Cuba's Unique, Says British Rocker
Havana, Aug 23 (AIN) Visiting Havana for two concerts this weekend, member Mick Huncknall of the British rock group "Simply Red" described Cuba as "a unique country in the world."
Huncknall, the bands vocalist and composer, said he was surprised by the lack of commercial ads along Havana's streets. "It's different to the rest of the world, where all the cities seem to be the same," he added.
The singer praised Cuban music, particularly the island's wind and percussion instrumentalists, whom he said add a singular touch.
Simply Red is in Cuba to shoot and record a DVD at the Great Theater of Havana featuring the theater's orchestra and members of the Contemporary Dance Company led by Miguel Iglesias.
Simply Red is one of the most popular bands in the UK, to date having sold more than 50 million copies of its records.
According to the director, the group has inherited the British musical tradition that started with Rolling Stones.
The band recorded its first album in 1985, but they recently began producing their records independently, as the major recording labels typically retain 80 percent of the profits.
This coming October, Simply Red will be promoting its second independent production in an intensive promotional tour.