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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