Music Mujica: The rocker side of the president who legalized marijuana at Uruguaimanu Chao, Jorge Drexler, resident and other artists say goodbye to the Uruguayan politician who died in Montevideo at the 89th Newsroom

“Until always, companion!” – It’s the photo caption shared by the band members SKA-Pthe iconic Spanish punk group that, since the mid -1990s, has been in its critical stance against capitalism, fascism, imperialism and various institutions of Western society.

In the image, the musicians pose next to José “Pepe” Mujicaformer member of the National Liberation Movement-Tupamarospolitical prisoner for more than a decade in inhuman conditions (between 1972 and 1985), one of the greatest figures of the leftist party Wide front and president of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015.

The meeting took place at the simple farm where Mujic He lived and died, located in Rincón Del Cerro, around Montevideo. It was there that he decided to spend his last days after the diagnosis of terminal cancer about a year ago. The former president died yesterday, 14, at the age of 89, surrounded by the same humility that marked his entire career.

“I have very beautiful memories of Pepebecause he went to see us play live several times. And before being president, it appeared on my birthday. I was celebrating in the band’s studio, after the rehearsal, and he went to greet me, ”says EMILIANO BRANCCIARIguitarist and vocalist of No te you can the Rolling Stone. “It always seemed to me an old sage: someone who set aside the rematch and hatred to build, and who always lived in austerity. He preached with the example. So it’s a huge sadness.”

Branchciari He also dedicated him to the song “El Last Jefe”included in the album El heat del full invierne (2012).

“Pepe is gone, I will miss you forever. You have been and will always be a maximum reference,” he wrote Manu Chao in your account in Instagramalong with a portrait showing the former Uruguayan president with the raised thumb.

René Pérez Joglarthe Residentalso visited Pepe in your farm. The Porto-Rican artist shared a video with an excerpt from the conversation with the Uruguayan politician in his home. “Pepe… you made us think, made us believe and taught us to understand the complexities of life in a simple way: living it. You gave us so much, that we will spend years and years studying you, reading you, rhyming you. I will have some of your courage to live as free as you. Instagram.

Moved by the news, Jorge Drexler wrote: “Goodbye, Pepe. Thanks. Gradually we will understand the historical perspective of its huge ethical and political legacy. May the earth be light to you. ”

One of the last public appearances of Pepe Mujica It was a month ago, in the commemorative act for the 54 years of Wide front. Cataline, Rubén Rada and Leon Gieco Participated in the celebration-all of them, of course, with the bond with the former president. The consecrated year of Cataline It was 2005. Murga Jovenwon the First award of the carnival contest In the WARDS category with the show Los Sueñoswhich included an unforgettable cuplé in which Martín Cardozo interpreted Pepe.

The affection between Pepe and Radio It was mutual – just like admiration. In June last year, already sick, Pepe He was seen dancing to the sound of the singer and percussionist during a party act. “Thank you for so much, dear Pepe!”, he wrote Radio node Instagram. “You don’t go, we get all your teachings. I will always remember you like this, laughing at our meetings. A big hug, honey Lucía”Said the singer, in reference to Lucía Topolanskycompanion of Mujic.

Leon Giecobesides sharing conversations with Mujic and participate in the campaign “A song for Pepe” – in which artists from various parts of the world sent him music and poems as emotional support during the disease – also visited him in his farm. From there, he took an emblematic souvenir to his museum: the boots Pepe wore to work on Earth. Today, they are part of the artist’s museum collection in Cañada Rosquin, his hometown, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina.

It was during his mandate in 2013 that the law regulated the Cannabis market in Uruguay – including production and marketing (both controlled by the state), the possession and recreational, medicinal and industrial uses of the plant. So explained Pepe Mujica:

He said Einstein: ‘If you can change, you can’t keep doing the same things.’ In 1985, it was estimated that there were about 1,500 marijuana consumers in my country. Now it’s 150 thousand. But we arrested a lot of people, spent a lot of money on repression, we managed to confiscate several marijuana loads. But it didn’t happen just in Uruguay, it’s happening worldwide. With this law, I intend to steal part of the market, attack the source of resources. Worse than drug addiction is drug trafficking, because drug trafficking introduces uses and customs of the world of crime that multiply the problems of violence and social coexistence. ”

This text was originally published by Rolling Stone Argentina on May 13, 2025 and can be checked here.

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