Personal reasons Macca in Israel plus open letters to Paul & interview Jerusalem post

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Personal reasons Macca in Israel plus open letters to Paul & interview Jeruselm post
note: this post will be updated thru-out the day

Ahhh a article from dear ol Geoff Baker, via the Mail online-I miss Geoff., He does know the McCartney's very well...so I will post his take on the Macca gig in Israel, very well mannered for Geoff, as I read..
Is this really about Linda McCartney a tribute to her heritage? Yes, I did read what Geoff wrote.,I'd like to think in more romantic terms, OK?

Why Sir Paul McCartney is willing to risk it all in Israel
By Geoff Baker
Last updated at 10:06 PM on 20th September 2008

Paul McCartney performs in Israel on Thursday for the first time. The concert in Tel Aviv will be a security nightmare and rival groups are playing tug-of-war with Paul's personal politics.
Because he is seen almost universally as 'one of the good guys', everyone wants to recruit him to their side.
Israel, which famously banned the 'decadent' Beatles in 1965, is billing the concert as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations.


Paul is no Zionist and nor has he ever spoken up for the PLO, but he is a pacifist and hopes the two sides take a hint from the title of the gig - The Friendship First Concert.

There is also a private reason for Macca's visit - it represents a nod of thanks to those of Jewish birth who were instrumental in helping to forge the Beatles phenomenon. As a Beatle, Paul's manager, lawyer, song publisher and promoter were all Jewish. read the rest of Geoff's story here

One blogger's open letter to Macca

Dear Paul,

As someone who grew up in Liverpool, I read with sadness your that you were playing a gig in Tel Aviv, Israel on September 25th.
Your announcement is headed ‘My message is a peaceful one...’ yet the very people who are the victims of unrelenting violence, house demolition, aerial bombardment, land confiscation and water shortages are opposed to you coming to Israel. I refer to the Palestinians.

Forty-three years ago, when the Beatles were banned from playing in Israel, I like most people thought of Israel as some kind of socialist experiment in the making.

As someone who grew up as a Zionist, I believed that Israel had made the desert bloom and was surrounded by those whose only wish was to destroy it. Successive wars of conquest demolished these myths and in particular the relentless bombing of civilians in the Occupied Territories and Lebanon,.
If we are honest Paul, where John Lennon led you followed. When John Lennon gave back the MBE you were forced to do likewise. more of Tony's letter here at his blog

more on letters later.
Must read article from the Jurusalem Post on Paul McCartney a brief snippet

Speaking words of wisdom
By David horovitz

A full half century after The Beatles began to take shape, Paul McCartney still sounds awed, modest and appreciative when discussing the lasting resonance of their music. Ahead of his Tel Aviv concert on Thursday, McCartney talks here to The Jerusalem Post about his beliefs, about how he copes with near-universal fame, about the puzzling, even "magical" inspiration for some of his songs, and about his abiding, insistently optimistic outlook on life.

"I don't know if he was being unworldly or self-calming in suggesting similarities between the extremists' objections now and the marginal hostility to a recent appearance he made in Quebec or to shows played at Tokyo's Budokan martial arts arena.

But he wanted to stress that his message is one of humanitarianism and friendship. Indeed, this week's show, the latest in a series of one-offs that has seen him play to almost 700,000 people in Liverpool, Kiev and Quebec, is being promoted as McCartney's "Friendship First" concert"

Is that Paul?
Yeah!
How're you doing man?
I'm great. It's lovely to speak to you.

I have to tell you my sister and my mum were in the enthralled masses at Hammersmith Odeon in 1965…
I remember them well! (Laughs)

All they could hear was screaming, they said.
I know - that's all we could hear too... I must say, even though we couldn't hear anything, it was pretty exciting times.
You're the soundtrack to my children's lives as well. My daughter, who's 11, has just started learning bass and she's learning "Let It Be." That's the first thing they've got her working on.

Wow. It is fabulous, eh. We never, ever, thought that it would last this long. But, you know, it's a great tribute that it has lasted and that kids play it these days. I'm very proud of that fact.

It's third time lucky for Israel, right, after our brilliant government banned you and then the Wings dates fell through [in the 1970s]? Is this somewhere you've particularly wanted to play?

Yeah, you know, I'm always interested in visiting places I've never been to before, just as a tourist. It's always interesting to go to a new region. The offer of a gig came up. And it was somewhere that I'd been interested in. I'd like to go there and see what's what. I hear from a lot of people that Tel Aviv is a great place. more of Paul's interview here Juresalem Post

more later hb

Paul McCartney puts friednship first he will play in Israel, Tel-Aviv

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"27.08.2008
Paul McCartney Puts ‘Friendship First’ he will play in Israel-Aviv

Music Icon Set To Rock Israel 43 Years After Ban Historic ‘Friendship First’ Concert Announced Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv, Israel, 25th September 2008 43 years after being banned by the Israeli government, Paul McCartney today announces his ‘Friendship First’ concert in Israel.

Following months of feverish speculation the wait is finally over as music’s most revered star announces that he will be playing in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday 25th September 2008, for the first time ever.
This is in keeping with a series of special one-off unique shows that Paul has performed this year in places he has never visited before. Israel will finally get the chance to experience a night of music and history Macca-style; the night they have been waiting decades for. Paul McCartney holds true the key principals of friendship – loyalty and respect – and the

‘Friendship First’ concert is an opportunity for people to celebrate these values whilst having a memorable night of fun and rock n’ roll. Looking ahead to his first trip to Tel Aviv,

Paul Said, “I’ve heard so many great things about Tel Aviv and Israel, but hearing is one thing and experiencing it for yourself is another. We are planning to have a great time and a great evening. We can’t wait to get out there and rock.” more later ...

Well I hope the fans enjoy it, I'm still worried about the safety of Paul & The Band.. and I cannot help that.. It should be a interesting concert ... and a memorable night for all.......hb

8/28
Read what one blogger has to say about Paul McCartney playing in Tel-Aviv

August 28, 2008
Paul McCartney Makes Worst Decision Since ‘The Frog Chorus’
Filed under: Features —
by poppycocteau @ 6:15 pm
Tags: bbc, beatles, controversy, israel, paul mccartney, prick, tel-aviv

Mainly because no other music media has mentioned it, I feel I should bring to light the disgusting move by Paul McCartney to play a concert in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Just what the hell is he thinking? He’s probably the single most respected musician alive on the planet, with a huge amount of influence on, not just musicians and music fans, but on a celebrity obsessed society in general, yet he sees no problem in proposing an idea just as sordid and disrespectful as Queen playing South Africa at the height of apartheid or Morrissey’s want to perform in an Iran where public stonings of women are still commonplace.

Powerful artists such as these mentioned are one of the few groups of people who can influence a wide section of the population’s way of thinking, and McCartney choosing to promote such a unashamedly intolerant, self-pitying, war-mongering, Bush loving government as Israel’s is incredulous: read more here

Geez the rumour is back once again Paul McCartney to play Israel? Hell no!

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The rumour is back once again Paul McCartney to play Israel? hell no!

Geez, once again this cannot be true as I posted here on June 29 Macca to play in Israel see here
I see the Huffington post even has this news posted on their blog which is a great blog for info on almost anything.. well almost.
Why would Macca want to play in a country that is not safe? There is just too much unrest in the middle East, without some religious fanatic trying to make a political statement, with the biggest living legend playing in a Holy country. I'd rather have Paul and the band safe than sorry .. that just creeps me out. Once again Paul please don't do it, play in countries where you will be safe!thoughrs anyone?.........~more later

Tickets to Paul McCartney's Tel Aviv concert go on sale
from The Jerusalem Post

Looks like this gig is begining to materialize~
Tickets for Paul McCartney?s performance at Hayarkon Park on September 25th went on sale at midnight Tuesday night.
Tickets can be ordered either via telephone a *8584 or on the Web site www.leaan.co.il
According to the producers, the first 200 buyers will receive a special price of NIS 400 per ticket.
The regular price for the general admission tickets will be NIS 490. A special reserved seating VIP section next to the stage will cost NIS 1,500 per ticket.
According to the producers, the internet sales site can handle up to 1,000 hits per minute. But as of a few minutes past midnight, the site was inaccessible.
The hours that the telephone ordering number is open are Sunday-Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm, Friday from 9 am to 8 pm and Saturday from noon until 10 pm.

I'm still not liking this at all for Paul and the band..

No way Macca cannot being playing a gig in Israel?

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No way Macca cannot being playing a gig in Israel?

Have you heard the rumours this past week that Paul McCartney is going to play in Israel this coming fall? Well according to Ynet.news Paul and band will be doing just that, this coming September. Paul and The Beatles have never performed in Israel do to a ban by Israels government.. 40 plus years ago.

You know, I just do not see a huge fan base there, never heard of any fans from Israel and feel it would not be safe for Macca at all period! Man I hope this is just a rumour.. Why doesn't Macca play for the troops in Iraq instead, in a safety zone? Well I suppose that is pushing it quit a bit. I'm not liking this idea at all..I worry about Paul's safety and security~ I'm NOT feeling this gig at all for Paul's sake

Who is going to protect Paul and the band the Israeli Army? thoughts anyone?