The Dead Daisies Go To Cuba

THE DEAD DAISIES ARRIVE IN CUBA

MUSICAL COLLECTIVE IN HAVANA ALL WEEK AS PART OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

PRODUCER BEN GROSSE JOINING THE BAND IN CUBAN STUDIO

WORKING ON TRACKS FOR NEW ALBUM

The Dead Daisies have arrived in Cuba and are in the midst of their cultural exchange as guests of the Cuban Ministry of Culture, Cuban Institute of Music and the Cuban Rock Agency.

After arriving on Sunday, the rock stalwarts were welcomed by a cocktail party and yesterday, held a press conference with the media regarding their trip. The band is in Havana until March 1 with many events on the books, but as bassist Marco Mendoza told Billboard, it’s still all about the music. View photos from their trip on the band’s site HERE and read the full Billboard article HERE .

The venture is one of the first for a U.S. rock band since Obama loosened travel and trade rules for the country and the band for this excursion includes Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses, Psychedelic Furs) on lead guitar, Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) on bass, Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses, Hookers & Blow) on keyboards, David Lowy (Mink, Red Phoenix) on guitar and Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol) on drums.  Also along for the ride are Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones, Sting, Peter Gabriel), John Corabi (Motley Crue, RATT) and Bernard Fowler (Rolling Stones).

While in Cuba, The Dead Daisies are performing both acoustic and electric shows as well as recording tracks for their upcoming album. Joining them in the Cuban studio is producer Ben Grosse (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sevendust, Stone Temple Pilots), who tagged along for the trip and will be behind the boards at Abdala Estudios for the sessions.

“I’m honored and excited to be invited by my friends in The Dead Daisies to be part of this adventure of music and cultural exchange in Havana,” affirms Grosse. “These guys are all pros, every one of them a star in his own right. I expect this to be an amazing journey, forging into the unknown down here. We’re all looking forward to the many guests planned for the sessions. I’m hoping the Cuban engineers and studio can show me a thing or two, they’ve been making great records and music here for a long, long time. I, in turn, will show them how we crank up the guitars back home.”

In addition to recording their new album, The Dead Daisies will also be jamming with Cuban musicians Yasek Manzano, Carlos Miyares, Michel Herrera, Alejandro Martinez, Harold Lopez and Yaimi Karel. The group will also visit schools and conduct workshops with students and local musicians.

The Daisies’ trip will conclude with the Cuba Rocks for Peace concert at the legendary Salón Rosado de la Tropical with the band and guests on Saturday, February 28. The Salón Rosado de la Tropical is one of the most important venues in Cuba and is considered a cathedral for Cuban popular music, having hosted the best known bands in the country for decades. Joining The Daisies on this shrine of a stage on the 28th will be Cuban artists, David Blanco y su grupo and Anima Mundi.

Following their international diplomatic summit of rock, The Dead Daisies will finish recording their new album in Sydney, Australia and then head across the pond in June for a month of European dates with KISS. More details on those dates still to come.

The Dead Daisies Cuba Schedule

Sun, Feb 22 – Havana, Cuba – Welcome Cocktail Party with Cuban Ministry, Institute & Musicians

Mon, Feb 23 – Havana, Cuba – Press Conference & Acoustic Performance at la Fábrica de Arte

Tues, Feb 24 – Havana, Cuba – Cuban Recording Sessions with local Cuban musicians

Wed, Feb 25 – Havana, Cuba – Cuban Recording Sessions and Club Gig at Maxims

Thurs, Feb 26 – Havana, Cuba – Music School & Master Class Visits

Fri, Feb 27 – Havana, Cuba – Cuban Recording Sessions

Sat, Feb 28 – Havana, Cuba – Cuba Rocks For Peace concert at Salón Rosado de La Tropical