I'm New Here.
Gil's new album "I'm New Here" is out now.
Buy it from iTunes | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Rough Trade | HMV
Press.
press: Fader Feature "No Matter How Far You Go, You Can Always Turn Around"
Tuesday February 23, 2010
Gil's new album "I'm New Here" is out now.
Buy it from iTunes | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Rough Trade | HMV
Good to hear from you again!Tanya and I passed by the Ebony and thought about the good times.Glad to see you are still doing your thing.God bless you and you family!
Comment left by Harold Williams · Friday March 19, 2010 · #
No Matter how far you’ve gone, Gil, you can always turn round. Please cancel your concert in Tel Aviv. Show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Comment left by Jenny Hardacre · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Visit Israel and help to promote Israel as a modern, cosmopolitan and democratic state. With your active participation Gil, Israel will be able to deny Palestinians human rights for even longer.
Comment left by Janet Green · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Please join Carlos Santana and others who have decided not to perform in Israel and show your support for the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign for justice for Palestinians.
Comment left by Christina MacDonald · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
As you say “Don’t matter how far wrong you’ve gone, you can always turn around” you still have time to turn – cancel your gig in Israel.
Israel is in breach of human rights and international law and you cannot be neutral in a moving train Gill. Playing Israel is like playing in Sun City back during South Africa’s Apartheid (good research from the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa: http://www.hsrc.ac.za/Media_Release-378.phtml).
Silence is not an option, if you play in Israel you send the message that what the Israeli government is doing to the Palestinian people is okay. You know that unless we put pressure on Israel they would keep doing what they have done for the last 60 years.
Palestinians are asking for a boycott of Israel until Israel complies with international law and we should listen to those oppressed, if we don’t, we have to ask ourselves what we have left of our humanity. http://bdsmovement.net/
Even the UN General Assembly president considers following boycott: http://www.un.org/ga/president/63/statements/agendaitem16241108.shtml
All that it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.
Reconsidered – don’t play in Israel. Millions of people will admire you for that and will follow your steps – when Israel’s Apartheid, Occupation and Oppression of the Palestinian people ends you would have played a part by not playing there!
Comment left by Vanesa · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Hard to believe that you are thinking of going, Gil. Your principles and your good name are worth so much more than the money. No matter how far you have gone you can always turn round. Would you have performed in apartheid Sun City or Johannesburg? Please cancel Tel Aviv
Comment left by Jonathan Rosenhead · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Gil
I was so saddened to hear that you plan to play in Tel Aviv. You have always been the most courageous and outspoken of artists against injustice.
Now you decide to play for the pleasure of the occupiers and depress the victimised.
Why? I just don’t understand
Comment left by Mike Cushman · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Gil,
How can you, hitherto an outspoken critic of racism and apartheid,give comfort and support to the racist, apartheid state of Israel by performing there?
Are you really unaware of the crimes against humanity that Israel committs on a daily basis? Where were you when Israel was committing genocidal outrages in Gaza at the beginning of last year? If you really don’t about any of this, check out www.ifamericansknew.org
Please, please in the name of justice and decency cancel your gig in Tel Aviv
Safiya O’Donnell
Comment left by Safiya O'Donnell · Saturday April 17, 2010 · #
Dear Gil
I was so saddened to hear that you plan to play in Tel Aviv. You have always been the most courageous and outspoken of artists against injustice.Please don’t play for the pleasure of legitimisng the apartheid Israeli state and the continued occupation of Palestine
Please reconsider; it will do your reputation & legacy great harm otherwise
Andy Brown
Comment left by Andy Brown · Sunday April 18, 2010 · #
Hi Gil
I’m 73 years old and I remember the birth of Israel. I had seen newsreels of the liberation of the concentration camps. My young mind made a connection; I thought I was seeing justice at work. I now know the truth; Israel is a nasty little fascist state. In Israel, for fascism, read Zionism. In practice they’re the same thing. When we recognize an injustice we can’t just walk on by.
Yours
Andy Stuart
Comment left by Andy Stuart · Sunday April 18, 2010 · #
Gil, I listened to you throughout the 70’s when I marched against apartheid. You’ve been my number one spoken word artist since forever. Please, if you must perform in Tel Aviv, Israel, before you do, just watch/listen to SlingShot Hip Hop, hear the word from Gaza and the West Bank, and book a tour in Gaza! Make the connection: Israel may let you perform in Tel Aviv, but if you try to get into Gaza – you’ll find out that to Israel you’re just another n…… and your passport may not be any good to you there. So – for the children of Gaza – be a voice for justice.
Comment left by Paula Roderick · Tuesday April 20, 2010 · #
Big fan. Hey Gil, not Israel. Boycott campaign is growing fast now. The Zionist government must be reined in. Even the US President is trying to do something about them! Play for the Palestinians – don’t go at all. [Go to Glastonbury instead!]
Comment left by Gordon Gibson · Tuesday April 20, 2010 · #
Gil Scott Heron – the prominent anti-Apartheid activist of the past,
Please do not perform for the audience of Apartheid Israel.
Recall the resounding words of Desmond Tutu -the courageous anti – Apartheid fighter – on visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territories -“it reminded me so much of what happened to us black people in South Africa”.
You should rather compose and record the sound for those memorable words as a tribute to the oppressed Palestinians and to Archbishop Tutu who stands on the side of justice .
A searing rap against Apartheid Israel will be a “hit” with thousands, if not millions, of people and you will win the world over with your words of conscience!
Ruth Tenne
Comment left by Ruth Tenne · Tuesday April 20, 2010 · #
Hey Gil, Why the silence? Have you read all the comments on this site, on myspace, on the guardian article about you, and all the other places? Why aren’t you relying? If you can cancel a concert because you can’t get a flight, then you can cancel one because you are against apartheid and against racism!
Comment left by Sarah Cobham · Tuesday April 20, 2010 · #
Your fans are terrible surprised: your new come back performance played up at the very centre of apartheid Israel: Tel Aviv. A city that was created atop the ruins, the pillage, and the eviction of Yaffo and….
Playing there, your status as a black movement and anti-apartheid musical icon will be soiled forever. And you’ll be playing into the hands of Zionist racist Isarel and its contrived image of “modern young cool democracy”…
Your contract can be cancelled, and you’ll have many more invitations and cash with which to pay for that; but most importantly-for your real fans- unbroken face fame and dignity….
Frances
Comment left by FranV. · Tuesday April 20, 2010 · #
Gil,
I have a friend who’s a Palestinian refugee in Jordan. The last time I visited him he played and admired your “Jaws Is In The Water” CD.
How could you think to perform for his oppressors in Tel-Aviv?
Richard H
Comment left by Richard H · Thursday April 22, 2010 · #
Gil
On behalf of BRICUP I want to tell you we are delighted that you have decided to respond positively to Palestinian and worldwide requests not to play in Israel.
Campaigners to Palestinian rights welcome your stand on the side of the oppressed; the side we always believed you would stand on.
Mike
Comment left by Mike Cushman · Monday April 26, 2010 · #
Thank you Gill!
you are still a hero and a torch for human rights everywhere. Apartied is wrong whatever flag it waves.
I love you. XXXX
Comment left by kev Moore · Tuesday April 27, 2010 · #
Thank you Gil! You are a man of conviction! Much Respect!
Comment left by Cormac · Tuesday April 27, 2010 · #
Dear Gil
Thank you so much for refusing to play in Tel Aviv.
You have been such a beacon of opposition to oppression and injustice in the world. May you gain strength and resolution on this tour (and make lots of money- we all need to live) to fight another day!
All the best
Your good fan
Pia
Comment left by Pia Feig · Tuesday April 27, 2010 · #
Thank you, brother for canceling the show in the apartheid state that expelled me from my homeland because I was born Palestinian! Thank you so much for doing the right thing. As a sister of color, I’m so proud of you!
Nihaya,
Second-generation Palestinian refugee
Comment left by Nihaya Qawasmi · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
Thanks so much for showing solidarity with the international boycott against apartheid Israel.
Your support will never be forgotten by all of us who love justice and human rights.
Comment left by Jin · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
thank you Gil for making the RIGHT decision NOT to play in apartheid Israel. See you at UK WOMAD ..
Comment left by Andy Brown · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
Thank you so much Gil for your decision not to play Tel Aviv. you’ve shown the judgement and courage often missing from big players in this scene.
Much respect
Dave
Comment left by Dave Groom · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
Thank you for your decision to cancel the proposed concert in Tel Aviv. Your appearance there would have served as a fig leaf for the apartheid regime in Israel, and an insult to the Palestinian people bravely resisting this. Your refusal strengthens those of us calling for a mass non-violent movement against Zionism and Israeli repression.
I hope that other artists will follow your example.
Comment left by Roland Rance · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
Gil,
Thank you so much for deciding not to play in Israel. This will give other artists the courage to say no to Israeli invitations – it is OK to say no to Israel’s apartheid policies and this will encourage Palestinians as well in their fight for justice. Your new CD is great by the way.
Comment left by Paul Hughes-Smith · Wednesday April 28, 2010 · #
Thank you Mr. Scott-Heron for canceling the concert in “Tel Aviv.” By canceling you upheld your tradition as a singer for justice, and stayed true to your history of supporting struggles for liberation from colonialism. You communicated to the Palestinians and to the world that their struggle is legitimate and matters.
Marta Rodriguez
Comment left by Marta Rodriguez · Friday April 30, 2010 · #
Thank you so much for deciding not to play in Israel n not supporting the Zionist.
Comment left by sanu ali · Friday April 30, 2010 · #
Gil, thank you for deciding to boycott Tel Aviv concert. You didn’t disappoint us. thank you again.
Comment left by Wasseem · Friday April 30, 2010 · #
Thanks Gil for cancelling and showing us that “No Matter How Far You Go, You Can Always Turn Around”.
I have no doubt they are trying to pressurise you to reschedule.
When they tell you that you should bring your message to the Israelis, do they mention that when Roger Waters (ex Pink Floyd) didn’t boycott, but said a few words about peace and ending the occupation, the Israeli crowd ordered him to focus on the guitar and stop lecturing them?
They’ll promise you dialogue with Israeli “peaceniks”. But the dialogue on offer is more like the message from the Israeli singer Achinoam Nini to the Palestinians while they were slaughtered
The words of Self-proclaimed “peacenik” Israeli singer, Achinoam Noa Nini, are no different to the Israeli war machine incitement and hate against the massacred Palestinians. Achinoam wrote while Israel blitzkrieg Gaza a year ago:
“I can only wish for you that Israel will do the job we all know needs to be done, and finally RID YOU of this cancer, this virus, this monster called… fantacism, today, called Hamas.”
“Now I see the ugly head of fanaticism, I see it large and horrid, I see it’s black eyes and spine-chilling smile, I see blood on its hands and I know one of its many names: Hamas”
“You know this too, my brothers. You know this ugly monster. You know it is raping your women and raping the minds of your children. You know it is educating to hatred and death. You know it is chauvinistic and violent, greedy and selfish, it feeds on your blood and screams out Allah’s name on vain, it hides like a thief, uses the innocent as human shields, uses your mosques as arsenals, lies and cheats, uses YOU, tortures you, holds you hostage!!”
See the sickening message: a letter to my Palestinian brothers in gaza and everywhere [posted by Achinoam Nini/Noa on January 6, 2009].
Israelis should be told how outraged we are with their complicit with the slaughter and siege of Gaza and boycott is a solid way to send this message.
Comment left by Yael Kahn · Saturday May 15, 2010 · #
I would certainly have been in the audience at the Tel Aviv gig, its where I’ve lived for 20 years.I’ve listened to Gil since the late 70’s but the decision not to come here is the right one.Israel is a deeply troubled and fractured state,for any citizen here , longing for normality, you must first give the Palestinians what they demand.They ask only for what anyone asks for , Freedom and Justice and a Future.Unfortunately , most Israelis dont see it like that and carry on regardless.The cultural boycott has led only to an even thicker Israeli skin,Gil is now regarded here simply as anti-Israel and of course probably anti-semitic too!I’ve no answers,I’ve no where else to go and I dont know where it will end.
Comment left by David Hall · Tuesday May 18, 2010 · #
I was meant to see Gil at Royal Festival Hall but I got stuck due to the Volcano. I managed to get 2 tickets yesterday for the Somerset House gig on ticketmaster even though for the last few days it has said “sold out” so it may be worth another try!
Comment left by John Osborne · Tuesday May 18, 2010 · #