Costello earns praise, criticism for Israel concert cancelations
Washington Post / Ally Schweitzer
22-May-2010 (one comment)

- Elvis Costello is setting off sparks for his decision to cancel two concerts in Israel. Costello wrote on his website that in light of the nation's treatment of Palestinians, the decision was a "matter of conscience." Sarah Colborne of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign told the Guardian, "We are increasingly seeing artists taking a stand against allowing themselves to be used by the Israeli state to normalize their occupation and apartheid policies against Palestinians." Meanwhile, Israeli journalist Ariana Melamed criticized Costello for canceling his performances after tickets had already been sold, saying "The belated discovery of the local reality shows that [Costello and other Israel boycotters] actually have no ongoing interest in the state of human rights around here, but rather, a momentary interest in a politically correct label... After all, the occupation and oppression did not start all of a sudden, exactly in the period between the start of ticket sales and the show, right?"

- Axl Rose is suing his former manager Irving Azoff for $5 million, claiming that the supermanager attempted to sabotage Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy," the band's first album in 14 years. Rose's sprawling lawsuit portrays the heavyweight Azoff-- who chairs Live Nation and manages The Eagles, Christina Aguilera and others-- as a craven tyrant bent on ruining Axl's career. Good stuff! Naturally, the suit is a response to Azoff's claim that Rose owes him nearly two million doll... >>>

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by IranMilitaryForum.net on Sat May 22, 2010 10:50 PM PDT

Singer Elvis Costello cancels concerts in Israel

JERUSALEM — British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello is canceling two
summer concerts in Israel because of its treatment of the Palestinians,
disappointing fans in a country enjoying an upswing in visits by
renowned artists.

In an announcement on his Web site explaining
his decision, Costello spoke of "intimidation, humiliation or much
worse" inflicted by Israel on the Palestinians and said sometimes
"merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted
as a political act."

Costello told The Jerusalem Post earlier this
month he was against boycotts, saying it would be like avoiding the
U.S. or England because he disagreed with the policies of their
governments.

But in Thursday's edition of the paper, he explained
his change of heart.

"The issues just became too complex and I
woke up one day and realized I couldn't go on with the shows," Costello
was quoted as saying.

Costello's cancellation drew an angry
response from his Israeli fans. "There is an enormous group of people in
Israel who are humanists and hunger for peace, who yearn for a normal
life and are prepared to make painful concessions. And they are also
sworn culture-lovers," one disappointed ticket-holder, Shai Lahav, wrote
in the Maariv daily, noting that he had listened to Costello every day
since he was 15. "With this miserable decision of yours, it is this
group of people you have weakened."

"Sometimes, a musician ought
to focus just on music. At least that is a field in which he has some
knowledge," Lahav wrote.

Israeli Culture Minister Limor Livnat
said a singer who boycotts Israeli fans "is not worthy of performing in
front of them."

Many artists choosing to perform in Israel
generate protest from Palestinians and their supporters who say their
shows amount to support of Israel's policies in the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip. But few actually cancel.

After years of concerns over
political tensions and violence, more world artists are performing in
Israel, including Madonna, Leonard Cohen and Paul McCartney since 2008.
Elton John is set to take the stage in June.

 

//www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5...


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