Former lead singer of The Animals Eric Burdon on Tuesday announced he is cancelling his planned concert in Israel, citing threats. According to his personal manager Marianna Burdon, he was pressured not to perform in Israel and ultimately chose to cancel the concert, which was to take place August 1.

"We are under increasing pressure, including many threatening emails that we are receiving on a daily basis. I wouldn't want to put Eric in any danger" his manager wrote in a letter to Israeli members of Tislam, the band Burdon was scheduled to perform with

Burdon told two of the band members who he met with in Vienna last week that he was subject to threats not to perform, but insisted that "people cannot be denied music. Everyone needs music and it has nothing to do with current politics. Everyone has the right to entertainment, regardless of their situation or the politics of their country."

Burdon, 72, released a solo album this year called "Til Your River Runs Dry. He has not visited Israel since the 1980s.

American R&B star Alicia Keys recently made headlines in Israel when she performed in Tel Aviv, despite pressure from the BDS movement to cancel.

