Mexican rock band Molotov takes up social issues

Mexico City: Mexican rock band Molotov, known for taking overtly political stances on social issues in its songs, says it now prefers to seek more subtle and intelligent ways to convey its message.

"We have to find a smart way to express ourselves in terms of what`s happening right now," vocalist and guitarist Tito Fuentes said at a press conference. The band members met with the media Wednesday in Mexico City to promote their new live album titled ‘Desde Rusia con amor’ (From Russia With Love), which also includes an accompanying DVD documenting Molotov`s concert tour in that country. Throughout its history, the four-time Latin Grammy Award-winning band composed of Fuentes, Miky Huidobro, Randy Ebright and Paco Ayala has railed against politicians and taken up the mantle on immigration and other social issues with anthems like "Gimme the Power". But now it "would be very obvious" to compose protest songs on issues such as drug trafficking because the band would risk ending up with "something trite" that does not adequately convey its message, Fuentes said. Around 50,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon took office and militarized the struggle against the country`s numerous drug cartels. The use of army soldiers and marines for law enforcement has been accompanied by numerous complaints about abuses by the troops. In an upcoming documentary about Molotov titled "Gimme the Power", directed by Olallo Rubio and set to premiere June 1, the band members give their perspective on Mexico and the country`s socio-political problems in recent decades. Various public figures interviewed for the film also weigh in on Molotov`s influence on society and the protest movement that has coalesced around the band. IANS