Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: What happens when a group of metalheads in Cuba decide to escape the system… by any means necessary?
How a group of 80’s Cuban misfits found rock-and-roll and created a revolution within a revolution, going into exile without ever leaving home. Reporter Luis Trelles brings us the story of punk rock’s arrival in Cuba and a small band of outsiders who sentenced themselves to death and set themselves free. We originally released this episode back in 2015 in a collaboration with Radio Ambulante, but the story is so fascinating (and, in many ways, still relevant) that we haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Special thanks to the bands VIH, Eskoria, Metamorfosis and Alio Die & Mariolina Zitta for the use of their music.
Radio Ambulante launches their 15th season on September 30th!!
Check it out, here!! (radioambulante.org/en)
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Audio -
Find some of Radio Ambulante’s other stories about the Frikis here:
The Survivors (zpr.io/Kh8KWWi6SqaF)
When Havana was Friki (zpr.io/HrXsgibzvbJj)
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Photo illustration by Jared Bartman
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
From the Radiolab podcast: What happens when a group of metalheads in Cuba decide to escape the system… by any means necessary?
How a group of 80’s Cuban misfits found rock-and-roll and created a revolution within a revolution, going into exile without ever leaving home. Reporter Luis Trelles brings us the story of punk rock’s arrival in Cuba and a small band of outsiders who sentenced themselves to death and set themselves free. We originally released this episode back in 2015 in a collaboration with Radio Ambulante, but the story is so fascinating (and, in many ways, still relevant) that we haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Special thanks to the bands VIH, Eskoria, Metamorfosis and Alio Die & Mariolina Zitta for the use of their music.
Radio Ambulante launches their 15th season on September 30th!!
Check it out, here!! (radioambulante.org/en)
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Audio -
Find some of Radio Ambulante’s other stories about the Frikis here:
The Survivors (zpr.io/Kh8KWWi6SqaF)
When Havana was Friki (zpr.io/HrXsgibzvbJj)
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolab!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X — https://x.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
TikTok — tiktok.com/@radiolab
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Jared Bartman
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
