McCartney looking forward to Tel Aviv show

NEW YORK, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- British rock 'n' roll icon Paul McCartney said he's excited about his Tel Aviv concert because it will be the first time he performs for an Israeli audience.

"Me and the band are really looking forward to this one. You never quite know what to expect from a new audience so it's going to be a totally new experience for all of us -- the band and the audience together," McCartney said in a statement. "It's the first time I have ever been to Israel, or really that part of the world, so I am very interested to look around and look at the situation, just personally. I am going to be interested as a tourist just to look around and meet the people."

McCartney declined to offer any specifics about what the audience may expect from his planned Sept. 25 show, but he did promise it would be a night to remember.

"I can't give anything away really, because then it wouldn't be a surprise! We've been rehearsing some songs we've not done for a while, but that's all I'll tell you," he said. "We always try and custom-make the show to the people we are playing to. What I normally do is meet with a translator before the show and try and get some local phrases, local dedications, hopefully... I've got to learn them yet, though."