A revolutionary record label led by an American woman who sung the blues, hung out with Fidel Castro, and spread the global sound of protest

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Originally published at: A revolutionary record label led by an American woman who sung the blues, hung out with Fidel Castro, and spread the global sound of protest | Boing Boing

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Fidel Castro - When will association with this totalitarian dictator stop being seen as a badge of honor?

Asking for a friend.

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If it makes you feel better, Manic Street Preachers now think they were foolish to play concerts in Cuba and meet Fidel Castro.

They are still socialists, just not the type to go around hero worshipping M-Ls.

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This post reminded me of Josh McPhee’s An Encyclopedia of Political Record Labels. I’m not sure if he has a section on Paredon Records, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

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Well, I’m not sure playing concerts in Cuba was in and of itself a mistake, but if they were stanning the murderous thug (I mean El Jefe Maximo, heh heh) while doing it, that’s a different kettle of fish. What’s an M-L?

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Former band member and song writer Richie Edwards did try to warn people about hero worship before he disappeared, even if the song is far from the bands best work.

Marxist-Leninist

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I’m paraphrasing but James made a good point that as soon as you appear next to a politician shaking hands or whatever it can be perceived as you endorsing their politics which may not necessarily be the case. Not that they knew beforehand Castro was going to show up but even then they knew what this would look like to the press, i remember the story of them calling it quits and flying home when Castro offered to hold the plane for a proposed meeting. Fascinating chapter of the band’s history though.

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