HAIL! To Play FIRST Metal
Concert Ever in Beirut
The
all-start band HAIL!, comprised of Andreas Kisser from Sepultura, Ripper Owens
from Judas Priest, David Ellefson formerly of Megadeth, and newly announced
sticksman, Paul Bostaph, from Slayer, Exodus and Testament, will be the first
metal band to ever play live in Lebanon.
On November 20th, HAIL! will play the historic concert at
Hektic Hall in the capitol city of Beirut.
“Breaking ground on an
international level is what HAIL! is all about,” explained manager Mark “Abba”
Abbattista, “when we first started discussing the idea of HAIL! we wondered how
far we could actually push the reality of a dream. Anybody can come up with a good idea, but to
create a model that no one else has ever before conceived and then to execute
that plan to the level that we have makes our chests swell with pride.”
David Ellefson added “This truly is
a monumental occasion - to do something for the first time ever is a rare and
special opportunity. I can’t believe
that it was 25 years ago, but remember how astounding it was when Iron Maiden
went behind the iron curtain and played in the eastern bloc? I relate it to that and I am thrilled to be a
part of something that has this kind of historic significance.”
When confronted with any possible
political backlash, Abbattista spoke from personal experience “None of us are
strangers to the world. Megadeth played
one of the first concerts ever in Northern Ireland years ago, Ripper is in
Paraguay today, Sepultura has broken ground all over Asia, the Middle East,
South America, even Africa and I was involved in a project called Music Bridges
which was the first time Americans had been allowed in Cuba in almost fifty
years. Obviously we are aware of the
ongoing tensions throughout the Middle East but we have learned from our
previous experiences that music transcends all the boundaries that geography,
language, religion and politics create.”
Ellefson continued “We’re just a
fun-loving metal band, we have no agenda.
We all come from very different backgrounds and no matter where we are
playing, everybody in the building shares the same music. Music is the message. We all love the same music and that’s the
beauty of unity…that’s the beauty of HAIL!”
For up to
the minute news on HAIL!, please visit the band’s new website at
www.myspace.com/hailofficial and www.hailtheworld.com. For booking, press or management related
inquiries please contact the band at hailkills@aol.com.