Photo by Sebastian Ervi
During the glory days of the mid-seventies, the Arabic world still remained quite closed to the influence of Western rock music. Yet there were occasional instances where the crash of cymbals and throb of guitars made it through. Today, these gigs are aplenty, and some of the world’s most influential musicians head to the area. But who are the bands and singers that have played this part of the world?
Chuck Berry
It is highly unlikely rock music would exist without Chuck Berry. One of the original trailblazers of the genre, his guitar licks and on-stage moves paved the way for decades of originality in music. His influence has also spilt into other genres. Who could forget the infamous “Johnny B Goode” scene in Back to the Future?
Dubai is now a thriving, cosmopolitan financial and business capital of the world. It is now much easier to find rock concerts there, just as it is to find other forms of entertainment, like an online casino in UAE. Offering a large library of games, including live casino, they provide services you would find anywhere in the West, much like wider Dubai itself.
However, when Chuck Berry first arrived in 1998, it was not the case. The city was still in its early development phases. For a 72-year-old, he hit the stage and displayed all his younger self’s prowess, including wailing guitar moves and the famous duck walk.
Sting
Sting rose to prominence as the frontman of The Police. Their reggae-infused post-punk stylings were a breath of fresh air, but it was not long before the artist was off solo, carving his own path. In 2001, he went to Egypt to perform an astounding concert in front of the Pyramids of Giza, a breathtaking setting. Hits from his back catalogue included Police numbers like Every Breath You Take and solo hits like Englishman in New York. He even did a duet with Algerian singer Cheb Mami.
By no means was he the first to do this. In 1978, American rock band the Grateful Dead performed a three-night residency in front of the pyramids. Documented in their album “Rocking the Cradle: Egypt 1978”, the final night was magically held in front of a total lunar eclipse.
The Rolling Stones
In 2014, the Rolling Stones started their ‘14 on Fire’ tour in Abu Dhabi. This is a band that pioneered rock in the sixties, melding electric guitars with the blues of America. To date, they have released over thirty albums and show no signs of stopping. The gig was poignant as the rest of the tour was marked with cancellations, particularly the Australia and New Zealand dates. This was due to the passing away of Mick Jagger’s long-term partner, L’Wren Scott.
The Middle East does have plenty of its own rock and pop bands, many doing extremely interesting things. From Egypt to the UAE, dive beneath the surface and find grassroots musicians who are pushing the envelope of rock music.
