Was Playing Cuba A Bad Idea? - Forever Delayed

Bobafettish · #1 23-10-2011, 09:07

I guess its one of those defining moments in their career that divides a fanbase, and they themselves have mentioned feeling a little uneasy over it, (I think they have, somewhere). So what do you guys think? Was it a great statement, or a silly thing to do considering Cuba's questionable rights record?

Let_Robinson_Sing · #2 23-10-2011, 09:09

I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned it, I also didn't know they said they felt a little uneasy about it. I know my view isn't really going to insight much debate but I look at it as just another gig.

Bobafettish · #3 23-10-2011, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Let_Robinson_Sing

I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned it, I also didn't know they said they felt a little uneasy about it. I know my view isn't really going to insight much debate but I look at it as just another gig.

I dunno if it was meeting Castro or the gig as a whole, but I'm sure they've said something about feeling a little uneasy/out of place. I think... Hmm

Let_Robinson_Sing · #4 23-10-2011, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobafettish

I dunno if it was meeting Castro or the gig as a whole, but I'm sure they've said something about feeling a little uneasy/out of place. I think... Hmm

For me, meeting Castro is seperate from the actual gig. I don't know what the reason was for meeting him, but watching the interview I thought Nicky came across as a bit of a starstruck fan which wasn't really endearing.

tzb · #5 23-10-2011, 09:20

Good idea, poor execution.

starstruck · #6 23-10-2011, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Let_Robinson_Sing

For me, meeting Castro is seperate from the actual gig. I don't know what the reason was for meeting him, but watching the interview I thought Nicky came across as a bit of a starstruck fan which wasn't really endearing.

in fairness, Fidel Castro is one of the most significant figures of the 20th Century, for better or most likely worse. you would imagine meeting him is somewhat overwhelming.

really don't know enough about the political situation / rights records of Cuba to comment; it was a gig they wanted to do and a place they wished to go, some of us can only hope and wish they do the same with countries where the fans live!

Parma Violets · #7 23-10-2011, 10:06

I think it was a good idea in terms of breaking an increasingly absurd and unnecessary trade embargo, but all it ends up being boiled down to is the band on the news chatting to a dictator. It might have worked out if they'd explained it better at the time, but coming off the back of using the Cuban flag on the 'Masses Against the Classes' cover it just looked like an exercise in radical chic.

Flint · #8 23-10-2011, 10:44

Great setlist tho.

ISLWYN · #9 23-10-2011, 10:50

Slagging the U.S.A. off whilst sipping on Coca Cola was a tad dopey/ironic.

Midlands_Junk · #10 23-10-2011, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzb

Good idea, poor execution.

This. Even worse than kowtowing at the feet of Castro was having Naysmith so high up in the mix at the gig.

Heart2Heart · #11 23-10-2011, 13:19

I didn't like that they self-censored one of their songs.

That aside, I find it weird to be thinking of Cuba as controversial now; we're in an age when everyone wants to get into China.

Takk · #12 23-10-2011, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by starstruck

in fairness, Fidel Castro is one of the most significant figures of the 20th Century, for better or most likely worse. you would imagine meeting him is somewhat overwhelming.

really don't know enough about the political situation / rights records of Cuba to comment; it was a gig they wanted to do and a place they wished to go, some of us can only hope and wish they do the same with countries where the fans live!

they hardly have a record of visiting countries to please their fans though, I doubt the fans in cuba were foremost in their mind when they did it, if anyone had even heard their music.

i-friday · #13 23-10-2011, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by starstruck

in fairness, Fidel Castro is one of the most significant figures of the 20th Century, for better or most likely worse. you would imagine meeting him is somewhat overwhelming.

really don't know enough about the political situation / rights records of Cuba to comment; it was a gig they wanted to do and a place they wished to go, some of us can only hope and wish they do the same with countries where the fans live!

agree ...

To me, the worse thing is if they would meet Kim Jong il ...

Bobafettish · #14 23-10-2011, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by i-friday

agree ...

To me, the worse thing is if they would meet Kim Jong il ...

Ah, that would be a little iffy. Id be more pissed off if they played for the Queen or Cameron etc.

Parma Violets · #15 23-10-2011, 19:22

I think it's excusable in that you can see the idealism poking out from underneath it. Ben Elton helped write the music for the inauguration of George W Bush, and that's fucking unforgivable, many thousands of times worse than We Will Rock You or anything else people usually bash him for.