After initially canceling his Israel concert due to threats, British rock legend Eric Burdon has decided to go ahead with the performance.
Burdon, best known as the former lead singer of The Animals, arrived in Israel on Monday night, reaffirming his commitment to the show. “If it’s not about the music, it’s bullsh*t,” he stated upon landing.
A Change of Plans
Last week, Burdon had called off his August 1 concert in Binyamina, citing daily threatening emails, according to his manager. However, the show was suddenly relisted on his official website on Monday, and the venue, Zappa Shuni Amphitheater, confirmed the event was back on schedule. No official explanation was given for the reversal.
Burdon will perform alongside the legendary Israeli rock band T-Slam, as originally planned.
Facing Pressure But Standing Firm
Earlier this month, Burdon met with T-Slam in Vienna, revealing that he was under pressure from anti-Israel activists to cancel the show. At the time, he expressed his belief that music transcends politics, stating, “Everyone needs music, and entertainment should be for all.”
Despite these remarks, his manager later informed T-Slam that the show was canceled due to safety concerns. “We are receiving increasing pressure, including many threatening emails daily. I wouldn’t want to put Eric in danger,” the message read.
A Dream Show Back on Track
T-Slam initially expressed disappointment when the show was canceled, calling it “an almost dream come true” to share the stage with a rock & roll pioneer. Now, with the concert back on, fans can once again look forward to a night of classic hits, including “The House of the Rising Sun,” “It’s My Life,” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.”
The highly anticipated concert is set to take place as planned, proving that, despite outside pressures, the music plays on.