Phil Collins to perform in Israel
Against all odds; Singer-songwriter Phil Collins will perform in Israel this summer as part of his world farewell tour, his website says
Grammy award-winning British singer Phil Collins plans to perform in Israel this autumn, marking what is believed to be the artist’s first visit to the Jewish state.
Israeli producer Shuki Weiss, a long-time producer and coordinator of concerts by international artists, said Collins would appear on Nov. 7 at Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa and will arrive with more than 100 crew members on two special cargo planes.
"Our arrangement with Collins' record company, 'Clear Channel Solo' .. marks a new trust in the state of Israel, which is making its way back to (the list of venues of) world concert tours. I hope more artists will follow," Weiss said.
International artists have expressed fears about performing in Israel and have cancelled scheduled concerts in the Jewish state since the start of a Palestinian uprising in September 2000, which ended when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas declared a cease-fire on Feb. 7.
German rock group the Scorpions, who rose to fame in the 1980's to become one of the biggest power rock bands of the era, will also play at Bloomfield in July.
Israel is one of the stops on Collins' Final Farewell Tour, the website said. He is also scheduled to play concerts in countries such as Greece, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Lebanon.
Collins has sung, written and produced dozens of top hits over the past 35 years, including “Against All Odds,” “In the Air Tonight” and “Another Day in Paradise,” and has also provided award-winning soundtracks for the Disney animated films “Tarzan” and “Brother Bear.”
