The 79-year-old bassist reportedly donned a black leather trench coat with a red armband bearing two crossed hammers instead of a swastika when performing at two concerts in Berlin.
- May 27, 2023
AceShowbiz - Roger Waters' fashion choice at two German shows has brought him a little trouble. The Pink Floyd bassist is reportedly under investigation after wearing a Nazi-like costume while performing in Berlin last week.
"The State Security Department at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office has initiated a criminal investigation procedure regarding the suspicion of incitement of the people (140 Paragraph 4 of the German criminal Code)," so read a statement by Berlin police. "The context of the clothing worn is deemed capable of approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a manner that violates the dignity of the victims and thereby disrupts public peace."
"After the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office for legal assessment," the statement concluded.
When taking the stage of Mercedes Benz Arena, Roger played the character Pink from Pink Floyd's rock opera "The Wall". At that time, the 79-year-old donned a black leather trench coat with a red armband bearing two crossed hammers instead of a swastika. In a skit between songs, he reportedly pretended to shoot a fake machine gun.
Before opening the show, however, the singer pointed out that he's not an "antisemite." He said, "The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite… just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly."
The remarks referred to a ruling in April by a Frankfurt court that said the city could not cancel a planned May 28 show by Roger despite protests by several Jewish groups. Roger himself has been described by city officials as being "one of the most widely known antisemites in the world."
Roger has yet to respond to report regarding the investigation.
