- Title: Live from Havana's John Lennon park, Cubans keep Beatlemania alive
- Date: 2nd June 2017
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) BEATLES FAN, RUBEN URIAS RAURELL, ENTERING LIVING ROOM AND HOLDING A BEATLES ALBUM, "1967-70" URIAS RAURELL LOOKING AT BEATLES ALBUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BEATLES FAN, RUBEN URIAS RAURELL, SAYING: "The Beatles, as they were, did not appeal to those that wanted to promote national culture, but I think they were too appealing, too good, too charismatic to let (for the authorities) them take control of the tastes of the Cuban youth. Because after look at the Beatles, it is possible they gave no attention to what people wanted them to pay attention to." VARIOUS OF URIAS RAURELL LOOKING AT ALBUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BEATLES FAN, RUBEN URIAS RAURELL, SAYING: "I did not live it at the time it was happening, so I was always left with the desire unfulfilled. This stayed with me and I am going with my son to the concerts. I don't usually like old things, my wife does, but not me."
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 02:45
- Keywords: Fidel Castro John Lennon Park John Lennon
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0036JG79KZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Cubans geared up for a rare Beatles tribute concert in the capital's John Lennon Park on Thursday (June 1), celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the permission to listen to the music on the island where it was once banned in the name of, conveniently enough the "revolution."
Among those preparing for the gig, involving seven national groups, was Aleyda Rodriguez, whose unique job is to look after John Lennon's glasses, or rather those of the popular statue in the central square. Rodriguez takes pride in the job, employed she says as an older person with greater responsibility, and works 11 to 12 hour days before taking the glasses home.
After the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, Cuba banned music from artists such as the Stones, the Beatles and Elvis Presley on the radio and television. It has also been said he intended to prevent the arrival of drugs and hippie culture to the island.
He later regretted the censorship of music and attended the unveiling of Lennon's statue in Havana on the 20th anniversary of his death on December 8, 2000.
Beatles fanatic, Ruben Urias Raurell, says he doesn't usually go for old things, like his wife does, but as he could not enjoy the music in its time, attending a concert like this was something he was always left wanting to do.
The tribute to The Boys of Liverpool was organised by musician and composer X Alfonso, critic Guille Vilar and the Ministry of Culture. Other groups taking part are Coro Renacer, La Vieja Escuela, The Kent, Sweet Lissy Project and the project La Flota.
Released on June 1, 1967, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is The Beatles' eighth album, which won four Grammy Awards in 1968. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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