Antara - Vladimir Vega

          Photographs above courtesy of Mary Herman PHD

A Note from Vladimir Vega

I was born in central Chile in the town of Molina it seems a century ago. From childhood I loved to communicate with people, so this is the opportunity those years have given me.

I was imprisoned in Chile on the same day as the Coup d'Etat; on 11th September 1973. To be able to survive in the dungeons of Pinochet, we developed a school, which worked underground, craft work teams, and a band.

I was music director of a band called PP, which means "Life Imprisonment Band". I looked for those who wanted to sing and play instruments, although nobody either knew how to play nor had any instruments. Friends brought their Andean musical instruments and guitars, which we started to handle as we could. Everyone played and played until notes finally started to be heard. Singers would sing and sing. At the end of a few weeks we had a band with proper rehearsals, which performed protest songs both for the political prisoners and for the common prison population, under the watchful eyes of the prison service hierarchy.  

At the end of 5 years in prison we were released following an internal amnesty in Chile. I came to England, invited by the Labour Government, and after a few weeks I started to perform music for solidarity. Years went by and I became a member of the Grand Union Band and organised my own band "Antara" which still survives today. I was a co-founder and former member of "Quimantu", and in later years of "Q-Plus, a band that includes the sounds of saxophone, clarinet, cello, and all of my other instruments.

On the artistic side I have been lucky enough to meet many other musicians from different backgrounds, who have given me so much in terms of music and friendship. I did not come from a pure cultural heritage, and also in Europe many musicians and friends have influenced me. My music is a mixture of things, illustrating the sadness and happiness of living".