Roger Waters continues to grab headlines — and not in positive contexts: After Berlin police announced last week that they would open a criminal investigation into the musician on suspicion of incitement against Jews, Waters responded Saturday to the accusations against him.
In a statement posted on social media, Waters, 79, wrote: "My recent concert in Berlin attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to defame and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles. The elements of my performance that are in question are clearly a statement against fascism, injustice and racism in all their forms. Attempts to present these elements in any other way are disingenuous and politically motivated. The portrayal of a mad fascist demagogue (the character Waters "plays" in the show, D.P.) has been a regular part of my performances since Pink Floyd's 'The Wall.'"
Waters added: "I have dedicated my whole life to speaking out against authoritarian regimes and against oppression everywhere I see them. When I was a child during the war, Anne Frank's name often came up in my home. It has become a constant reminder of what happens when fascism is not prevented. My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, and my father paid the ultimate price. In any case, and despite the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and those who promote it."
Documentation of Roger Waters from his performance:
Aging with dignity.
pic.twitter.com/AoZvabeCwE
— Aviv Geffen (@avivgeffen) May 26, 2023
On May 17 and 18, Waters held two shows in Berlin as part of his This Is Not A Dril tour, in which he performed, among other things, songs by Pink Floyd, of which he co-founded.
While performing songs from Pink Floyd's 1979 masterpiece album The Wall, the British musician chose to wear clothing reminiscent of the uniform of a Nazi SS officer – a long black raincoat and symbols that depicted two crossed hammers (instead of a swastika) on a red background, in addition to comparing Palestinians to Jewish Holocaust victims.
Although it is, according to Waters, an anti-fascist satire that has been a regular part of his solo performances for the past three decades, displaying Nazi symbols is considered a criminal offense in Germany. As a result, a police investigation has been opened against the musician, who will celebrate his eightieth birthday this September.
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