A Purple September

August 14, 2008 - 9:02 AM by David · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Art, General, Israeliness, Music, Pop Culture

More than any year in recent memory, this summer has proven to be jam-packed with American and British rockers coming our way. We used to only have ‘60s and ‘70s nostalgia acts. Now, we’re old enough that we also attract ‘80s and ‘80s nostalgia acts.

Of course, occasionally, some bona fide left of center alternative rockers will come our way like The Gutter Twins and Low next month, or even some pop artists with current hits like Sean Kingston and Macy Gray. But for the most part, Tel Aviv and its surroundings have become a haven to real old timers like Air Supply and Blood, Sweat and Tears, or more recent oldies revivals (a tough pill to swallow considering I still think of them as contemporary) like The Breeders, Dinosaur Jr, Ian Brown, Cypress Hill, and Marky Ramone, and bona fide rock and roll hall of famers who are tottering the wrong side of the edge between relevancy and nostalgia like Blondie, Morrissey and The New York Dolls.

There were lots of rumors throughout the year of mega shows coming here, like The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and most recently, Paul McCartney. But one by one, they’ve all been shot down, with hopes for the former Beatle appearing here in September only being doused this week, as he continues his American cross-country jaunt with girlfriend Nancy Shevel.

But why aren’t Israeli rock fans pouting? Because Deep Purple is arriving next month. The “Smoke on the Water” boys, who probably don’t cause a whimper, never mind a bang, in their native England or in the US, are national heroes here, as well as throughout eastern Europe. They’ve already sold out three shows at the Caesearia Amphitheater, a beautiful and intimate outdoor venue on the Mediterranean coast seating around 4,000, and they’ve added a show at Tel Aviv’s cavernous Hangar 11.

Why are we so lame, willing to pay between $110 to $250 to see a journeyman British hard rock band which peaked in 1971? After all, this isn’t McCartney where talking about, it’s more like Uriah Heep or Nazareth, two dinosaur bands which have performed here recently attracting only a predominantly Russian immigrant audience.

Russian-born Israeli music promoter Yuri Laschov told Haaretz that the “three biggest bands in the Soviet union were The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple” and he estimated that the audience will be about half and half – half veteran Israelis and half Russian-speakers.” And the veteran Israelis in the audience were also raised on Deep Purple Mach 1 songs like the sappy “Lalena”, one of the staples of the popular pirate radio station Voice of Peace. Some of them interviewed in the Haaretz story announced they’ll be taking their whole families to the show.And the day after, it’s highly likely that bedrooms around the country will be echoing with kids attempting to play the opening chords to “Smoke on the Water.”

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