CBC Band: A Band on the Run

The CBC Band was Vietnam's most popular rock/pop band in the 1960s and 70s.

Heeding the advice of a well-placed American friend at the CIA who predicted South Vietnam's impending collapse under the North Vietnamese Army's onslaught, the CBC Band left Vietnam in the Spring of 1974.

When South Vietnam fell on 30 April 1975, the CBC Band was in India and found refuge at a Tibetian Buddhist temple in New Delhi, where they lived while waiting for the US Embassy to grant them entry as refugees.

On 15 July, 1975, American friends from Hong Kong paid them a visit there and recorded this video.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• CBC
• Band
• Nhac
• Rock
• Music
• Saigon
• Vietnam
• War
• New
• Delhi
• India

[MrLnxinurheart]

what is the name of the song at 6:45 ?it's so beautiful! love CBC

[borntowander]

@MrLnxinurheart The song was "When Will I See You Again?" Originally sung by the Three Degrees, it reached #2 on the US Pop music charts in December 1947.

[chaudoc]

why CBC run? before communist take over south VietNam

[borntowander]

For better or worse, they took my advice to leave before the massive rush for exits when the South would fall to the North. My advice was based upon information I received in June 1973 from a close American friend of mine who was in a position to know things. By Feb 1974, the CBC and their foreign friends/sponsors had all left Vietnam. We were happy to help take out those we could, but remain forever sad that we had to leave so many other friends and lovers behind.

[mlovmo]

Maybe this is is a stupid question, but why didn't they just stay in VN? I know the singer here complained about both the Thieu govt and the North, but plenty of citizens of the former Republic of Vietnam STAYED during the occupation period (1975-1977), and stayed after reunification. Couldn't they play rock music in VN after 1975?

[borntowander]

Leaving one's homeland, family & friends is seldom an easy one to make, but sometimes becomes a necessity for reasons of survival, quality of life and for what one may define as 'freedom.'

[vhltu]

what a story !!!!!! Thank you for sharing this video. They are a reflection of wonderful music...as in music so in life.

[lop7481]

same here - please - i'm dying to listen to them ...

[zcarenow]

I think they play at the Mini Club in Houston, Texas .

[lucirz]

hippies :D

[MrLnxinurheart]

@borntowander thanks alot! you well done, i'm teenager of vietnam today, thank to your video i have known alot of interest things! verry good job!

[manwitgun55]

@mlovmo no foregin music like rock was outlawed ....the communist regime deemed it as this bad plague of the west so no... my dad had to throw away his vinyls

[jaketheman091]

I hope theres a documentary about classic vietnamese rock eventually. Most Americans are too bigoted and ignorant to even learn about it.

[twinqletwinqle]

@mlovmo It was bad very bad. Because Communist North Vietnam are the victors the truth has yet to come out in full. My father went to Reeducation Camp - death camp. Have you read "The Unwanted" by Kien Nguyen? Have you seen Boat People by Ann Hui? I mean these people weren't even in Saigon, they were in the middle, Da Nang and it was bad. VERY BAD.

That's why millions of Vietnamese had risked their lives at sea, boat people, fleeing because it was THAT BAD.

[chonkhongduocnick]

@mlovmo hippies and other kinds of music from the west was forbidden in vietnam after 75!

[tentolanam]

She had answered in the interview, right???