BORDER ARTS

by Andrew Reyes, Staff Writer/ Translator

Band Banned in Juárez

The City Hall's Secretary's office did not allow the rock group, Molotov, to perform in Juárez, according to Diario de Juárez.

Molotov was scheduled to play February 21st at the Plaza de Toros Monumental. Last year the group played in Juárez without any objection from City Hall. This year however, a representative from the Family and Social Development Council in Juárez as well as one from the Social and Civil Action and Education Committee, expressed their opinions of the artists. They felt that Molotov's lyrics are much too violent, and go against the moral and ethical value system they are trying to promote.

"The city government is obligated to safeguard public morals, good habits, and the positive development of our youth," Hernán Rivera, the Secretary of City Hall in Juárez told Diario, Those in defense of the group included Molotov's fans as well as Alfredo Limas, Director of the School of Sociology at the Autonomous University in Juárez, and a priest named José Ríos, director of the newspaper, Presencia. Neither were advocating Molotov's message, yet they felt those interested in their music should have the right to attend such an event, they said. The position City Hall has taken is hypocritical, Rios said he felt. If the city is attempting to promote harmonious human relations, avoiding violence and confrontation within members of the community, then the city is responsible for the promotion of such messages, according to Rios.

A message continually aired on television, advocated by the city, advising the community to"no sea cochino" (not be dirty), is directly insulting and offensive to the citizen's of the city, and much more difficult to avoid in the comfort of one's own home, whereas a rock concert is specifically designed to house those interested in that music, Rios added. Even though the artists do not play piano and have not studied music in London as the authorities may have preferred, their style is an option, an alternative to those exposed to their material, capable of deciding whether or not to take part in such an event, sociologist Limas, who was not familiar with Molotov's music, said. The music produced by Molotov is not the cause of the public's security problems: "it would be better if they spent their energies attempting to resolve worthy and urgent problems," he said.

Source: Diario de Juárez

Carlos Vives to Tour Latin America

Colombian artist Carlos Vives and his band "La Provincia", will be announcing the dates and locations of their performances for their 1998 tour through Central America, South America, Mexico and the U.S., according to Diario de Juárez.

Vives will be promoting his new album, "Tengo Fe." He began his singing career at an early age and has also appeared on soap operas such as "Tiempo sin huella", "Pequeños gigantes", "El faraón", "Tuyo es mi corazón", "Gallito Ramírez", "La mujer noble", and "Escalona".

Source: Diario de Juárez