Music festival organizers say cancellation related to flotilla raid
U.S. alternative rock band Pixies has canceled a concert in Tel Aviv this week and organizers say it’s in protest over Israel’s commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine activists died. The band’s Tel Aviv promoter, Shuki Weiss, sent out a statement Sunday saying the band would cancel “with great regret.”
Pixies David Lovering and Kim Deal
Two other acts — London punk band Klaxons and Gorillaz, a multi-member act fronted by Blur’s Damon Albarn — also canceled their appearances this week at the same festival, though neither act indicated why.
On May 31, Israeli commandos conducted a pre-dawn raid on the six-ship flotilla, which happened in international waters more than 60 kilometers from shore. The move was widely condemned. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the commandos were trying to defend themselves after being attacked by activists.
Boycott pressure on artists
The action by the Pixies comes in the wake of Elvis Costello’s recent cancellation of a concert in Israel, objecting to the country’s treatment of Palestinians. Costello’s wife, Canadian jazz pianist Diana Krall, is still expected to perform in Israel this August.
Other artists, including Rod Stewart and Elton John, are still planning to go ahead with their Israeli concerts this summer. Even prior to the raid on the flotilla, many performers had been under pressure this year to boycott Israel. The Pixies were one of many artists targeted in an open letter posted March 1 by Israeli human rights activists urging them not to come to the Jewish state. “As much as some of us are huge fans and would love to hear your show, we won’t cross the international picket line that is growing in numbers steadily nowadays to come and see you,” the group Boycott! wrote.
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Shame on you! I remember your music from the late 80s early 90s. Thank Gd I don’t have any of your albums. Shame on you for buying into the great Arab Con. There’s a song just for you! It’s called We Con the World! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOGG_osOoVg&annotation_id=annotation_665723&feature=iv
May all your Israeli fans boycott your future albums!
Shame on me? For what?
well done the pixies for standing up for human rights and inernational law
If only other had he balls o follow this example the world would be a better place
Loyal fan
Well done Pixies!!!! I applaud you and admire your commitment to human rights. I live in Ireland and I am heading down to the city today to buy one of your albums. We support you here in Cork, full heartedly!!!!!! Thank you for using your voice!!! May many more follow your good example!
Are you going to cancel a tour in Germany or in the England because of the on going war in iraq and afganistan? I guess you won’t darr to do so, because you will know the results of such an action. But Israel who suffer ongoing Terror from Left radikals @ Muslim Terror whos being sponsered by IHH terror group is Fine.
Keep politics out of music and sports.
well said Joe
Kudos for joining the growing worldwide boycot against apartheid Israel. It worked in the eighties and now South Africa is a better place, heres hoping we can convince the Israelis to give peace a chance.
I deplore your PC-ness. I will download no more of your songs but I will keep listening to “Here comes your Man” on my Ipod. Elton John rocks. Pixies suck.
Oh how I precious the music penalisation from the decade, everything seemed to be way author yeasty than time .