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Rockin’ Jerusalem

The Hollywood Reporter informs us that Ian Gillan and Roger Glover are set to have their acting debut on an Israeli TV show Atlantica. The scripted show is about an aspiring rock band from Jerusalem that ends up meeting their idols, played by messrs G & G, and beg to join them on stage in the series finale. Shooting of the cameo appearance will take place this coming weekend during the band’s visit to the country. The show is expected to run at the end of the year on Israeli cable channel Hot.

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the info.



21 Comments to “Rockin’ Jerusalem”:

  1. 1
    MacGregor says:

    Well if they are going to get into a little acting for fun, it may give them something to do after the rock circus has ceased to tour!
    Either that or grow organic herbs & vegetables & sit in the garden talking to the pixies! Cheers.

  2. 2
    Oleg says:

    Waiting for show at 22/2 in Nokia Arena Tel Aviv (capacity =12k people ).
    I bought 2 first row tikests – one for my 13 yr son & for me. It’s my 3rd DP concert in Israel- 2008, 2011 & 2014.
    Hard Rock Forever!

  3. 3
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    I knew Gillan should have done the Movie ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. It’s full circle. Now that he is acting in a scripted show in Israel. Plus he produced an album back in 1972 by a band called ‘Jerusalem’ which was quite a heavy rock album. And of course his first song recorded with Purple was ‘Hallelujah’. Do you see what I see???? I see a pattern.

    !Ch-BeerZ?

  4. 4
    James Gemmell says:

    I had an Email communication with “Brian Keith” this past week; he, of course, sang the part of King Herod on the original Jesus Christ Superstar album. He was the one with the booming, deep voice on the album. His real name is Brian O’Shea, and he tells me he still sings regularly at various venues in Las Vegas, Nevada. He explained in an old newspaper article that, many decades ago, he saw the name of the well-known American actor, Bill Keith (“Family Affair”, etc.) on a movie billboard in Picadilly Circle, and adopted it. But when he came to America, people kept confusing him with the actor, so he decided to go back to his real name for his professional shows. Brian Keith (O’Shea) had a couple of hits in the late 1960s/early 1970s with a band called ‘The Congregation’. To avoid confusion with a similarly-named band in America, the group was called “The English Congregation” in the United States. One of the most tremendous singing voices of all-time, in my opinion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iffACmIoi30

  5. 5
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Actually James, you have the names reversed. The well known actor whom starred in many movies and TV shows such as ‘Family Affair’ and ‘Mountain Men’ carried the name ‘Brian Keith’. So ‘Bill’ would be the singer you are referring to…..

    !Ch-BeerZ?

  6. 6
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    Actually the dude who sang the part of King Herod on the original album was ‘Michael David “Mike” d’Abo’. Don’t know who Bill Keith is……

  7. 7
    Jeff Summers says:

    @ 4 James, the part of Herod on the original JCS concept album was Mike D’arbo. It was not Brian Keith?! In fact to my knowledge, Brian Keith played no part on this album at all.

  8. 8
    James Gemmell says:

    I meant “Annas”. Brian Keith sang the part of Annas on Jesus Christ Superstar. I have the album and the 2-disc CD set and I’m looking right at it, right now. Brian Keith was the actor who starred in “Family Affair”, and other TV shows and films. Like I said, Brian O’Sheay saw Brian Keith’s name on an advertising billboard for a movie and decided to use that name as a professional singer. He changed back to Brian O’Sheay when he moved to Las Vegas, because most everyone in America over age 40 remembers the old “Family Affair” TV show, and people kept coming up to Brian and asking him how “Jody” and “Buffy” were doing (children on the TV show). You’re right: Mike d’ABO was King Herod on the album.

  9. 9
    Brian Keith (O\'Shea) says:

    I, Brian Keith (O’Shea) did in fact sang the part of Annas on the original album, Jesus Christ Superstar. Check out the names on the album cover. It is my voice when you listen to the album.

  10. 10
    Leon says:

    apparently BK was Annas on the album
    http://www.oshea-keith.com/

  11. 11
    Jeff Summers says:

    @ 10 Brian, ok, I see now, you sang the part of Annas and did a very fine job indeed. James led us down the path of Herod and also mentioned a “deep booming voice” which if memory serves me correctly could only refer to the bass baritone voice of Caiaphas (sung by someone with the surname of Bron? if I remember correctly)

    Congratulations on your work with The Congregation and on JCS, you have a lovely rich soul voice! Its good to hear from you here 🙂

    Cheers Jeff

  12. 12
    Tracy(Zero the Hero)Heyder says:

    JG @8 and BK(OS)@10;

    As I cleared up @5/6 except for the ‘Annas’ connection which Mr. O’Shea has chimed in with himself. The real confusing part was when you referred to Brian Keith the Famous Actor as ‘Bill’……..

    Now for something Purple related???

    Hey ‘Brian/Bill Keith (O’Shea), do you have anything to share here regarding working with Ian Gillan on that album? Did you cross paths at all? Anything you’d like to share here regarding?

    !Ch-BeerZ?

  13. 13
    Scott W. says:

    @9
    Great voice! Thanks for the link! Ol’ Coverdale has been trying to sound like this for years…reminds me of Coverdales voice on the Jon Lord 1974 ‘Windows’ Footage … in that era anyways.

  14. 14
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Talking about confusing stuff….

    Early 80’s I read that Ian Gillan was asked for a role in the serie Dallas.Or did I hear it in the pub where I drank myself beyond sainity for the first time ever….?

    Cant remmeber how I did get home that evening(I tried my bike but got sopped by the law and after that well I dont know) but the interior re decoration of my parents house , being completely ill arriving home showed the next morning.:(

    I almost wrote Dynasty because, well, my brain…….

    I forgot for which role?

    Bobby’s?

  15. 15
    LRT says:

    The role was never revealed, Priest. However you are correct about the silly offer. It was reported at DPAS in their fanzine. Might’ve made some papers too but it is true. But it’s just another of so many offers over the years. He was being considered for Avita as well. Offered singing jobs in Iron Maiden and Van Halen. He’s been around, ya think. Nice mention, probobly not many recall knowing that around here.

  16. 16
    LRT says:

    @Hollywood Israel. Where theu report about things they can never see.

  17. 17
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Ian, are we just a bubble in your beer?

  18. 18
    Diane UK says:

    Well I hope Brian O’Shea (Keith) reads this. I heard ‘Softly Whispering’ on Radio 2 Non Stop Oldies the other day and realised that the last time I’d heard this was aged 12 in 1972! I came home, downloaded it and have been playing it ever since. Wow, what a voice and what a song. That track is possibly the most beautiful love song I’ve ever heard performed. Actually makes me want to be in love again! I wonder if you ever perform this live still, I’d travel across the world to hear it! I’ve heard the original and the covers but I’m afraid they’re not a patch on yours with The Congregation. So glad I have the chance to say: thank you Brian for a most beautiful track, your voice is just amazing on this. I wonder if you know how far reaching the effect of this is? So many people on youtube reminiscing over it. If you ever repeat this live I want to be there!

  19. 19
    Nigel Young says:

    The scene from Atlantica is here: https://www.facebook.com/atlanticalozona/videos/1652044571728945/

  20. 20
    Joseph C Vangieri says:

    It’s Easter Morning 2017 listening to the Jesus Christ SuperStar Vinyl right now. Brian, you did a fantastic job, I love the system Deram used to get that big sound, the same recording technique was used on the Moody Blues records. It is an amazing recording!

  21. 21
    mctumshie says:

    brian keith is brian o shea from portglasgow,,,you can take the man out the port,,,,,,,but you cant take the port ,,,,,,,,blah

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