Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Jerusalem Post:

Costello cancels Israel shows
By DAVID BRINN
18/05/2010 10:05

No peace, love and understanding from Elvis.

Only two weeks after British rock icon Elvis Costello told The Jerusalem Post that the only answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “dialogue and reconciliation,” he decided to take himself out of the equation by cancelling his two shows scheduled for June 30 and July 1 at the Caesaerea Amphitheater.

Costello posted an announcement on his Web site over the weekend explaining his decision to join the boycott of Israel. “There are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent,” he wrote.

Saying he couldn’t imagine receiving another invitation to perform in Israel, Costello wrote that since the conflict was “actually too grave and complex to be addressed in a concert, then it is also quite impossible to simply look the other way… sometimes a silence in music is better than adding to the static.”

Costello was set to make his Israeli debut with his new folk/bluegrass band The Sugarcanes, and in his conversation with the Post two weeks ago, he said that he had given much thought to playing in the country, but decided that he was against efforts to boycott performances.

“I know from the experience of a friend who is from Israel and from people who have worked there that there is a difference of opinion there among Israelis regarding their government’s policies. It seems to me that dialogue is essential. I don’t presume to think that my performance is going to be part of the process,” Costello told the Post.

“The people who call for a boycott of Israel own the narrow view that performing there must be about profit and endorsing the hawkish policy of the government. It’s like never appearing in the US because you didn’t like Bush’s policies or boycotting England because of Margaret Thatcher.”

Alive Productions, which was promoting the Costello shows, said in a statement that they were shocked by Costello’s letter to them, which he later posted on his Web site.

“In the continuous contact we’ve had with Costello’s management, there was never even a shred of a clue that he was considering cancelling,” the statement said.

In a written response to Costello, Alive Productions appealed to him to reconsider his “sudden and extreme” decision.

“Back in February, when you confirmed the performances in Israel, you were surely aware of the situation in the Middle East, and the existing long conflict between the two nations with different wants and dreams. You are probably familiar with the history and the global reality that we in Israel are confronted with,” the letter stated.

“Perhaps there, it is easier to bury one's head in the sand and again use prejudice as a conduit to cultural discrimination of a large culture-loving public… music should be a voice of peace and brotherhood, a unifying force and should not be turned off merely because the background noises seem too loud.

“It is impossible to understand how your participation in a music concert, that is totally apolitical, can be interpreted as a political act. However, there can be no doubt that cancelling a performance for political reasons, and refusing to perform in Israel, can only be interpreted as a very strong political statement. Your decision will only push people further apart and enabling those wrong-doers to win through cultural terror.”

Alive Productions, which is also bringing Costello’s wife, singer/pianist Diana Krall to the Ra’anana Amphitheater on August 4th, reassured fans that they had received word from her management (which she shares with Costello) that she had no plans to cancel her concert.

6 comments:

Epaminondas said...

First of all, Krall is way to classy for him.

As in ANOTHER LEAGUE.

Costello's letter explaining this is among the most disgusting, sensitive 90's guy, moral cowardice, ignorant combination of words I have ever read.

And his music is, ultimately BORING and forgetful.

Anonymous said...

Elvis is dead to me. I am in mourning. The past few days have been very painful. I am at a loss at how he can side with a murderous lot whose gender apartied and human rights abuses against women are the greatest crime being committed in the world today, not to mention the murder, terrorism and intolerance that is their modus operandi toward all others. I have removed all memorablia and vestiges of him from my surroundings and after 26 years of fandome there was a lot. I will not listen to his music any more. I hope that he will redeem himself some way? Until then, he is dead to me. I stand, always, resolutely with Israel and the Jews. I will be changing my pen name here. I do not want to be associated in any way with a an anti-semite.

As of today, his wife still has not cancelled her appearance in Israel. I hope she has more courage and grace and intelligence than Elvis.

Elvis is a tool. And Elvis is dead.

In my mourning and to his memory, I dedicate Paul Simon's Silent Eyes.

Pastorius said...

I may be wrong, but I think Diana Krall is Jewish.

Nevertheless, she just announced a few weeks ago that she would be playing in Israel.

Trouble aarew in the Costello/Krall household?

Pastorius said...

On the other hand, my writing agent is also my best friend, and he and I agree on almost nothing politically.

American Rose said...

You know so many of my Elvis friends have said as much to me, that if they were to quit listening to singer/songwriter/poets whose politics offended them, they wouldn't have much to listen to. But I cannot forgive this. I am SHATTERED by it.

He agreed to the concerts. He agreed to appearing in Israel. But then he decides that his "conscience" will not let him comply with the committments he made? What made him change his mind? Where was his conscience when he signed the contracts and announced the gigs?

I worshipped Elvis. I got up each morning and read Elvis blogs. I thought of him each day, wondered where he was, what he was doing. I am completely devastated. To some it may sound silly, but I am just shattered. Nothing can ever be the same.

Diana is a Christian.

Pastorius said...

Has written some great songs, and done some great performances.

I love Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Pink Floyd, but I hate their politics.

Nothing I can do about it.

I've travelled in Leftie circles all my life, cuz I'm an artist (a songwriter, singer, drummer, and writer). I've been called a racist, a hater, a Nazi, etc., so many times I can not count.

Funny thing is, my family looks like the United Nations. While, it is almost without fail that those who call me a racist have all-white families.

What can you say?

That's lefties for you.