Hamster king of the City of Culture Paul McCartney looks set to make history once again by playing a gig in Israel, 43 years after The Beatles were banned from performing in the country.
In 1965 the biggest band in the world was famously turned away by the then education minister of Israel, who believed the band’s music might corrupt the nation’s youth.
Earlier this year McCartney, fellow Beatle Ringo Starr and the relatives of George Harrison and John Lennon each received letters of apology from Israel’s ambassador to Britain, Ron Prosor.
The letter read: “There is no doubt that it was a great missed opportunity to prevent people like you, who shaped the minds of the generation, to come to Israel and perform.”
This comes five years after McCartney made history by performing in Moscow’s Red Square, the first time any Beatle had been allowed to play in the Russia since the Soviet regime banned the group.
A date for the gig has not been revealed but it is understood that the former Wings frontman will appear in the Middle East before the year is out.
In other McCartney news, Liverpool’s famous son has faced opposition to his appearance in Quebec this weekend. McCartney is to play an event celebrating the city's 400th anniversary, but members of the grumpy French-descended community have got in a huff about the "Canadianisation" of the event. The city was under French rule until it was captured by General Wolfe in 1759, and there has been a strong movement for independence from Canada ever since.
McCartney plays ‘Back in the USSR’ for the people of the former USSR below:
This news story can be found on the Quietus with other pieces by Dean Samways.
Words: Dean Samways
Image: the Quietus
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