COMING ATTRACTIONS

South America has become a big bucks concert stop for top rock groups, despite incidents of violence with audiences. Foreign performers were once scared away by militaristic right-wing governments, but since 1979, a number of countries have reverted to democratic rule. Groups like Yes, the Cure and Queen, Van Halen and the Police have played the giant football stadiums of Argentina and Brazil and local producers predict the two countries will soon be included on every top group’s touring schedule. “The future is brilliant. I have no doubt that in five years, Argentina and Brazil will be obligatory stops on the biggest rock tours,” said Daniel Grinbank, an Argentine concert producer. Brazil burst onto the rock scene in 1985 with a 10-day Rock in Rio festival, featuring Queen, James Taylor, Rod Stewart and the B-52s. A second Rock in Rio is scheduled for next January.