Pink Floyd's Roger Waters breaks silence on Nazi-style costume after huge upset
Pink Floyd star Roger Waters has broken his silence after angering fans by wearing a Nazi-style outfit on stage.
The 79-year-old wore a similar outfit to Nazi SS officers during a recent gig in Berlin in Germany.
He also had on a red armband as well as crossed hammers on his collar.
The crossed hammers and the uniform were the same imagery used by a fictitious neo-Nazi organisation in the 1982 movie Pink Floyd: The Wall.
In a statement, Roger said any attack on his performance was a bid to "smear and silence" him for his political views.
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He explained the depiction of an "unhinged fascist demagogue" had been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in 1980.
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters angered fans with his stage outfits (Angelika Warmuth/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Roger went on to say the name his parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with his father "paying the ultimate price".
And he vowed to "continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it."
His statement in full said: "My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles.
"The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms."
Roger continued: "Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in 1980.
"I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it.
"When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked.
"My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price.
"Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it.”
Pink Floyd star angers fans with vile Nazi-like uniform at Germany concert
The outfit was reminiscent of the ones used in 1982 movie Pink Floyd: The Wall (Mgm/Ua/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)In the original Pink Floyd film, the main protagonist (voiced by Roger) loses his mind and starts seeing himself as a fascist dictator.
The character, called Pink, wears a similar costume to what Roger wore at the concert at the Mercedez-Benz Arena.
Hanging above the crowd was an inflatable pig emblazoned with the logo of an Israeli armaments firm as well as the Star of David.
The giant screen also displayed the names of dead figures, including Anne Frank next to Al Jazeera journalist Abu Akleh - who was killed while covering an Israeli Defense Forces raid in a Palestinian camp.
It was reported that Germany’s Orthodox Jewish rabbinical association called for Roger to be barred from performing in the country.
Israel's official page tweeted: "Good morning to everyone but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust."
People on Twitter were left in utter disgust and rushed to call the musician out on the imagery.
"This is vile and stomach-turning," one person said.
"Still using the Holocaust to make money? Tut tut," another user questioned.
Other fans attempted to explain his imagery and said: "It's a show based on his anti-war movie THE WALL. Please educate yourself."
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