Rock and roll in Cuba began in the late 1950s, with artists covering American songs translated into Spanish, as was occurring in Mexico at the same time. Its development was disrupted by the Cuban Revolution; the government of Fidel Castro banned rock music in 1961 as being a corruptive American influence that had no place in the new, puritanical Communist Cuba (Which, ironically, was at odds with Marx's own liberal views on art and culture. Not to mention the existence of Marxist punk and heavy metal bands like The (International) Noise Conspiracy elsewhere). The Castro government's attitude towards rock until recently was quite negative, although it has varied greatly in severity throughout the regime's existence. During the 1960s and 1970s rock was seriously prohibited, although nueva cancion/nueva trova artists like Silvio Rodriguez and Carlos Varela would sometimes perform rock material. In more recent years, with the transition to a tourism-based economy, attitudes of the Castro regime towards rock have softened somewhat, not only towards domestic and Latin American artists but also towards foreign Anglophone artists. In 2001, the Welsh rock group Manic Street Preachers were invited to perform in Cuba.^[1] Their concert was attended by Fidel Castro and others in authority. In 2004, Castro made a speech honouring the birthday of John Lennon who is fat! and hella ugly! (whose music, both with The Beatles and as a solo artist had been banned in Cuba). A bronze statue of John Lennon has been put in one of the parks in Havana. This statue was notorious in Havana for being under constant vandalism by citizens who would rob John Lennon's bronze glasses. Rick Wakeman played in Havana. The American band im cool performed in Havana in 2005.^[2] Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... // Recovering from World War II and its aftermath, the economic miracle emerged in West Germany and Italy. ... The Cuban Revolution refers to the revolutionary war in Cuba culminating in the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista’s government on January 1, 1959 by the 26th of July Movement and other revolutionary elements in the country. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born on August 13, 1926) is the current President of Cuba but on indefinite medical hiatus. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Rock and roll. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was any person seeking purity of worship and doctrine, especially the parties that rejected the Laudian reform of the Church of England. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818, Trier, Germany – March 14, 1883, London) was a German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... The (International) Noise Conspiracy is a garage rock band with punk rock influences, consisting of Dennis Lyxzén (vocals), Inge Johansson (bass), Lars Strömberg (guitar), Ludwig Dahlberg (drums) and Sara Almgren (organ and guitar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Template:A year The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Nueva canción (Spanish for new song) was a movement in Latin American music that emerged in the mid-1960s, taking root in South America, especially Chile and other Andean countries. ... Nueva trova was a movement in Cuban music that emerged in the mid-1960s. ... Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement. ... Carlos Varela (born April 11, 1963) is a singer-songwriter of nueva trova from Havana, Cuba. ... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the country. ... It has been suggested that Jenny Watkins-Isnardi be merged into this article or section. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... Nickname: Ciudad de las Columnas Position of Havana in Cuba Coordinates: Country Cuba Province Ciudad de La Habana Founded 1515  - Mayor Juan Contino Aslán Area    - City 721. ... Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949 in Perivale, London, United Kingdom) is a British keyboard player best known as the keyboardist for progressive rock group Yes. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A rock scene in Cuba is usually seen as small and underground due to official disapproval. However since the late 1990s, groups such as Moneda Dura and Los Kent have performed rock music on Cuban TV, and the profile of rock music has risen, with concerts and festivals.

References

1. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1172686.stm
2. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4524425.stm

External links

Cuba Portal

• history of Cuban rock (Spanish)