RHCP satisfy fans despite dry venue

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Santralistanbul hosted Red Hot Chili Peppers with an audience of 42,000 despite the alcohol ban in the venue.

Istanbul’s controversial concert venue santralistanbul hosted the long-awaited U.S. band Red Hot Chili Peppers last night with participation of 42.000 viewers. Greeting the audience with “Monarchy,” as expected, the band played hits from their “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” “Californication,” and “By The Way,” albums, as well as new singles from their last album “I’m With You.”

The band hosted famous Turkish saxophonist İlhan Erşahin, who played a brief solo on stage. The band’s leading man Antony Kiedis was quiet but bassist Flea filled his space. He shouted from the stage to express his pleasure of ezan, suggesting the audience to consider themselves very lucky to be able to hear that beautiful prayer five times a day. The closure of the nearly two hour show was with the band’s leading hit “Give It Away” and the closing message came from Flea who invited the audience to support music which was “the voice of people from all over the world.”

And what the concert goers were doing yesterday night was nothing but supporting the music and local events despite the unpleasant conditions due to the alcohol ban in the arena which is the main campus of the Istanbul Bilgi University.