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		29/01/06 - ARABIAN SEA COUNTRY CLUB, BIA QASIM, KARACHI Review by stuff.co.nz: Canadian rocker Bryan Adams thrilled 20,000 fans at a concert in Karachi on Sunday, the first big show by a Western singer in Pakistan in decades, to help students affected by country's October 8 earthquake. Adams, who performed most of his hits and moved the audience with "Summer of 69", said he was glad to discover new fans in Pakistan. "I am here because this city has a special love for music," the singer greeted his fans at the Arabian Sea Club on the outskirts of Karachi, as hundreds of Pakistani police guarded roads and checked vehicles leading to the venue. The Canadian rocker said before the show that he was excited to help the victims of the earthquake in northern Pakistan. "The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels . . . we are the first Western artists to come and play a big concert here," he singer told a news conference. "We are going to raise a lot of money hopefully to help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated." Over 17,000 of the more than 73,000 killed in the quake were children who died in schools destroyed in the quake. About 3 million people were left homeless by the disaster. The organiser of the concert, the Zindagi Trust of Pakistan, hopes to raise 20 million rupees ($34,000) through the concert. Adams, who will meet President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad on Monday, said he had no worries about coming to Pakistan. Hardline Islamists oppose Western influences in Pakistan, especially rock music, dress and movies, which they consider immoral influences counter to Islam. ******** Review by Aaman Lamba: Karachi rocks to Bryan Adams Tonight Karachi was a witness to the First ever international rock concert with the arrival of Bryan Adams to the Arabian Country Club, a location on the outskirts of Karachi. The city was abuzz with the upcoming concert for quite sometime, the only concerns were regarding the steep ticket price and security. The organizers Zindagi Trust an non-profit NGO lead by a local pop icon Shahzad Roy pulled the trick out of the hat. Security was iron clad tight and only were you permitted into the venue after you had been thoroughly screened, with a number of screening locations one barely had to wait a brief 3 minutes before finally entering the massive venue. The show started as promised around 7:30 and Bryan Adams came a brief half hour later and the massive 13,000 strong crowd got into high gear. Bryan Adams rocked the house with his truly inspirational vocals keeping the massive crowd captivated to every beat, the crowd Karaoke every song along with Mr. Adams and a few hours later was greeted with a fascinating display of fireworks to bid farewell. Concerts are held around the world but for a concert of this magnitude for the first time ever in Pakistan, everyone held his breath as even a minor hiccup would send us back into the stone-age. This concert will the setting stage for more to come, and if organizations like Zindagi Trust remain at the helm of affairs sparing no expense to set an example for the next to follow, we wont be disappointed. For tonight, Karachi Rocked in unison -- Love you Karachi ****** Review by Karachi Press: Three little girls, Tania, Neha and Ayesha, are hanging around outside the room where Bryan Adams is giving interviews after his press conference with Shahzad Roy at the Marriott on Sunday afternoon. They grip their small pink notepads and pirated CDs as their father waits with them, patiently shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "No! Sorry. He's not giving any autographs," one of the organizers says to the crestfallen group. "Now, please," he adds while swatting away the young fans. Just moments before, Adams was hustled into the interview room just as he was hustled into the press conference at the absurdly small venue, a conference room that should have been a hall. "Adam! Look here!" one plucky photographer called out to the musician as he stood for the photo-op with Roy. "Adam! Adam!" Bryan Adams was in Karachi to play a charity concert for the Shahzad Roy Zindagi Trust that says it will build schools for children in the earthquake-hit areas. A rather awkward public speaker and mumbler, Roy thanked Adams for helping his trust's cause. "Bryan people love you in Pakistan," he said turning to the rock star. "Trust me." Roy then switched to Urdu to thank Adams but not without saying rather glibly that the Canadian probably didn't understand a word of what he just said. Overall, the organizers and Roy appeared to be flying high for organizing the event. "It's pretty easy for me to sing in front of 10,000 people but it's really difficult for me to do this so I'll get this over with as soon as possible," Roy said, for example, while referring to the press conference. A little in to his speech, Roy thanked the sponsors only to add rather oddly: "Bryan I'll just skip you because I just thanked you." "Uh...Music rules...thank you," Roy said before taking his seat. Thank God, he didn't make the 'Rock On' sign. While Adams didn't give any speech, which was quite a relief after the corporate pegs, he did open the floor to questions. "What is your perception of Pakistan; how do you feel being here?" a woman asked. "I've just got off the plane and I feel alright," Adams replied. "Pakistan is much like the places I've been to over the past 20 years...I've been in India and I suspect that the response will be similar." A newspaper correspondent drew a laugh from the crowd when she asked if Adams planned to visit Pakistan in the future "even if there is no calamity." She also asked if he had plans to make a fusion of eastern and western fashion as a photographer to which he replied, "Not tonight" with a laugh. When questioned, Adams admitted that he didn't have a favourite Shahzad Roy track. "But keep in mind that we've only just met," Adams clarified. Daily Times asked if the two musicians had been able to rehearse to which Adams replied that they did some singing in the car on the way in from the airport. "Later, we're going to get some guitars and practice," he added. However, the most amusing question from the press was related to Adam's duet with Pamela Anderson: "Did you owe her any favours?" the incorrigible young man asked. "Well, it was a case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours," the Canadian replied innocently enough, but the moment was not lost on the crowd. Adams seemed to shy from answering financial questions but many people were wondering how much of the proceeds would actually make it to the schools. Roy did specify though that his trust intended to raise Rs 20 million. After the concert, Adams will fly to Islamabad to dine with the president and prime minister on Monday. Adams is also scheduled to play in the Middle East, India and Pakistan in February. The Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist is one of the most successful recording artists in popular music worldwide. He recently released his 36-selection Anthology album, which spans his entire career from 1980 to 2005. ****** Pre-concert article from bbc.co.uk: Bryan Adams performs to Karachi Canadian pop star Bryan Adams is performing in Pakistan's port city of Karachi to raise money for survivors of last October's earthquake. It is the first concert by a Western pop star in the country since the 11 September terror attacks in the US. The authorities hope it signifies a "healthy cultural change" in the city, which has seen several bombings and terror attacks in recent years. Some 20,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday's concert, despite steep prices. 'Cultural change' Singer of hit songs, like Summer of '69, Adams said he was excited to be the first Western artist to perform a big concert in the country in four years. The proceeds from the concert will go towards rebuilding schools. "We are going to raise a lot of money to hopefully help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated," he said. Authorities say more than 73,000 people were killed and millions displaced in the 8 October earthquake. Adams arrived in Karachi just days after the US state department issued a travel advisory for the country citing concerns about terrorism. Sponsors said they have already sold more than 20,000 tickets, even though the ticket prices ranged from 3,500 rupees ($58) to 5,000 rupees ($83). Pakistani authorities say the concert signifies change in the city after violent acts like the murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 and militant revenge attacks in 2001 against President Pervez Musharraf for supporting the US-led war in Afghanistan. "Adam's arrival and performance in Karachi is definitely a healthy cultural change and it signifies that moderate people are coming up in our society day by day," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told the AFP news agency. ****** (Above) Bryan is ushered into the press conference in Karachi Pre-concert article by Mahim Maher (Daily Times): Keeping the 'riff raff' out of the Bryan Adams concert? Almost every young person in Karachi laments one thing: we don't host proper music concerts. Madonna will never come here to gyrate her hips at the National Stadium, Coldplay will not sign copies of their biography at Liberty Books and System of a Down would rather go Down Under than make a pit stop at the PACC. This is precisely why the Bryan Adams concert on Jan 29 is such a big deal. "The only thing that sucks is that Shehzad Roy is going to open the show," said an ungrateful A'Level student. Aside from that, it promises to be a memorable gig. Bryan Adams may not be as big as Madonna or Coldplay but he is a respectable name in the business. I am fond of him because he is a crooner from my days at school and while not all high school students today are big fans, they are still pestering their parents to go. It is not every day that international rock stars come to Karachi. "I'm going with the children," said Woman-getting-a-Pedicure at Peng's, where I eavesdropped an aunty conversation this weekend. Her daughter threatened mutiny if she was stopped from going to the concert. This is why her mother decided that her only option was to go with the children to ensure their safety. But safety from what, I wondered while floundering under a mask. What would happen that the girls of today aren't already aware of? Ok, let's assume for a moment that all young men turn into punks at concerts or other public gatherings; they'll pinch our bums and pass silly comments such as 'Hey baby' and 'Arey yaar kya cheez hai'. Most girls today know how to handle this kind of silly behaviour and I assume that the organizers will make arrangements for security. The Karachi police have, after all, become more particular about this since the bomb blasts. Another aunty pitched in to elucidate her point of view regarding safety. "The tickets should have been more expensive," she said. "Rs 3,500 is just not enough to keep the riff raff out." The women debated whether the tickets should be Rs 10,000 or Rs 3,500. One of them asserted that Rs 10,000 would effectively put a barrier on who could attend, thus ensuring only the 'crème' of society would be able to go. The other woman thought that Rs 3,500 was enough to keep the 'riff raff' out. I think that anyone who can afford Rs 3,500 should be able to buy a ticket and go to the concert. Perhaps there are some young girls in Chakiwara who have earned Rs 3,500 selling their bodies or are willing to give up their Eidi life savings to just catch a glimpse of Bryan Adams. Who said that only rich people deserve to go? Who said that there aren't people in the poorer parts of Karachi who can afford Rs 3,500? Does money exist only this side of the bridge? In fact, I would rather the 'riff raff' of Karachi regularly went to concerts so that they had some respite from the quotidian, so that they had some fun and let loose. If the people of Karachi, and young men in particular, enjoyed themselves more, perhaps we would all be better off for it. ****** Pre-concert article by cbc.ca: Bryan Adams rocks for earthquake victims Canadian pop star Bryan Adams takes the stage in Karachi, Pakistan Sunday to raise money for victims of the earthquake that rocked South Asia in October. The concert is billed as the first one by a major Western rock star in Pakistan since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. “The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels,” Adams said at a Sunday news conference in Karachi. “We’re going to raise a lot of money to hopefully help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated.” Adams, who shot to fame with songs such as Summer of ’69, Cuts Like a Knife and Everything I Do, arrived in Pakistan Friday. Concert organizers say they’ve sold 22,000 tickets ranging in price from 3,500 to 5,000 rupees ($67 to $96 Cdn) for the concert taking place at the Arabian Sea Golf Club. A 7.6-magnitude quake roared through the country’s Kashmir region and surround areas Oct. 8, 2004, obliterating roads, homes and schools and leaving 3.5 million people homeless. Adams is hoping to raise awareness for Zindagi Trust, an organization established by Pakistani pop star Shehzad Roy, who opens for Adams on Sunday night. Through the trust, each child is paid about $2 a week to attend one of its 35 schools. The money provides food and clothing for the child’s family. The money is an incentive to prevent families from sending their children to work. ****** Review by Canadian Press: Bryan Adams headlines concert in Pakistan to raise money for quake victims Pop star Bryan Adams is rocking for relief in Pakistan, taking the stage Sunday night to raise money for victims of the South Asian earthquake that killed 87,000 and left millions homeless. The concert was billed as the first by a major western pop musician in Pakistan since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States. Adams, best known for hits like Summer of '69 and Cuts Like a Knife, arrived in Pakistan's biggest city just days after the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for the country, citing concerns about terrorism. But that didn't faze the Canadian-born singer. "The whole idea of coming to Pakistan is very exciting on many levels," Adams told an afternoon news conference. "It's exciting because I know we are the first western artists to come and play a big concert here." Proceeds from the concert will go toward rebuilding schools damaged by the quake. Sponsors said they have sold 22,000 tickets at prices ranging between $58 and $83 US. "We're going to raise a lot of money to hopefully help rebuild some schools in the areas that have been devastated," Adams said. Sharing the stage with Adams will be popular Pakistani pop star Shehzad Roy. The 7.6-magnitude quake struck northern Pakistan's Kashmir region and surrounding areas on Oct. 8, destroying roads and schools and leaving 3.5 million people homeless. UN-led relief efforts are ongoing as survivors struggle through the harsh Himalayan winter. Security was tight for Adams' visit. In recent years, Karachi has been the scene of several bombings and terrorist activities, including the 2002 slaying of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. (Above) The crowd is treated to a firework display after the show ******** Article from cbc.ca: Bryan Adams hails Karachi concert 'eye-opening', 'amazing' It may have been a "dusty gig" but Canadian pop star Bryan Adams also hailed his landmark weekend concert in Pakistan as "amazing" and "an incredibly noble cause." Adams, who spoke to CBC News by phone Wednesday morning from his latest concert stop in Doha, Qatar, made headlines last weekend for headlining a charity concert in Karachi. Aimed at raising money for victims of the October 2005 earthquake, the musical event was billed as the first concert held in Pakistan by a major western artist since Sept. 11, 2001. However, local officials told the Canadian singer and musician that it was the first of its kind. "The concert we did there is the first big concert they've ever had there, never mind Sept. 11," he said of event, which he also called an "eye-opening experience." Adams was recruited to perform by Pakistani pop star Shehzad Roy, who was his opening act and the founder of a charitable organization called Zindagi Trust. The education advocacy group pays local children the equivalent of $2 per week to attend one of its 35 schools. It's an incentive to poor families to keep their kids in class rather than send them out as child labourers. During his visit, Adams also attended a dinner with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, where they discussed the massive, devastating quake that killed more than 85,000 people around Kashmir and in the northwest of Pakistan. Adams, who has performed in countries across the Middle East and Asia, said he hopes the Karachi concert will set an example for other western singers and musicians to visit the region. Having also performed in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Dubai, Oman and India, Adams added, "I've discovered that there is an incredible following for us in this area and for a lot of other western artists." "We had an absolutely amazing time [in Pakistan]," he said. "Never once did we ever feel that there was a problem with security…I met nothing but lovely people there." In the last few months, several Hollywood stars have also travelled to the earthquake-devastated region in Pakistan with various United Nations agencies. In November, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt toured the disaster zone, while Lucy Liu is in the area this week with UNICEF.

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