Pribek

Back on June 4th, I posted some bookmaker’s odds on who would be chosen as running mates for both Presidential campaigns. Looking back, Joe Biden was considered a long shot at 20/1 while Sarah Palin wasn’t even considered, not even listed in a field that included such unlikely contestants as…

Chris Cox- 15/1
Condoleezza Rice- 15/1
David Petraeus- 20/1
Michael Bloomberg- 25/1
Rudy Giuliani- 20/1
Jeb Bush 35/1
Ron Paul- 35/1
Fred Thompson- 40/1

A couple of days ago, I posted about Cuban musician Gorki Aguila’s arrest. One of the charges was “social dangerousness” for which he could have been facing four years in prison. At the trial yesterday that charge was dropped and Aguila was handed down a fine of $28. For perspective, average individual income in Cuba, $19.50 a month.

From Fox News.

“I am very proud of all the people who have supported me, and I feel even more hate for this tyranny,” Aguilar told reporters upon his release.

And yesterday, I made a drive by mention about Van Halen being miffed because the song “Right Now” was played at a McCain rally. Tequila Tycoon/Wrinkle Rocker Sammy Hagar, who had a hand in the writing of the song, has issued a press release responding to the use of the song and possibly his former bands reaction.

“When I wrote the lyrics to “Right Now” I intended them to inspire people to not sit around and wait for something they believed in but to go out and get it — to make a change however they needed to,” said Sammy Hagar. “Whether it was McCain who used the song or if Obama had chosen to use the song, with the current political climate, the lyrics still have the same meaning, and we all need to do something to make a difference, every action counts. In fact, I still feel so strongly about this that I wrote a new song “Cosmic Universal Fashion” with a young Iraqi musician in an attempt to motivate a new generation to the same affect. I am pleased to be associated with the lyrics to my original song and the new one in hopes that both will make people move to make a difference.”

Good press release Sammy. The guy is sitting there with 80 million corporate dollars from the sale of tequila interests and I’m sure he’s a busy man. But, if you got time to ponder the big picture long enough to work on something like “Cosmic Universal Fashion”, the least you can do is remember to mention your co-writer by name when you are pouncing on the paper thin ice of relevance to plug your new opus. And the winner for this years Grammy for best societal mind expanding song goes to Sammy Hagar and young Iraqi musician!

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.