Culture: Red Orbach: One dysfunctional doll

The resurgence in Israel of Orbach and his reformed '60s greats Redband after a 40-year absence stunned the local music world.

By DAVID BRINN
orbach 88 224 (photo credit: Courtesy)
orbach 88 224
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Red Orbach is grumpy and disoriented. But the veteran American-born pop music icon who evolved into 2008's comeback kid perks up when he hears he's been named the culture Person of the Year by The Jerusalem Post. "Is there a cash prize involved?" asked the over 50 singer/songwriter. "I don't want any checks, though. They can be traced." The resurgence in Israel of Orbach and his reformed '60s greats Redband after a 40-year absence stunned the local music world and enraptured fans around the country. It was a second act that not many once-great artists have enjoyed. Following a brief moment of glory in the post-Six Day War rapture when it arrived in and conquered Israel, Redband, featuring Orbach and his collaborators Poncho and Lefty, quickly disbanded under a cloud of drug abuse, dissension and the usual "creative differences" resulting in Orbach leaving the country under mysterious circumstances. However, earlier this year, he returned to Tel Aviv, tracked down Poncho and Lefty living in relative anonymity and reformed the barely missed band. The band members quickly became household names and an ubiquitous presence on TV screens across with country with their hit show on HOT VOD, which, in cinema verite style, chronicled the band's comeback, complete with access to their group therapy sessions, rehearsals, dependencies and occasional accidental electric shocks. "Yeah, I wasn't so thrilled about being followed around all the time. I mean, I came off fine, but you know, the other guys can get into this 'rock star' trip sometimes, and it can get a little embarrassing," said Orbach. The show proved to be so popular, however, that the cream of Israeli pop musicians - from Efrat Gosh and Mosh Ben-Ari to Aviv Gefen and Shalom Hanoch - clamored for the chance to appear and perform with the rootsy rockers. Even British hard rock giants Deep Purple begged them to open one of their recent shows in Tel Aviv, a decision which partially backfired. "Deep Purple was afraid to come out on stage after we warmed up for them. We just spoiled the audience silly," said Orbach. Despite his debauched, outdated mores and his cantankerous personality, Orbach still managed to produce where it mattered this year - in the music. Through inspired collaborations with the aforementioned Israeli artists, Redband synthesized the roots of both American and Israeli music and joyously located their common denominator. The jam sessions at the end of every TV episode between the group and its musical guests were a heartfelt, rollicking meeting of two worlds that never failed to leave a good taste following a show's worth of dysfunctional acrimony. For that, Red Orbach has earned the Person of the Year title. The award will be presented to him at an undisclosed rehab facility near Netanya, in a room originally reserved for Amy Winehouse.