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Yes — Tell Me Why knows all about Trevor Rabin.

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Q: I couldn't help but notice that
last week Tell Me Why had prac-
tically an entire column about
Jews and classical music. OK,
some of these guys were kind of
interesting. But isn't it time you
expand your repertoire a little and
include Jewish musicians who
have made a contribution to a re-
ally important field, like hard
rock? Or could I have at last found
a topic about which Tell Me Why
knows absolutely nothing?
A: My friend, there is no top-
ic about which Tell Me Why
knows absolutely nothing. Even
making such a suggestion is
akin to saying the world is flat,
or a year has 44 months, or Bar-
ry Manilow has talent.
Shocking, positively shocking!
Yes, indeed, Tell Me Why
knows not only about Schoen-
berg and Milhaud, but Epstein
and Knopfler.
The following is a list of Jew-
ish performers with hard-rock
bands, past and present. Let's
start with some of the bigger
names, like Yes.
Yes was one of the best bands
of the late 1970s and early '80s.
The British group first hit the
charts with a number called
"Roundabout," and had a string
of hits after that. Yes reorga-
nized several times before bring-
ing in a Jewish guitarist named
Trevor Rabin, who wrote what
wduld become the group's most
popular song ever, "Owner of a
Lonely Heart," as well as their
next big hit, "Leave It."
Yes has since disbanded,
though rumor has it they're re-
organizing again. Rabin has
gone on to a solo career and pro-
ducing. •
Certainly one of the most pop-
ular MTV videos ever was Dire
Strait's "Money for Nothing."
Two of the group's founders,
brothers Mark and David
Knopfler, are British Jews.
Tom Petty recently had a big
comeback with his album "Wild-
flowers." You might be interest-
ed to know that his drummer is
none other than Howie Epstein.
Bruce Springsteen also had a
Jewish drummer, Max Wein-
berg, for many years. Weinberg
has since gone on to form his
own band and can be seen reg-
ularly on "Late Night with Co-
nan O'Brien."
Back in the 1970s Blackjack
was a hot hard-rock group.
They've since disbanded, but
their lead singer has gone on to

inexplicable fame. He
was Michael Bolotin
back then. Today, he's
Michael Bolton.
One of the best rock
drummers on every-
one's list is Ginger
Baker. He's known for
his work with Cream,
but after that group
dissolved he went on
to form the Baker-
Gurvitz Army. This
British band also fea-
tured the talents of
Paul and Adrian
Gurwitz.
Probably the best-
known Jewish hard
rocker of recent years One place that's definitely not black tie.
is David Lee Roth,
first the lead singer with Van make a difference? What's wrong
Halen, then a soloist, then back with wearing my fanciest gown if
with Van Halen and now a that's what I choose?
soloist again. Of course, Gene
A: Actually, many years ago
Simmons and Paul Stanley of Jews did just that. The
KISS are Jewish, too, but let's Talmud recounts how Jewish
not linger on that.
families almost were in com-
A few names you might not petition with one another
know:
when it came to funerals. They
1' Guitarist Rod Margolis of garbed Jewish corpses in all
kinds of finery, often leaving
USA (USA).
families with modest incomes
.1) Keyboard player David nearly broke.
Rosenthal of Rainbow (UK).
That's when Rabban
1' Greg Gerson of Mayday Gamaliel the Elder, a. leading
rabbi and scholar in Eretz Yis-
(USA).
rael in the first century C.E.,
.1' Bruce Cohen of Reds stepped in. He objected to the
(USA).
whole notion that death was a
for families to be con-
.1' David Feinstein of the time
cerned with the clothing and
Rods (USA).
appearance of the deceased.
1' Drummer Lou Rosenthal Burial, he said, should not in-
clude elaborate costumes and
of Export (UK).
expensive caskets.
Ariel Bender, formerly of
When he died, Rabban
Mott the Hoople, of Widowmak- Gamaliel opted to be bUried in
er (UK).
a plain, white shroud, a tra-
1) Keyboardist Blake Levin- dition that quickly became ob-
sohn of Frankie and the Knock- served throughout the Jewish
community.
outs (USA).
Today, the shrouds are
1' Steve Kirshenbaum of made of muslin, cotton or
Baxter (USA). .
linen, while coffins are
plain, wooden boxes. In some
• 1' Bass player Kenny Aaron- places where wood is scarce
son of Axis (USA).
or quite expensive, such as
Bass player Andy Shernoff Israel, people are simply
buried in shrouds, without the
of the Dictators (USA).
coffin:
1' Barry Goldberg and Mike
Bloomfield of KGB (USA).

-

1' Robert Fleishman, Marcy
Levy and Louise Goffin (Carole
King's daughter) all have per-
formed as soloists.

Q: I know Judaism teaches that
we should all be buried in a white
shroud, but why? Does it really

Send questions to Tell Me Why,
The Jewish News, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069.
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