the phantasmatic ‘threats’ to eric burdon have disappeared as mysteriously as they came

Eric Burdon flies in for on again Israel show
Times of Israel Jul 29 2013

After caving to threats and canceling a gig in Israel, aging rocker Eric Burdon will play here after all. Burdon flew into Israel on Monday night for the Thursday concert, telling reporters who met him on arrival:

If it hasn’t go to do with music, it’s bullshit.

Burdon was last week reported to have canceled the Aug 1 concert in Binyamina because, his manager said, he had been receiving daily threatening emails. However, on Monday the concert was back up on Burdon’s website and was again listed among the concerts at the Zappa Shuni Amphitheater in Binyamina. No reason was given for the cancellation of the cancellation. Burdon is once again scheduled to perform alongside Israeli band T-Slam, as per the original plan. Earlier this month, Burdon met up with members of T-Slam in Vienna and told them he was under pressure from anti-Israel activists to cancel the show. At that time, though, he seemed set on going ahead with the concert, telling the Israeli musicians:

Everyone needs music and there’s no connection to current politics. Everyone has the right to be entertained.

But his manager later wrote to T-Slam to state that the show was off, saying in comments released by T-Slam last week:

We are under increasing pressure, including many threatening emails that we are receiving on a daily basis. I wouldn’t want to put Eric in any danger.

In a statement at the time, T-Slam said:

To appear with Eric Burdon, one of the founding fathers of rock & roll (sic – RB), was an almost dream come true. We’re sorry that despite his personal assurance to us, that he bowed to pressure and cancelled his concert.

However, it seems Burdon’s reluctance to go through with the concert was short-lived and the show is back on track.