Roger Waters Brings Powerful Anti-Trump Message On New Tour, Offending Some Fans

[babylonsister]

http://www.inquisitr.com/4250472/roger-waters-brings-powerful-anti-trump-message-on-new-tour-offending-some-fans/?utm_content=inf_11_3140_2&source=se&utm_source=se&utm_campaign=se&utm_medium=fb&tse_id=INF_0551b780432211e780b645b806a7020f


May 27, 2017
Roger Waters Brings Powerful Anti-Trump Message On New Tour, Offending Some Fans
Rob Cotton




Roger Waters kicked off his “Us and Them” tour last night in Kansas City, Missouri, and at least a few fans were not happy with the legendary Pink Floyd artist for including anti-Trump messages in the show. According to the Kansas City Star, some fans walked out while Roger Waters and his band played the Pink Floyd song “Money,” while images of Trump’s failed casinos, Russian buildings, and photos of Kremlin officials flashed on the large screens surrounding the stage. One fan raised his middle finger toward the stage as he left the Sprint Center arena, apparently upset that a notoriously politically-conscious artist was including political themes in his show.

If people are surprised that Roger Waters has suddenly gone political, they must not have been paying attention to his career for the past half century. As early as 1968, Waters was touching on political themes in his writing. The song “Corporal Clegg” off the second Pink Floyd album, A Saucerful of Secrets, is about a soldier who lost his leg in World War II, a war which claimed the life of Roger Waters’s father. Roger Waters would later allude to his father’s death in the war in the song “Free Four” off of the 1972 album Obscured By Clouds, according to the Pink Floyd Lyrics website.

Roger Waters’s lyrics would only become increasingly political over the years, culminating in Pink Floyd’s first explicitly political album, Animals, released in 1977. When Waters played a song from Animals, “Pigs (Three Different Ones),” at his Kansas City performance last night, it was accompanied by incendiary images of Donald Trump on the big screens surrounding the stage. The song begins with the line, “big man, pig man, ha ha, charade you are,” and as Waters sang the line a scowling image of Donald Trump flashed on the screens with the word “charade” beneath his face. During the song’s guitar solo, a giant inflatable pig floated above the crowd with the phrase “piggy bank of war” written on the side, accompanied by dollar signs and other political imagery.

snip//

“He’s only been sharing his sometimes unpopular views for 45 years minimum. Wake up people and stop f**king complaining. Roger is not going to tailor his performance to you. It’s his show, not ours. He writes the songs, and we are just lucky enough to hear them.”

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Roger Waters and PF are taking back *their* song that seems to have been appropriated by Trump.

[BootinUp]

2. Poor sensitive snowflakes

[BigOleDummy]

3. Well,

He's doing a show here pretty soon. I wasn't really planning on going but I may just change my mind. And yes, I HAVE been paying attention to his and the Floyd's lyrics over the years and applaud him for not toning down the politics. We need more artists to step up. The other side sure does! The State Fair here has a leg of the "Southern Uprising" tour this summer. Smh.

[JTFrog]

13. One of the best live shows I have seen in my lifetime.

Treat yourself and go if you can.

[samnsara]

16. if you have never been to Floyd concert you need to at least go see Waters!

[DonCoquixote]

4. I admit RW can be an ass at times, but

There are few clear, consistent voices about politics that can match him. Even Dylan and Neil Young have had periods where they flirted with the right wing, but Waters never did. BTW, to those that hate him because PF blew up, Waters started a lot of it, but David Gilmour was very consistent about NOT reconciling, instead insisting on a shitty solo career where his wife was his main songwriter, the result being some of the most awful solo work ever produced by an artist.

[BeyondGeography]

17. Great points

PF's work is for me in many ways the most durable of the genre, and Roger's songwriting seals the deal. I've always had a deep respect and I mean that most sincerely...In his lyrics there is incredible power, clarity and sensitivity about the business of life.

[DonCoquixote]

37. what is funny is

A lot of people would have written Pink Floyd off once Syd left. For those who do not know, Syd Barret was the original songwriter, who, despite a very brief period of work, was very influential, where people ranging from David Bowie to Nirvana admitted taking influences from him. He and Jimi Hendrix, while friends in London, experimented with the idea of guitar feedback, the loud sound that everyone uses now. He is also responsible for the idea of rock as theatrical spectacle, so everything from Raves to Concept albums also owes him something. So, how the hell did Roger Waters not only make PF survive, but also eclipse Syd? That ALONE is an epic feat, especially as his PF never had the glam rock charisma Syd Had (which Bowie would shamelessly rip off.)

That beign said, he was very nasty at times, the low point being when he fired Richard wright. This of course led to wright and Gilmour doing the later PF era, from a "momentary lapse of reason" on. Sadly, once Wright died, Gilmour's weakness as a songwriter really showed, and the fact his wife wrote only made it worse. Now, if he gets some serious songwriting helps, let's say from, his friends like Kate Bush or his followers like Maynard from Tool, or Thom Yorke from Radiohead he could make perhaps one or two good albums, but he will never, ever be able to rise above Waters. Thankfully, in addition to Waters being talented, he also has a strong, clear conscience, which is something we can be thankful for.

[Vinnie From Indy]

39. Interesting observations!

Thanks!

[Left-over]

5. Roger Waters "gets it". He nails it with drumpf.

[mdbl]

6. I don't think he cares who walked out

It's nice that he agrees with me though. I always loved Pink Floyd.

[samnsara]

14. me too!!.. I have my Echo playing Floyd all the time...

[DonCoquixote]

38. Waters does not care

That man has the sort of career where he can proudly stand on the summit of mount "I don't give a f**k." Then again, he never gave a F88k to begin with, there is a parable in this somewhere, one many artist would do well to learn.

[gratuitous]

40. Especially since they already bought tickets

Keep your hands off of my stack.

[annabanana]

7. just proves "some fans" also pigs!. . . .n/t

[WinkyDink]

8. No true artist has ever supported, or could support, a Fascist. Only sell-outs can.

[Nevernose]

43. Dali was a fascist

He was a true artist AND a sellout.

[WinkyDink]

44. That'll learn me to be, to quote Tom Cruise, glib!

[ms liberty]

9. K&R. n/t

[onecent]

10. Boo Hoo.....we got another shot in to diss Dump....and It makes me happy!

[luvMIdog]

11. oddly enough that tune has often popped up in my head while I've read headlines about 45 and friends

[samnsara]

12. wow way to go FLOYD!

[ClusterFreak]

15. To put on a show like this in L.A. or New York would be one thing...

...but in the heart of the Midwest?

Gotta love it!

[JTFrog]

18. Good. Glad they walked. Probably made the experience better for everyone else.

Trump supporters are too stupid to understand PF's songs or messages. But Trump is a Pig is pretty plain and simple. Glad they understood at least that much.

[nolabels]

20. I love music that has an allegory

The Animals album is such a classic

[progressoid]

58. His new concert visuals for that song are Trumptastic!!

[nolabels]

62. The 'Animals' album never made much sense to me till now

Well, at least not too much sense, kind of knew it was some kind of take on the book 'Animal Farm' and about wealth and privilege.

Back in the day, around when I was eighteen, my buddy and me headed got a four-day pass while in Army. We were going from Kansas to Kentucky and in the middle of the night via Missouri. Partway there we decided to take a shortcut. Turned out the backwoods in a fog bank on a winding two-lane highway are a little unnerving. My buddy rummaging through the cassettes found 'Animals', which he had never heard before. He played it over and over (think he liked it). Well, I just kinda remember that spooky feeling about it. I liked the sound and everything but it just seemed to be not of this world at the time.

Now though, the lyrics seem Clairvoyant and thank you for the link to the video

[Baitball Blogger]

21. I have always wondered about that.

I look back on my experiences growing up in the sixties on a military base and I wondered how it is that I grew up with such different political views than my high school friends. We listened to the same music and were part of the same culture. What happened?

I am beginning to think that they weren't listening to the words. For the longest time I thought I was the one that was out of step.

[Bengus81]

22. Some walked out...Bawhahhaaaaaaaa!!!

That's like the Bush.IDIOT boot lickers who poured out their French wine when France wouldn't go alone with Bush's DISASTER in Iraq. You think like Waters they gave a FLYING FUCK?? They've already been paid....DUHHHHHHH

[mdbl]

47. always wondered how some people could be so moronic

still do!

[Warren DeMontague]

61. They probably hear "Run Like Hell" and think it's an exhortation to shit-kicking

[BobTheSubgenius]

23. Frankly, I'm surprised.

I would have thought that a Venn diagram of 45's imbeciles and Roger Waters fans would show an imperceptible overlap.

[paleotn]

35. Good point.

I suppose some of these folks either don't listen to the lyrics, or aren't smart enough to comprehend the message. I guess it has to be flashed in huge illuminated letters for them to finally get it.

[colsohlibgal]

24. Poor Trumpites

I would guess the vast majority of Pink Floyd fans are liberal like me. So good riddance to those delusional losers who are for a Creep who is not in his or her best interest to be for....but they are too dense to realize that.

[Ohioblue22]

25. The "fuck your feelings" crowd is mad that he isnt pc enough

[Peace lady]

26. I was there.

That concert was one of the best that I have ever seen. Epic! Be sure that you check it out if he comes to your area. All of the people around us were into it, and they were especially excited about the anti-Trump message. No one should be surprised that Roger Waters is political since he has always been. On the other side, I would not expect Ted Nugent to refrain from political discussions either, which is why I would not attend one of his concerts. I agree with you that Roger Waters is an artist and should not have to appease people so that they feel comfortable at HIS show.

[babylonsister]

30. Lucky you! And

welcome to DU!

[58Sunliner]

55. Agree, saw him in Bay Area for The Wall tour.The sound is phenomenal. I'm going to this one as well.

[dalton99a]

27. Excellent.

[Phoenix61]

28. Yeah, that'll show him

Dumbasses, he already got your money when you paid for your ticket.

[Rebl2]

31. I'm sure they

will demand their money back. Poor little snowflakes. They must not be big fans or they would have known their political leanings.

[ismnotwasm]

29. I love this.

Very happy to start my work day with this image...

[Sunlei]

32. please Mr. Trump say, "I am not a criminal" I am not a PIG" At least humanity has music history,

that can never be re-written

[heaven05]

33. hell they continually offend

fuck those "fans".

[heaven05]

34. excellent

[Docreed2003]

36. Any "fan" offended by this has clearly never listed to the actual music and message

Of Waters and Pink Floyd. They also obviously never watched "The Wall". This is the equivalent of RWers getting upset that Bruce Springsteen happens to say something "political"

Funny how the outrage is always when a real artist speaks out against authoritarianism or in favor of other left leaning ideas, but the media always seems to shrug when Ted Nugent and his ilk spew hateful, violent bile like it's no big deal. And they call us "snowflakes"

[Barack_America]

41. "Artist creates art, RWers have a sad"

Fixed your title for you.

[Different Drummer]

42. What Waters might have thought about those who walked out.

[BootinUp]

46. +1

[Scurrilous]

45. K&R

[Neema]

48. At this point if you like Roger Waters enough to pay for a concert ticket and

you DON'T know he's going to be overtly political, and you DON'T think he's going to mock 45, that's on you my friend. Of course if you're dumb enough to still support 45 and be offended by anyone criticizing him, then there' not much hope for you anyway.

[JI7]

49. if they are real fans they should not be surprised by this

[Solly Mack]

50. The idiots should leave the arena.They aren't fans anyway.

[blueinredohio]

51. That's what they should do GO HOME if you're offended. If I go somewhere and they're promoting Trump

I go home or some place else

[Mike Nelson]

52. That is...

...explicit. Trump fans may be too "politically correct" to appreciate the blunt truthfulness. And, of course, an demanded apology to all pigs is understandable.

[Lotusflower70]

53. Keep it simple

Obviously the dumbasses needed it spelled out. Lol. I bet the truth burns.

[TrogL]

54. How could they not mention The Wall?

[Hoyt]

56. Love it when musicians, actors, artists, etc., tick off their white wing fans.

[ProudLib72]

57. Oh oh oh! He's coming here!

After reading the article, I so want to go. The ticket sales are weird, though. Not through a verified ticket seller. Hmmm....


I don't usually listen to Pink Floyd. But when I do, I prefer Waters to be political.

[progressoid]

59. Check out the video....

Seems kind of subtle to me.

[Warren DeMontague]

60. Reminds me of the people who would go to the R.E.M. show & get mad when Stipe got "political"

It's like, have you been paying ZERO attention?