Posted on 09/30/2008 11:16:55 AM PDT by weegee
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has played his first gig in Israel in front of an estimated 40,000 cheering fans.
The 66-year-old singer kicked off the historic concert with the familiar Beatles' song Hello, Goodbye at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park.
Some fans turned up wearing "I love Paul" and Beatles T-shirts.
Earlier the star said he was "not nervous, but excited" ahead of the gig, which comes 43 years after The Beatles were banned from performing in Israel.
Back in 1965 The Beatles were scheduled to perform, but were prevented taking the stage because of fears they could "corrupt the nation's youth".
'Message of peace'
Before Thursday's concert Sir Paul said: "You couldn't keep me off that stage." He shrugged off Palestinian pleas to boycott Israel in protest over its military and settlement activity.
"I was aware of the criticism," the ex-Beatle said. "But I thought it was best to go with a message of peace and find out myself what the situation was."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I guess the irony of this set list was lost on the singer.
Rock & Roll PING
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