The Australian duo Air Supply recently reminisced about their unforgettable concert in Havana, highlighting it as one of the most significant performances in their career. This nostalgic reflection was shared in an Instagram video posted by Cuban Amanda C. Gonzalez Perez, who inquired about their visit to the island.
In the video, one of the band members candidly states, "But we really love Cuba," fondly recalling their experience with the enthusiastic Havana crowd.
The concert in question took place on July 7, 2005, at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform in Havana, drawing a massive audience estimated between 60,000 and 175,000 people, according to various sources.
The event faced the imminent threat of Hurricane Dennis, which struck Cuba around that time. Strong winds caused a slight delay in the concert's start, but they did not prevent the performance from being successfully completed.
Graham Russell, one half of the musical duo alongside Russell Hitchcock, noted that the Cuban audience had a remarkable familiarity with nearly all their songs, indicating the widespread popularity of their ballads on the island.
A second concert scheduled for July 8 had to be canceled due to power outages caused by the hurricane.
Not wanting to disappoint their fans, Air Supply offered an impromptu acoustic performance by candlelight at the hotel where they were staying. This intimate gathering for fans who were also staying there became one of the most cherished memories of their visit to Cuba.
Air Supply was among the first major Anglo rock and pop bands to perform in Cuba, following in the footsteps of Audioslave, who had played at the same venue two months earlier, marking the first outdoor concert by a U.S. rock band on the island.
The video shared by Amanda C. Gonzalez Perez in April received widespread attention on social media, amassing over 55,000 views and 7,000 likes, underscoring the lasting affection Cubans have for that historic concert over two decades ago.
The memory of that evening at the Tribuna, with tens of thousands of Cubans singing along to ballads like "All Out of Love" and "Lost in Love" amid a hurricane, remains one of the most unique chapters in the island's musical history.
Insight into Air Supply's Historic Concert in Cuba
What made Air Supply's concert in Cuba so memorable?
The concert was memorable due to the overwhelming turnout, the threat of Hurricane Dennis, and the fact that it was one of the first performances by a major Anglo band in Cuba, creating a historic moment in the island's musical scene.
How did Air Supply adapt to the challenges posed by Hurricane Dennis?
Despite the hurricane causing power outages and delays, Air Supply adapted by performing an intimate acoustic set by candlelight for guests at their hotel, ensuring fans were still able to enjoy their music.