PORNO PARA RICARDO

 

I was never much into Punk Rock.  I joined the Rock on Porno para Ricardo –Free Gorki –Cuban Punk Rebels Facebook group because I believe in artistic freedom.

I knew very little about Gorky Aguila and his group. I did like the name of the group. Porno para Ricardo. It made me curious about Gorky’s music.

This past Saturday, I went out to a great music store we have in Miami called El Museo del Disco. I bought  the three Porno para Ricardo cds they had available. I listened to one of them in my car on the way home and I’ve been listening to all three over the last few days. It’s good music. The lyrics are spectacular. Gorki’s art is totally free and defiant. He reminds me of Bukowsky, Gingsberg, the young Bob Dylan.

I’ve become a fan of Gorki. I love all the songs on the three cds I bought, especially El Comandante (El coma andante), Ratas Dirigentes and Comunista Chivatón.

I can see why the  sclerotic assholes who rule Cuba hate Gorki. He’s more dangerous than the supposedly  inminent Yankee invasion they’ve been pissing and moaning about for almost fifty years but never came.  Gorki makes his case very simply. For nearly half a century, Cuba has been ruled by the same family and the same political party. Both the family and the party are despotic, corrupt and inept. They’re old, boring and mean. It’s time for them to get the hell out of the way.

I’m very much into jazz. I once read a quote by Thelonius Monk to the effect that the definition of genius is turning something complex into something simple. Gorki does that. He’s not only courageous and a free spirit. He’s a very good artist. I urge you to listen to his music.