{"id":415,"date":"2009-04-29T05:01:38","date_gmt":"2009-04-29T12:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=415"},"modified":"2009-05-03T11:38:37","modified_gmt":"2009-05-03T18:38:37","slug":"free-concert-the-plastic-people-of-the-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=415","title":{"rendered":"Free Concert: The Plastic People of the Universe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cRock and roll wasn\u2019t just music to us, it was life itself.\u201d Timeless words from the heart of rock and roll, spoken by Milan Hlavsa, founder of The Plastic People of the Universe<\/a>, the words resonate with the force of history. On Thursday, April 30th, the band will give a free open-air concert in the courtyard of the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, as a prelude to their live appearance on May 2nd and 3rd in \u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 Roll\u201d at the Cameri Theatre.
\n<\/object><\/p>\n

Image credit: Robert Loerzel <\/a>photos of Plastic People of the Universe in Chicago<\/p>\n

Hlavsa, who died in 2001, founded the Czech avant-garde rock group in September 1968. Just one month earlier, in August, the forces of the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia in response to the brief interval of freedom introduced by Czechoslovakian Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek \u2013 a time known as Prague Spring. Taking its name from a song by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, \u201cPlastic People\u201d, the band was influenced by Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground.<\/p>\n

The art critic Ivan Jirous became their manager, bringing guitarist Josef Jan\u00ed\u010dek, viola player Ji\u0159\u00ed Kabe\u0161, and Canadian Paul Wilson to the group. Wilson taught the band (which initially sang only in English) the lyrics to American songs and translated lyrics of songs in Czech until he left the group in 1972. Joined by saxophonist Vratislav Brabenec, the group began to work almost exclusively with the texts of Czech philosopher-poet Egon Bondy, whose writing was banned by the government.<\/p>\n

The simple desire to make music led the band on a political odyssey which was to have extensive ramifications. With their musician\u2019s license revoked in 1970, the band came to symbolize the struggle for artistic freedom, recording in secret and holding their concerts in remote locations. In 1974, police attacked 1,000 fans that had arrived in the town of \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice for a performance, beating and arresting hundreds.<\/p>\n

Jirous introduced V\u00e1clav Havel (Czech President 1989 \u2013 2003) to the group\u2019s music, playing songs on a tape-recorder, of which Havel later wrote: \u201cThere was disturbing magic in the music, and a kind of inner warning. Here was something serious and genuine\u2026truth was on their side\u2026in their music was an experience of metaphysical sorrow and a longing for salvation.\u201d Havel arranged to attend the group\u2019s next secret concert, but that concert was not to take place, as several of the group\u2019s members were arrested for \u201corganized disturbance of the peace.\u201d His outrage at this arrest inspired Havel to organize a campaign on their behalf, which was the initial seed of the human rights movement \u201cCharter 77\u201d.<\/p>\n

Disbanded in 1988, a year before the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in Czecholoslovakia, the group reformed at the request of Havel to perform at the 20th anniversary of Charter 77.
\nThis confluence of music and history is literally brought to life as the group performs in Tom Stoppard\u2019s play \u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 Roll\u201d. The current members of \u201cThe Plastic People of the Universe\u201d are: Vratislav Brabenec , Ji\u0159\u00ed Kabe\u0161, Josef Jan\u00ed\u010dek, Joe Karafi\u00e1t, Ludvik Kandl and Eva Turnova.<\/p>\n

The Plastic People of the Universe perform in Tel Aviv as part of the Cameri Theatre\u2019s First International Theatre Festival, marking the centenary of the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. This ambitious project is supported by the Municipality of Tel Aviv, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Ministry of Science, Culture & Sport, HaPoalim Bank and the Marc Rich Foundation for Education, Culture and Welfare.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Embassy of the Czech Republic in Israel has helped bring the National Theatre’s\u00a0 production of Tom Stoppard\u2019s play \u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 Roll\u201d and this unique concert to Israeli audiences. Czech Ambassador Michael \u017dantovsk\u00fd will be in attendance at the concert. Come celebrate music, freedom and spring in Tel Aviv on April 30th!<\/p>\n

The Plastic People of the Universe \u2013 Free concert
\n22:00 Thursday, April 30th
\nIsraeli Opera Courtyard
\n19 Shaul Hamelech Avenue
\nTel Aviv<\/p>\n

\u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 Roll\u201d by Tom Stoppard
\nDirected by Ivan Rajmont
\n20:30 Saturday, May 2
\n20:30 Sunday, May 3
\nTickets: 03-6060960
\nbooking@cameri.co.il<\/a>
\nInformation: www.cameri.co.il<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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