Porno para Ricardo
Encyclopedia
Porno para Ricardo is a Cuba
n punk rock
band founded in 1998. It is considered to be one of the most visible examples of young Cubans disagreement with the Castro's regime.
Their lyrics are mostly about politics and contemporary Cuban society, and are harshly critical of the Cuban government. Their lyrics are frequently very explicit and strongly critical of Castro and the regime itself.
The band was originally well received by the Cuban cultural scene. However in 2003 Gorki Águila
, the leader of the band, was arrested under drugs charges relating to the apparent overdose of a 16 year old girl at a music festival in Pinar del Rio. He was imprisoned for 4 years only to be released after serving 2 years in prison. Before his time in prison, PPR's lyrics centered around teenage boredom, with songs about threesomes, sex and drinking. After his release, his lyrics became increasingly political. In March 2004 Gorki was nominated for the British Index on Censorship prize in the category "Music". The critical stance of the group against the regime accelerated only to be prohibited and their website cancelled the same year.
In August 2008 by the Cuban police with the charge of dangerousness
, which allows them to detain people whom they think they are likely to commit crimes. The charge carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. He was eventually ordered to pay a $30 fine (2 months salary) for the lesser offense of public disorder, after prosecutors dropped the more serious charge following intense international pressure after broad media coverage. This is an unprecedented event in Cuban jurisprudence; the communist government is usually strict about punishment given to independent journalists and other dissident voices.
The group organizes a small recording studio for other prohibited groups that cannot play in Cuba called Paja Recolds.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band founded in 1998. It is considered to be one of the most visible examples of young Cubans disagreement with the Castro's regime.
Their lyrics are mostly about politics and contemporary Cuban society, and are harshly critical of the Cuban government. Their lyrics are frequently very explicit and strongly critical of Castro and the regime itself.
The band was originally well received by the Cuban cultural scene. However in 2003 Gorki Águila
Gorki Águila
Gorki Águila is a Cuban punk rock musician and dissident, who has publicly criticized communism. He is the leader of the Porno para Ricardo band....
, the leader of the band, was arrested under drugs charges relating to the apparent overdose of a 16 year old girl at a music festival in Pinar del Rio. He was imprisoned for 4 years only to be released after serving 2 years in prison. Before his time in prison, PPR's lyrics centered around teenage boredom, with songs about threesomes, sex and drinking. After his release, his lyrics became increasingly political. In March 2004 Gorki was nominated for the British Index on Censorship prize in the category "Music". The critical stance of the group against the regime accelerated only to be prohibited and their website cancelled the same year.
In August 2008 by the Cuban police with the charge of dangerousness
Social dangerousness
Social dangerousness or Pre-criminal danger to society is a legal charge under Cuban law which allows the authorities to detain people whom they think they are likely to commit crimes. The charge carries a penalty of up to four years in prison...
, which allows them to detain people whom they think they are likely to commit crimes. The charge carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. He was eventually ordered to pay a $30 fine (2 months salary) for the lesser offense of public disorder, after prosecutors dropped the more serious charge following intense international pressure after broad media coverage. This is an unprecedented event in Cuban jurisprudence; the communist government is usually strict about punishment given to independent journalists and other dissident voices.
The group organizes a small recording studio for other prohibited groups that cannot play in Cuba called Paja Recolds.
Discography
- Rock para las masas cárnicas (Rock for meat masses), featuring a version of the opening theme of a Soviet cartoon of the 1980s, of the story The musicians of Bremen. The cartoon, and the original theme itself, was popular in Cuba; and is remembered by many of those who were born around the 1980s.
- A mí no me gusta la política pero... (I don–t like politics, but...);
- Soy Porno, soy popular (I am porn, I am popular, resembling the song by David CalzadoDavid CalzadoDavid Calzado is the bandleader, music director, arranger, and lead vocalist of 16-piece musical ensemble, Charanga Habanera. David Calzado has played an essential role in the evolution of modern Cuban music, although he was forced to reorganize his music group in 1997. There is a movie called...
y La Charanga Habanera:Soy cubano, soy popular I am Cuban, I am Popular) - Rojo Desteñido (Faded Red)