drug use, but fans say it was another move to dismantle a project that had begun to give many headaches to the government. The Cuban Agency of Rock is aimed to stabilize the genre. Its venue is the old neighborhood cinema Maxim. Some equipment was bought and the expectations raised. The metal rock Brutal Fest took place there and bands were usually performing on Sundays, but the premises have been closed for more than a year. It is suspected that another attack against rock and its fans has occurred. Before the Cuba-USA thaw, Rick Wakeman, Sepultura, Audioslave and other foreign bands had performed on the island. Thereafter, Death Daysies, ZZTop, CJ Ramone, Dominic Miller and even the Rolling Stone came to perform. The latter gave a historic concert to millions of Cubans. Nevertheless, all the bands
are always supervised and the Institute of Music, like a faithful soldier, arranges the functions in chosen sites, like the Factory of Cuban Art, the House of the Cultural Dawn, The Tropical, the Anti-Imperialist Tribune and the Sports City. Cuban rock stalls in a gray period. Havana has few spaces for rock music: The Yellow Submarine, the Friendship House and, lately, the Maison. The promotion is practically nil. From time to time, minor provincial festivals are held and only two or three rock programs have been broadcasted on TV. Many bands have chosen to emigrate. They hope to get their way to the world stage. Others keep on making covers to survive and, like Sleeping Beauty, are expecting the miracle of a prince coming to kiss them for becoming able to get up.
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