Jewish protests force cancellation Atzmon gig


March 5, 2015
Sarah Benton


Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon gig cancellation criticised

Supporters of Gilad Atzmon claim RNCM was intimidated

A venue that cancelled a gig by controversial jazz saxophonist Gilad Atzmon has been criticised for giving in to bullying.

Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music denied scrapping the concert by the Israeli-born star was “political”, and said it was for safety reasons.

A petition by the North West Friends of Israel called for the gig to be pulled, claiming Atzmon is antisemitic.

He said he was targeted for opposing Holocaust denial legislation in Israel.

‘Allegations of racism’

The petition said: “By allowing this performance the RNCM will be party to fostering antisemitism and the possibility of attacks on Jewish people and institutions in Manchester.”

It added: “Gilad Atzmon’s criticisms of Zionism, Jewish identity and Judaism generally, as well as his controversial views on Holocaust denial and Jewish history, have led to allegations of antisemitism and racism.”

The petition questioned what “signal” it would send to hold the concert – which was due to have been staged on Thursday – on the same evening of the launch in Manchester by Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy of a campaign called We Stand Together, which aims to promote tolerance and unity among different faiths and cultures.

A counter-petition by Atzmon’s supporters called on the venue to reschedule the concert and not to succumb to “pressure and bullying from external forces”.

‘Pile of lies’

Atzmon, who is also a political writer and novelist, said in a statement on his website that the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) felt “unable to guarantee my safety”.

“As usual, [the North West Friends of Israel] have produced a pile of lies about my work and my writing,” said Atzmon, who lost relatives in the Holocaust.

“They suggested that my concerts were ‘fostering anti-Semitism’ which is obviously a complete lie, in fact not once has anyone logged a complaint about my concerts or my talks.”

The saxophonist said he was “critical of Jewish identity politics and the exact same Jewish political lobbying which the North West Friends Of Israel has exercised in Manchester”.

Atzmon said he had referred the issue to his legal team.

An RNCM statement said: “Over the past few days the RNCM has received a significant amount of negative correspondence relating to the booking of Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble on Thursday 5 March.

“After careful consideration, and to ensure the safety of all involved, the RNCM decided to withdraw the concert. This decision was taken and actioned prior to the launch of an associated petition and in no way reflects any political view of the college.”

Dubbed the “hardest working man in British jazz”, Atzmon has recorded and performed with such artists as Sir Paul McCartney, Sinead O’Connor, Ian Dury and Robbie Williams.


Gilad Atzmon concert in Manchester cancelled after protests

By Josh Jackman, Jewish Chronicle
March 03, 2015

A concert by antisemitic jazz musician Gilad Atzmon has been cancelled following protests from the Jewish community.

Mr Atzmon, an Israeli who has challenged Holocaust denial legislation and whose book The Wandering Who about Jewish identity was widely condemned as racist, had been scheduled to play at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music on Thursday.

However, after a campaign by North West Friends of Israel (NWFoI), the college decided on Monday night to scrap the performance.

In a statement, the college wrote: “Over the past few days the RNCM has received a significant amount of negative correspondence relating to the booking of Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble on Thursday 5 March.

“After careful consideration, and to ensure the safety of all involved, the RNCM decided to withdraw the concert.

“This decision was taken and actioned prior to the launch of an associated petition and in no way reflects any political view of the college.”

Mr Atzmon said the cancellation was “stupid and dangerous” and threatened legal action. It is the second time in recent weeks he has had a show pulled. In January Nottingham’s Bonington Theatre cancelled a performance after 13 complaints were made.

Anthony Dennison, co-chair of NWFoI, said the rapid response to its campaign proved how powerful local activist groups like his could be.

“What the Royal Northern College of Music saw was a groundswell of opinion from the Jewish community about how offensive the message this man has was.

“We said this was a call to action, and asked people to call the RNCM as well as writing to them, and that’s obviously been taken up by them. Individuals in our group wrote, emailed and tweeted to the RNCM, so they got quite a lot of communication on it from a variety of people in our group.

“They responded very quickly and very positively, which is refreshing. It shows that grassroots groups can really make a difference.”

Mr Atzmon tweeted that the college had “bowed to ultra Zionist pressure,” adding through his website that “they (NWFoI) have produced a pile of lies about my work and my writing.

“They suggested that my concerts were ‘fostering antisemitism’ which is obviously a complete lie in fact not once has anyone logged a complaint about my concerts or my talks.

“This morning I referred this issue to my legal team. I also learned that very soon a petition will be launched denouncing the RNCM and calling on them to put this matter right.”

The musician is scheduled to perform in Birmingham, London, Leicester and Swansea, before taking his tour on to Germany.
Notes and links

For a critique of Gilad Atzmon’s views see Gilad Atzmon and Jewishness

Atzmon denounced as racist and immoral by Palestinians

© Copyright JFJFP 2024