concert in
Russia last summer, Bono brought up a man named Yuri Shevchuk to
help sing Bob Dylan's classic "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." The
50-something Russian rocker had implored Bono to address human-
rights issues during his visit to Russia, a cause Shevchuk
fights to advance every day.  Shevchuk has been described as
Russia's Bruce Springsteen. Back in Soviet times, Shevchuk
cleaned streets for a living before forming DDT in the 1980s and
growing into an iconic rocker.  I met Shevchuk backstage before
a concert a few weeks ago. The 53-year-old has floppy hair and a
grayish goatee. He was clinging to a cigarette, drinking
vending-machine coffee and talking about an oldie, which, when
translated, means "You've Got a Son." Shevchuk remembers getting
in a fight with his wife when he was a young man. She left him
briefly and took their son with her.  "I was so lonely,"
Shevchuk says. "The lyrics came