Roger Waters Pursues Legal Action Over Concert Cancellations

Roger Waters is threatening authorized motion in opposition to proposed live performance cancellations in Frankfurt and Munich.

The previous Pink Floyd frontman has stated he’ll take authorized motion in opposition to metropolis authorities in Germany over the threatened cancellation of live shows after Roger Waters was accused of antisemitism, which he has staunchly denied. In February, the Metropolis of Frankfurt and the Munich Metropolis Council introduced intentions to cancel scheduled live shows by Roger Waters, arguing that he was “one of the crucial extensively identified antisemites.” 

Waters has lengthy opposed Israel’s exercise in Palestine, describing it as an “apartheid state” responsible of “ethnic cleaning,” and helps a cultural boycott of the nation. Nonetheless, he has vehemently denied any antisemitism, claiming that his concern is with the Israeli authorities and never with Judaism, accusing Israel of “abusing the time period antisemitism to intimidate folks like me into silence.”

Nonetheless, Frankfurt’s council has highlighted Waters’ historic use of the Star of David branded onto a prop pig as a part of his present. Waters was accused of antisemitism in 2013 for utilizing the picture however insisted that the pig represented “the evil of errant authorities” and in addition featured “the crucifix, the crescent and star, the hammer and sickle, the Shell Oil brand, the McDonald’s signal, a greenback signal, and a Mercedes signal.”

Waters is working with the Höcker legislation agency to struggle in opposition to live performance cancellations. Agency companion Ralf Höcker defined that they might file interim injunctions if venues or promoters obtain instruction to cancel the live shows, which he says, “we’re very optimistic we’ll achieve success” ought to they be filed.

“These actions are unconstitutional, with out justification, and based mostly upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he isn’t,” reads a joint assertion from Waters’ administration and Höcker. “Mr. Waters believes that if this blatant try to silence him is left unchallenged, it might have severe, far-reaching penalties for artists and activists everywhere in the world.”

“The town of Munich is losing taxpayer cash on one thing that can’t be profitable,” says Höcker. “The authorized scenario is basically clear, and so they’re nonetheless going ahead with this, and that’s unacceptable.”

At the moment, tickets for all of Roger Waters’ German tour dates are nonetheless accessible.