Roger Waters launches legal action over cancelled German concerts

He had been accused of being antisemitic

Roger Waters on stage in 2023
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 16th Mar 2023
Last updated 16th Mar 2023

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has launched legal proceedings over the proposed cancelled concerts in Frankfurt and Munich this summer.

The outspoken 79-year-old rocker was due to play at Munich Olympiahalle on 21st May Frankfurt’s Festhalle on 28th May as part of his first farewell This Is Not A Drill Tour, however both shows were axed last month due to Waters' views.

Explaining their decision to axe the Festhalle show, Frankfurt City Council said: "The background to the cancellation is the persistent anti-Israel behaviour of the former Pink Floyd frontman, who is considered one of the most widely spread antisemites in the world.

"He repeatedly called for a cultural boycott of Israel and drew comparisons to the apartheid regime in South Africa, and put pressure on artists to cancel events in Israel."

The council’s move to cancel the concert was approved by the Magistrate of the City of Frankfurt on 24 February.

Four days later, Munich City Council cancelled Waters’ Olympiahalle and they argued that the rocker "keeps stirring up antisemitic resentment" and spreads "conspiracy ideologies that justify Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine."

In a statement issued to Planet Rock this afternoon (16th March) under the title 'Roger Waters fights back', Mark Fenwick Management has confirmed that Waters is now taking legal action over the cancellations in Frankfurt and Munich.

Roger Waters

The full statement reads:

“Roger Waters defends freedom of speech and takes legal action against proposed concert cancellations in Frankfurt and Munich.

“In February 2023, the Hessian State Government and then the Magistrate of the City of Frankfurt announced their extraordinary and prejudicial intention to cancel a concert scheduled to be performed by Roger Waters at the Festhalle in Frankfurt on 28 May. On 28 February 2023, a motion was introduced in the Munich City Council to cancel the concert scheduled for 21 May 2023, in the Munich Olympiahalle. These actions are unconstitutional, without justification, and based upon the false accusation that Roger Waters is antisemitic, which he is not.

“As a result of this unilateral, politically motivated action, Mr Waters has instructed his lawyers to immediately take all necessary steps to overturn this unjustifiable decision 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.

“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.”

In February, the rift between Roger Waters and David Gilmour intensified following a tweet from Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, accusing him of being antisemitic.

“Roger Waters is aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely,” Roger Waters’ response read. “He is currently taking advice as to his position.”

Pink Floyd are marking the 50th anniversary of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ with a deluxe box set and official book, which are both released on Friday 24th March 2023.

Roger Waters is releasing his own re-recorded version of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ this May.

Roger Waters’ This Is Not A Drill Tour hits the UK this summer for a sextet of arena dates. Head to Planet Rock Tickets to check ticket availability.

Roger Waters’ UK tour dates:

MAY 2023

Birmingham Utilita Arena – Wed 31st

JUNE 2023

Glasgow OVO Hydro – Fri 2nd

Glasgow OVO Hydro – Sat 3rd

London The O2 – Tue 6th

London The O2 – Wed 7th

Manchester AO Arena – Sat 10th

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