This is a genuine case of a government trying to silence a rock and roller. Gorki Aguila has a band, Porno Para Ricardo, in Cuba.
From the Miami Herald.
Aguila was picked up Monday during a rehearsal for an album tentatively called Geriatric Central Committee, an apparent jab at the aging members of Cuba’s communist party leadership.
He is charged with ‘”pre-crime social dangerousness,” a law the Cuban government uses against people it considers a threat to the revolution.
First off, when does a revolution cease to be a revolution? Pushing 50 guys, the revolution is getting a little long in the tooth.
‘”Pre-crime social dangerousness”, ain’t that a bitch? Doesn’t matter that you haven’t committed a crime, you’re getting ready to.
“In our view, he has committed no crime,” human-rights activist Elizardo Sánchez said from Havana. “The government is furious, because he composed about 12 to 15 songs which they consider disrespectful or irreverent. They ridicule both Fidel Castro and his brother.”
Sánchez said he listened to two of the tunes and they are “quite strong.”
We got it easy. I wonder about this; the artists that we have that do some protest music, how would these people act if what they wrote in a song really put their asses on the line? If they were going to face real deal jail time because they were expressing what they “felt”, would they go on singing about it or would they fold?
A couple of years back, I met this songwriter and he’s a semi-known guy so, I’m not going to name him. Anyway, he told me this story about how he made some anti-administration remarks in a newspaper interview overseas. I guess it was pretty inflammatory stuff because he was contacted by a Secret Service guy when he got back to the States. He said the guy was polite and even offered up his home phone number, “give me call if you’re ever in Washington” kind of thing. But, it totally wigged this songwriter out. Which, you can understand. But, if it was a no questions, we’re hauling you in for what you think, no more gigs for you situation, I’m guessing this guy keeps quiet.
I found this at the Porno Para Ricardo site.
Maybe one of you who knows Spanish can interpret.
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Tags: cuban government, fidel castro, Gorki Aguila, Music, Porno Para Ricardo, protest music, rock and roll
Pat Darnell And Friends wrote,
clik HERE for some discussion — Gorki Aguila 1, castro Regime 0
google translate: “I am willing to eat whatever you Gorki if I assert that I wear buenito again” [I have no idea] … However it looks like you are on a hot trail of a Rock and Roll Martyr to be… good job ya hound dog ya.
I think the cartoon should read: “I like Baseball better… Rock and Roll stinks…” because from his hospice perch — old revolutionpreneur Castro:
(HAVANA, Aug. 25; Xinhua)
Nothing like being completely out of the loop there C… !!! Who’s knocking on my Door?
Link | August 28th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Pat Darnell and Friends wrote,
August 30, 3:43 AM: Thunderstorms associated with Gustav already were bringing heavy downpours Friday to parts of central Cuba and evacuations were ordered in flood-prone areas.
Authorities in the tobacco-rich western Cuba, where Gustav is expected to cross the island, hauled 465,000 sacks of tobacco to higher ground for safekeeping and began distributing extra rations of milk and bread.
“Leche, pan, Garcia y Vega…” what else does a hurricane victim need? Oh yeah, the prisoners, including rock and roll scum, have been neatly secured and tied to the ships’ masts.
FAQ: Does that include Guantanamo Retreat? No report yet.
Closer to the storm [Gustav], workers at the Westin Causarina Hotel on Grand Cayman island shored up ground-floor rooms with sandbags.
“We’ve taken in all the balcony furniture, all the pool furniture, the marquees, tied up what needs to be tied up, cut down any coconuts,” said hotel manager Dan Szydlowski. [obviously the Polock-in-charge]
Link | August 30th, 2008 at 2:45 am