Music News
Yusuf Islam Playing Tsunami Benefit Gig
By James Wray Jan 29, 2005, 17:45 GMT
Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, is set to stage a concert in Jakarta next week to raise cash to help victims of the tsunami disaster.
The singer, who converted to Islam some 30 years ago, has recorded a new song called 'Indian Ocean' along with "Travis'" Neil Primrose and Magne Furuholmen of 80's wonders "A-Ha."
The new song features instruments the singer has not used since his conversion but he says this is not a return of the old Cat Stevens: "Like everyone else, I was so shaken by the enormity of this human tragedy, and the song just came without effort. It is my contribution towards helping to rebuild the broken spirits of the victims of the disaster."
He added, "It's not a return to Cat Stevens, I see it more as a natural response to express my concern as a Muslim."
US immigration officials detained Islam last year saying he was on a list of terrorist supporters, despite being well known for his extensive charity work. He was deported back to the UK.
The concert will be on January 31 and other acts performing will be local Indonesian artists. Most international acts have refused to play in the region of late due to increased terror activity.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Why don't you go straight to the source to find the true explanation about the allegations against him related to Simon Rushdie. http://catstevens.com/articles/00013/index.html There is a huge difference between supporting a literal interpretation of Islamic Law, and actually advocating the execution of such an order.
Just a thought. Wouldn't Cat Stevens be able to generate alot more money for the victims by giving a concert(s) in England?
First, It's only his choice to make a concert in whatever place he wishes, and second, A Concert in England??? What's the difference?? why would the location be any important? If it's that important, then, it's the best to make the concert in the devasted place, meet the people in person, be with them in real, show them his real passion and concern... Cat Stevens, has done so much to lots of needy people, is a great singer and passionate person, though we can only remember him for his 'opinion' about some author, so what? If you implay about the freedom of that author, so believe in Cat's freedom to say whatever or feel whatever he wants on the matter, why is it us humans so easy for us to forget the good things people do, why we can't remember cat or yusuf when he worked as a peace negioatior in early 90's to free hostages in iraq? Huh,...
I agree, Sara. The people with the negative comments always turn out to be the people who know nothing in depth about Yusuf Islam. The only thing they know is that one Rushdie incident. It is so maddening for those of us who know what a great person and humanitarian Yusuf is to read these negative comments from uninformed people. Yusuf has done so much for people in need. We need to be thanking him with all our hearts.
People should not genralize everything
page: 1
J. Alec WestJan 29th, 2005 - 14:38:31
According to your article, quote, 'US immigration officials detained Islam last year saying he was on a list of terrorist supporters, despite being well known for his extensive charity work.' Extensive charity work is nice. But it is also well to remember that he was the same Yusuf Islam who supported the Ayatollah Khomeni's fatwah (death sentence) against author Salman Rushdie for simply exercising free speech in his novel, 'Satanic Verses.' Being nice to the poor is hardly an excuse for being intolerant ... and intolerance to different ideas is the catalyst behind terror.
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