September 17, 2008 4:27 PM ET
"Me and the band are really looking forward to this one," Paul McCartney says of his upcoming Tel Aviv concert, taking place 43 years after Israel banned the Beatles from performing there. "It's the first time I have ever been to Israel, or really that part of the world so I am very interested to look around and look at the situation, just personally. I am going to be interested as a tourist just to look around and meet the people." Despite outcry and even some threats from Palestinian groups, Macca promises the show will go on. Tel Aviv's "Friendship First" concert — as McCartney dubbed previous first-ever shows in Quebec and Kiev — specifically is about music and promoting friendship. "Music can help people to just calm them down. I also think it can be very interesting for change," McCartney says. "I always cite a John (Lennon) song 'Give Peace A Chance'; if you watch the footage from back then, about a million people outside the White House chanting that song to Nixon inside the White House, I think that had an effect." As for what Macca has in store for his first Israel show, "We've been rehearsing some songs we've not done for a while but that's all I'll tell you." McCartney and band will take the stage September 25th at Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park.
Related Stories:
• Paul McCartney Promises Israel Show Will Go On Despite Outcry
• Joe Cocker to Headline New Israel Peace Festival
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