Thursday, March 12, 2015

Cuba Is The New Rock N' Roll Frontier

Cuba Is The New Rock N' Roll Frontier

The rebuilding of diplomatic relations between the United States and
Cuba opens up touring and artistic collaborations between the two
countries. One of the first bands to bring its music to Havana is the
Dead Daisies, a hard rock band composed of veteran musicians who tour
with bands such as Guns N' Roses, Whitesnake, and the Rolling Stones.
The Dead Daisies recently came back from Cuba where they were guests of
the Cuban Ministry of Culture. In Cuba, they performed a variety of
shows, visited a music school, and recorded with Cuban musicians.

The trip was the first for an American rock band since Obama loosened
travel and trade rules for the country. "Rock and roll is one of
America's great exports," said keyboard player Dizzy Reed, who also has
been Guns N' Roses's keyboard player since 1990. "It hasn't reached
those people in the way that it has the rest of the world, but there are
a lot of people down there who are fans of Guns N' Roses and a lot of
the other bands that we've all played with collectively."

The opening up of Cuba is exciting because it offers a new audience with
which to share live music and find fresh enthusiasm that may be hard to
find elsewhere in the world. Said Reed, "In this day and age, records
are gone as are all of the other experiences that went along with rock
music, but there's nothing that's ever really going to replace you
showing up and playing." In a time where cynics claim rock n' roll is
finally dead, Cuba offers the potential for pure excitement for the
medium. Encountering the music of another culture has the potential
to be creatively rejuvenating.

"From the moment we got in, we had nothing but the best hospitality
anybody could offer," said bass player Marco Mendoza, who has played
with Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake. "It's just obvious that they're so
hungry and thirsty for exchanging culture and connecting with the
outside world."

In addition to Cuban's interest in hearing American bands live, the
thawing of diplomatic relations also means opening up the American
market to Cuban music.

"I had quite a few talks with some of the kids at the music school,"
said Mendoza, who speaks Spanish. "They were so blown away and they were
so happy. They get to the point where they start feeling like nobody
cares. It's like they're not on the map. So I think this is a step in
the right direction, acknowledging them and maybe encouraging them."

Mendoza was humbled and inspired by the visit. "I would encourage bands
that have the possibility to take the time to make it down there and
enjoy and take it all in," he said. "I walked away being reminded of how
good we have it here in the U.S. and the things we take for granted and
we have an abundance of life in every way." Mendoza was also struck by
the musical talent he encountered and the motivation Cuban musicians had
to get beyond their circumstances. "They are so willing to do the work
necessary to make a difference in this world, be it political or
artistic or otherwise," he said. By meeting with and learning from
American musicians, Cuban artists can broaden their audience.

"They're a poverty-stricken country in so many ways, but their spirit
and their heart speaks so much louder than that," he added. "They'll get
on the radar quick. They have the heart." Both Reed and Mendoza were
impressed by the musical talent they encountered and anticipate great
music coming from Cuba in the near future.

Source: Cuba Is The New Rock N' Roll Frontier -
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt/2015/03/11/cuba-is-the-new-rock-n-roll-frontier/

No comments:

Post a Comment