When Adam Wilkes was born in Woodstock, more than a decade had already passed since that legendary music festival from the hippie era which put that U.S. town on the map. However, Adam has always been aware of the cultural significance of his birthplace, which has followed him in his creative experiences as President of entertainment company AEG Live Asia, which organized the famous Rolling Stones concert in Cuba.
Wilkes was the AEG Live representative behind the concert of their Satanic Majesties on the island, a defining moment which Wilkes even went as far as likening it to the spirit of Woodstock ’69. “There are lots of big concerts, but there are some on this long list which, given their symbolism, become historic events, like what happened first with Woodstock ’69 and then almost 50 years later with the Rolling Stones concert in Cuba.”
Adam arrived in Havana in January to start working with Cuban authorities to prepare the historic show, which will be available to watch beginning September 23 in cinemas around the world. According to the Cuban Music Institute (ICM) the band will cede their rights to the material in order to allow it to be screened on the island. “We came for the first time in December for a very quick meeting with the ICM. It was a positive meeting and we all felt that we were going to make the concert happen. I personally returned within a week, in January and my team and I stayed until the show was over. The team grew to 100 people, and by the end, 350 people had traveled to Cuba to prepare the concert. We received tremendous support from the Cuban government, the ICM and other organizations which participated in the event. This was the biggest concert in the world in the last 10 years. Although it was very important for Cuba, I also feel that it was a global event.”
What didAEG Live think of the response from the Cuban public and opportunity to work in Cuba?
AEG Live is one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world. Our headquarters is in Los Angeles but we have offices all over the world. We have experience working in different countries and situations. I manage our Asia office and am based in Shanghai. When we began preparing for the Concert in Cuba, there were a lot of details that both sides had to learn about, as a concert of that size had never been held on the island, and we had to organize it all within a short period of time. We normally organize this type of event 12-18 months in advance, but we did this project in just three months.
What were your expectations before the concert?
We didn’t know what was going to happen before the concert. Personally, the more I learned about Cuban culture, the more I got excited about the idea of the concert. Obviously I conveyed all of this to the band, but until they were there they couldn’t understand what it was all about. The band travels with a group of people who have been with them for many years. There are people who have been with the group for over 30 years. So, they have lots of experience preparing Rolling Stones concerts, and for the band, their families, and managers, the concert was one of the best in the world.
What did you think of Cuba’s ability to host these kinds of mega-concerts?
We are very lucky that the concerttook place at this moment in history because things are now changing following the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States. We established a starting point with the concert and it’s difficult to know where this road will lead, but it’s clear that there’s important work ahead. The Rolling Stones are a reference for other artists and we’re certain that other great groups will come to Cuba.
Why was the Ciudad Deportiva chosen as the location for the concert?
We were thinking about a couple of sites for the concert. We had to find one that met all the specific requirements, could be modified within our limited timeframe and could hold a large number of people. The Ciudad Deportiva seemed perfect to us. Speaking of settings for future shows, I think Havana has some fantastic locations. But if we’re talking about concerts like that of the Rolling Stones the Ciudad Deportiva is excellent.
AEG Live works with artists such as Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, Coldplay, Marc Anthony, Maroon 5. Are there plans to organize concerts with these outstanding musicians in Cuba?
In truth we work with lots of artists. I’m really excited to talk to them about the opportunities we see in Cuba and look for ways to bring them over here. I’ve had lots of dreams which I hope can come true.
But, Cuba itself also has world-class talents which a lot of people don’t know about. There’s a great opportunity for Cuban artists to perform in other parts of the world, like the U.S. and Europe. The global community is fascinated with Cuba, a country which could easily host those massive music festivals which take place in Europe and the United States and attract people from all over the planet.
(Interview retranslated from the Spanish version)
