Roger Waters faces criticism after his 30th anniversary show of ‘The Wall’ was accused of anti-semitism.
‘The Wall’ is one of classic rock’s core texts, a wildly successful album which blended studio innovation with an ambitious concept. Drawing on the band’s early history, it saw Pink Floyd address some of their own mythology.
Spawning an enormous stage show, ‘The Wall’ remains one of rock’s iconic albums. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release Roger Waters has organised a massive world tour including some new visuals.
It is these visuals which sit at the centre of fresh controversy. During the performance of ‘Goodbye Blue Sky’ an animation depicts airplanes dropping bombs in the shape of the star of David, followed by dollar signs.
Other religious symbols are also used, with the animation mixing corporate slogans with items of faith.
However it is the supposed link between Judaism and money which has ruffled feathers. Roger Waters stands accused of promoting anti-semitism, with the Anti-Defamation League issuing a strongly worded statement.
“It is outrageous that Roger Waters has chosen to use the juxtaposition of a Jewish Star of David with the symbol of dollar signs,” director Abraham Foxman.
“While he insists that his intent was to criticize Israel’s West Bank security fence, the use of such imagery in a concert setting seems to leave the message open to interpretation, and the meaning could easily be misunderstood as a comment about Jews and money.”
Finishing, the statement criticised the ambiguity of the animation. “Of course Waters has every right to express his political views about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through his music and stagecraft. However, the images he has chosen, when put together in the same sequence, cross a line into anti-Semitism.”
Roger Waters will bring ‘The Wall’ to the UK and Ireland next May.
