Recently, two of Rogers Waters’ “This Is Not a Drill” tour dates in Germany were dropped by local governments. The Frankfurt city council (and Hessian State government) said they were canceling Waters’ May 23rd concert to “set an example against antisemitism.” Four days after Franfurt’s announcement, Munich canceled their show scheduled for May 21st. Now Roger Waters is threatening legal action (Longview News-Journal).
Waters Management/ Legal Team Release Joint Statement
In an excerpt from the statement, “Mr. Waters has instructed his lawyers to immediately take all necessary steps to overturn this unjustifiable decision. [This is] to ensure that his fundamental human right of freedom of speech is protected and that all of those who wish to see him perform, are free to do so in Frankfurt, Munich, and in any other city in any other country.” The statement also says, the cancellation of the two shows are, “unconstitutional, without justification and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not.”
Roger says he can’t imagine not including Germany in his farewell tour. “Your ruling class and your media want to ban me from bringing my message of love and peace and revolution to enrich your lives.” (per UltimateClassicRock.com)
These two “canceled” shows aren’t actually officially canceled… not yet, anyway. Tickets are still available for purchase on Roger Waters’ website. His management/legal team also said, “Mr. Waters believes that if this blatant attempt to silence him is left unchallenged it could have serious, far-reaching consequences for artists and activists all over the world.”
Waters on Putin
Roger Waters has been taking heat ever since he spoke at a UN security council meeting after being invited to speak by the Russian delegation. Ukraine representatives lit him up over his supportive stance of Putin and his downplaying of the Russian aggression on Ukraine. In an interview translation from rogerwaters.com, Waters said, “Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I am now more open to listen(ing) to what Putin actually says. According to independent voices I listen to, he governs carefully, making decisions on the grounds of a consensus in the Russian Federation government. There are also critical intellectuals in Russia, who have been arguing against American imperialism since the 1950s.”