| Being MSP fans, we couldnt believe we would actually
set foot in Cuba when the plane tickets arrived. We're not as well educated about it as
the Manics, but were eager to see it for ourselves. Our First
impression of La Habana (Havana) airport was laughter, colour and music. Cuba was
everything that we could ever have dreamed of and so much more. It changed our lives. We
fell in love on the drive from the airport, and are already saving up to go again!
Was it politically correct for Manic Street Preachers to play this
gig? We're not educated enough to know, but our eyes, ears and hearts fell in love with
the people of Cuba and we experienced something very uplifting and inspiring so personal
opinion and instinct would say "yes".
 (pic: on the beaches of guanabo, eastern
habana, the wild sea, miles of almost empty beach and an absence of fear, memories that
will never leave us)
That trip was in February, and now we're back in blighty where the
critics' reactions to it are unsurprising. Snidely, they dismiss a romantic dream
realised, as just a way to make cash (as easily as they dismiss the songs on the new album
because the band arent 20 and skinny). MSP SPENT cash to organise the
show! There are hardly any souls left to enthuse or daydream about bands, their
ideas, their adventures and the power of music. The "Manic Street Preachers
visited a dictatorship as a desperate stunt because their record is crap and they are
old" whinges came from some quarters. Nowhere and nobody is perfect but the
visit was a cultural exchange, a gesture of solidarity. A positive mission of love and
peace to a(nother) nation of music lovers. As Cuba has had tourism for around a decade
now, its hypocritical to 'boo' musicians for visiting it and wanting to play for the
people. The Cubans took the gesture in the spirit that it was meant and the band made many
friends while over there. Even if the Manics had failed gloriously, at least they
tried. At least there will be a TV documentary about the visit, and with The
Bay Of Pigs in the news again a chance for people to make their own minds up, if they have
the inclination to know more.
Like it's "ruler", America, Britain largely allows the
"Cuba is bad, we are superior" theory. Personally we found Cuba more on our
wavelength. We were under no illusion that this was Utopia, and realised that
tourists don't see everything that goes on, but what we did see on the many outings that
we took gave us hope for a world which, instead of poising to crush the revolution could
take stock of so many positive things and learn something.
We spent half our trip in a hotel and half with a Cuban couple in
their home. The experience has humbled us, Cubans are much richer than us but only people
who can see beyond materialism might understand. Manic Street Preachers have voiced
socialism (among much else!) throughout their career, and are well educated on political
history. They had stock of what they were doing before making their dream a reality.
Slightly naive maybe, but well intentioned.
There are at least two sides to every story depending on who
controls the media, and nowhere/nobody is perfect. Tho not agreeing with everything
there (i.e. having minds of our own and means of self expression) the high standards of
education, low levels of homelessness (10% of whatever wage per month as rent) and much
more, make 21st century Cuba preferable to the power-money-vote-hungry narrow mindedness
of Bush, Blair & co. The vibe was more "Spanish Glastonbury" than "hot
60s Russia"! Being gay, or a rock fan, is not to be outcast/jailed nowadays. Cuba is
progressive, highly educated and willing to learn more. After thousands of years of war,
the rest of the world is still fighting, usa and uk included. what have we learnt? Why
can't we be progressive too?
They could learn from a world they*ve been cut off for 30 years. It
has grown heartless and mercenary in their absence. We could learn from a country, not at
war, about low crime and how to live longer and stress free. Fancy not having friendly
relations with such a land.
It's true that Cuba still has some restrictive laws for everyday
people, but don't kid yourself that you are free as a bird in the capitalist world! Those
who can't wait to crush what Cuba has achieved will disease it with McDonalds,
over-tourism, bigotry, capitalism, stress, counsellors, lawyers and rob the quality of
life instead of noting the good done for the spirits and hearts of people. The vibe was
love, peace, music, friendship and trust.
These things, like sunshine, touch hearts and souls. We noticed much
music and laughter in the air. People live long (and the aged are safe), children play
happily outdoors without fearful parents hovering. (I can still see the lady in the bakers
giving morning hugs and kisses as people collected their bread).
Being in Cuba is like stepping back in time to the innocence of the
50s and 60s, just like a movie. Long may romance and dreams overcome cynicism. Maybe that
was why the gig at the Karl Marx Theatre was like being in some kind of surreal rock n
roll movie fantasy.
The were much spectacular beauty to see in the faded glory that was
once the playground of the rich. It was a pleasure on our eyes to be free of adverts
everywhere, of an overdose of all media in fact. Not being told how to look or what you
MUST possess, everybody had a strong self image. We didn't miss the personal greed, fear
and stress (we couldnt explain that one all that well to our Cuban friends) of living in
Britain.
 Cuba is living proof that equality breeds peace. Friends
over there explained to us that "there is no archetypal Cuban". They had "heard
of prejudice"(!) but everybody we saw was every race and combination of. They
imagined that Britain was just as progressive... Like us they were a mixed couple (i.e.
one male, one female), they also had different coloured skin (still viewed as
"mixed" in the 21st century by some people). The political art on streets and
highways is an outdoor gallery, it made it the natural place for a Manic Street Preachers
gig.(pic : fun and laughter on sunday afternoon
in "a dictatorship" (!), Obviously no archetypal next generation cubans either)
On that first night in Havana, we drove from the airport to the
city. After driving down a particulatly lively street, we turned into a huge palace-like
monument, lit in warm tones, at the end of a long drive of palm trees and classic American
cars.  This was the famed Hotel Nacional - we could only gawp in awe. (We're too
scruffy to get in the snooty Pop Club in London, let alone a place as posh as this, but
here we were!) Cuba wasnt like real life anyway... in the spirit of rock n roll, guests
that had come to rock n roll checked in at the bar. We were given a cool refreshing fizzy
drink with leaves in it as we did so which we downed - delicious. It was our first mojito
(mo-hee-to) rum cocktail. There would be many more! No wonder everybody looked so merry
checking in. (pic, the nacional
hotel)
A few nights later (after a press conference on the Friday afternoon
where the Cubans asked relevant, interesting, perceptive questions and the English
speaking press tried to "catch the band out" with sarcasm) it was Saturday
night!
The rock no roll posse that had arrived en masse from the rock n
roll isles, were even merrier. The gig at Karl Marx Theatre was like a big party. Inside
the huge, beautiful, historic venue, Castro arrived on the balcony, checking his watch for
when the Manics would begin. (The picture would later appear in the UK press as if he was
bored). The kids really loved him, teens nudged each other excitedly, "el
presidente!". Thousands of red flags with "Manic Street Preachers, Cuba
17.02.01" waved at him in excitement - it was a strange dream, a Cuban rock n roll
rally, looking up at the balcony.
Then, after a polite introduction, there they were. MSP played like
demons, not knowing whether the audience would react or not. The crowd rocked politely at
first, but with each song actions got wilder, headbanging and dancing, cheers and screams.
The entire gig was a complete spectacle etched on our hearts (and I would imagine on the
hearts of just about everybody else in the place). These people, who know their music,
approved heartily.
After, walking back to our hotel in the warm sunny night, we saw bus
loads of teenagers waving their flags (or even the white plastic stick, if it had broken)
through the windows. We had met many sweet souls that night. It was definitely one of the
highlights of our trip to Cuba but the trip to Cuba was definitely one of the highlights
of our lives. Viva Cuba!
To play a gig in Cuba was daydream that the Manics pulled off a
gloriously. An unforgettable, success. And, yes, both Manic Street Preachers and Fidel
Castro benefitted from the exposure, but more importantly, it was a positive and
historically important trip by great ambassadors of our country.
A week of sunshine, great food, new friends, beautiful scenery, half
empty roads with all manner of wheels/engine combinations, huge birds, rum cocktails and
cristal beers, sea and sand, splendour, beautiful ruins, people dancing, laundry from
balconies, laughter, fairy lights at night, and music, music everywhere topped with
possibly the most unforgettable rock gig we have ever experienced. And we never felt
intimdated at any time.
Cuba's not perfect, but then neither is this ill healthed, fat
catted, sleaze and poverty blighted, corrupted, bigoted, unjust, foot n mouthed
"green and pleasant land" of ours, either, and we would still prefer to live
here than just about anywhere because the spirit of love, peace and music that we felt
there is among so many people here too (as festivals, carnivals etc prove), a parallel
universe to Planet Earth - Planet Water.
Not the promised land, then, but possibly as near as we've got in
our life. Did the Manics do the right thing? In our humble opinion... YES YES YES!
The Pirate Lady and The Captain
p.s. In response to the multitude of "they ain't anorexic, damn
them and their sixth form poetry" comments, James is yummy. A guitar legend whose
voice never fails him and like his fellow band mates multi talented and essential. Oh and
only ageists truly grow old - biased? yep! disagree with everything here? cool! |
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