Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones presenting Israel's official symbol.
In spite of a concerted campaign by 'anti-Zionists', the Rolling Stones have announced they have no intention of canceling their planned concert in Jerusalem on Israel’s Independence Day, Monday, April 15.
“We’ve been slammed and smacked and twittered a lot by the anti-Israeli side,” said Mick Jagger, the band’s leader and most recognizable member since 1963. “All I can say is: anything worth doing is worth overdoing. So we decided to add a concert on Tuesday.”
Needless to say, tickets to both concerts, Monday night in Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem and Tuesday night in Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, have been sold out even as Jagger was speaking.
“This is a huge mistake for the Stones,” declared BDS proponent Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb. “They stand to lose a lot of money as a result of showing solidarity with Zionism, because their most devoted fans also support boycotting Israel.”
“I don’t really count myself as a very sophisticated businessperson,” Jagger responded when asked if the Israel concerts are a bad move business wise. “I’m a creative artist. All I know from business I’ve picked up along the way.”
Mick Jagger, as usual, is putting on whomever was interviewing him here. He came from a well educated middle class background and did quite well in school, enough to get a scholarship grant to attend the London School of Economics at a time when a very small percentage of Brits attended university.
It's also worth mentioning that a number of the Stone's musical contemporaries (Roger Waters, Brian Eno, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder, among others*) have canceled concerts in Israel out of fear of counter boycotts or ideology. Some of them have been borderline anti-Semitic, like Waters and Annie Lennox.
Unless you're suffering from Israel Derangement Syndrome, it takes courage to face up to these people and tell them exactly where they can stick their Jew hatred. And having enough of a rep even after all these years doesn't hurt.
Thankfully, the Stones have both. And they still rock!
Tags: Anti-semitism
Good for you, Mickl! As an american Jewish Actor Intimidation doesn't work. We follow our Muse. Paul Marin
This is not true, it is from a Purim edition of the Jewish Press which someone apparently ripped off without attribution, because the original had lots of hints that it was a Purim prank. http://www.jewishpress.com/sections/special-featu...
There was no Purim edition of the Jewish press
… in the print version. There was an online version.
This was a Purim prank. Does anyone think the Rolling Stones would actually be that principled?
I think its really cool that the Rolling stones are playing in Israel. they're the coolest band in all of rock and Roll History
Whoever wrote "putting on whomever was interviewing him here" did not come from "a well educated middle class background."
God Bless My, and my daughter's favorite band forever! What a great comment on adversity-to schedule a second concert!! We wish we could be with you!! IT'S ONLY ROCK'N ROLL, BUT WE LOVE IT, LOVE IT, YES WE DO:)