Waters tells UK fans: ‘They’re trying to cancel me like they cancelled Corbyn’
Ex-Pink Floyd star Roger Waters avoids Nazi uniform stunt, and the inflatable pig does not feature a Star of David, as he performs first UK concert amid allegations of antisemitism on his European tour
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Roger Waters has told fans attending the first UK gig on his controversial European tour:”They’re trying to cancel me like they cancelled Jeremy Corbyn and Julian Assange.”
Appearing at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham this week, the former Pink Floyd star claimed he had been subjected to “brutal” treatment after last week’s gigs in Germany reignited allegations of antisemitism.
During a near 10 minute long rant, the 79 year-old also claimed British newspapers such as the Telegraph, Daily Mail and Times were pursuing a vendetta against him because of his support for Palestine.
At one point during his performance, images of Palestinians, apparently living in rundown shacks, are shown to the audience along with the statement; “You can’t have humanitarian rights and an occupation.”
After referencing former Labour leader Corbyn, Waters thanked the audience for continuing to support his concerts, adding:”I will not be cancelled.”
Roger Waters had a 10 minute onstage rant about "Mr Telegraph" at the opening of his UK tour, apparently convinced I was only there to, er, "rip (his) balls off." Actually, I thought the paranoid old fucker played a storming show. pic.twitter.com/cNND2RP5vN
— Neil McCormick (@neil_mccormick) May 31, 2023
Despite his claims that he was being victimised, the Birmingham gig saw Waters make significant changes to the props that had sparked anger at previous gigs.
The inflatable pig that has become infamous at Waters’ shows was still unveiled, but without the Star of David symbol that had featured in earlier tours.
There was also reference to the musician’s decision to dress up in Nazi SS soldier’s uniform – a move that, as Jewish News revealed last week, led Berlin police to launch an investigation into him following a performance in the city.
A screened statement told fans in the midlands that a satirical “depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue” has been part of his shows since The Wall in 1980 and that his father was killed fighting the Nazis.
But Waters dropped the Nazi uniform from his Birmingham show, seemingly in recognition that the stunt had backfired on him.
At one point in the show, the names and faces of people murdered by authoritarian regimes, are beamed onto the stage. Anne Frank, it is confirmed, was murdered for “being Jewish.”
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