FUNARTE Bans Rock Band Entries in Competition to Support Music

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The tender was created to award bands from all over the country, providing free distribution of instruments and/or replacement. Although focused on wind instruments, the edict does not restrict sets of any other type of music, only rock.

The case drew attention because it was not the first manifestation of FUNARTE’s president, Dante Mantovani, against the style. Appointed by Roberto Alvim, the recently fired Culture Secretary, the maestro and YouTuber took over the Foundation in December 2019.

In a video published on his channel before taking office, Mantovani said that rock “leads to abortion and Satanism”. The channel has over 9,000 followers, describes itself as “conservative” and addresses issues related to classical music, culture, and interviews, in addition to the musician and Foundation president’s commitments and official agenda.

At the time, he stated that “rock triggers drugs that trigger sex that triggers the abortion industry. The abortion industry, in turn, triggers something much heavier that is Satanism. John Lennon himself said he made a pact with the devil”.

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