Berlin police are investigating Roger Waters because of the Nazi-style clothes he wore at his recent concert in the German capital.
Earlier this month (May 17) Waters caused a negative reaction by mentioning Anne Frank at one of his concerts in Germany. The former Pink Floyd member also pretended to shoot a rifle during part of the performance, and was dressed in clothes that some believe are related to World War II.
This particular segment of the show revolved around a character from Pink Floyd’s The Wall who, during a hallucination, imagines himself to be a fictional fascist dictator. Playing this character, Waters wore a black raincoat and a red armband with the image of two crossed hammers.
Wearing Nazi symbols or swastikas is illegal in Germany, and Berlin police spokesman Martin Halweg told The Guardian: “An investigation has been launched into the costume shown at concerts on May 17 and 18.”
“It is believed that the context of clothing is capable of approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a way that offends the dignity of the victims and thereby violates public order.”
The show was part of the ongoing leg of Waters’ “This Is Not A Drill” farewell tour and was one of two shows that were initially canceled in the country due to controversy over comments that many considered anti-Semitic.
Waters has repeatedly denied all accusations of anti-Semitism and explained that his contempt for Israel, not Judaism. He also accused Israel of “abusing the term ‘anti-Semitism’ to intimidate people like me and silence them.”
Both shows were initially cancelled by municipal authorities due to the musician’s views on Israel, before the decision was reversed.
Allegations of Waters’ alleged anti-Semitic views made headlines earlier this year when former Pink Floyd bandmate David Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson tweeted that the musician was “anti-Semitic towards [his] rotten core.”
The UK leg of his This Is Not A Drill tour will arrive in the UK from May 31 and will make stops in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester.
After the concerts in Germany, the British MP said that Waters should not perform in Manchester because of fears that his “divisive actions” could incite anti-Jewish hatred.
According to BBC News, the Labour MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, expressed his concern to other MPs about Waters’ speech at AO Arena on June 10, explaining: “The City of Manchester has a rich and vibrant history in which people of different faiths and backgrounds have lived together and stood together in difficult times and times of separation.”
He added: “Will the head of the chamber agree with me that such concerts have no place in our society and that they should not be held?”
