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{{Short description|English musician, co-founder of Pink Floyd (born 1943)}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Roger Waters
| image = Roger Waters Newport Folk Festival 2015.jpg
| caption = Waters in 2015
| image = Roger Waters 18 May 2008 London O2 Arena.jpg
| alt = Roger Waters playing guitar
| caption = Roger Waters at [[The O2 Arena (London)|The O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in 2008
| background = solo_singer
| alt = Roger Waters playing a bass guitar and singing into a microphone. He has grey hair and is unshaven.
| birth_name = George Roger Waters
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1943|9|6}}
| birth_name = George Roger Waters
| birth_place = [[Great Bookham]], [[Surrey]], England
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|9|6|df=no}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
| birth_place = [[Great Bookham]], Surrey, England, United Kingdom
* [[Progressive rock]]
| instrument =Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, synthesiser, clarinet, trumpet
| genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[art rock]], [[hard rock]], [[opera]]
* [[psychedelic rock]]
* [[art rock]]
| occupation = Musician, songwriter, composer, producer
* [[blues rock]]
| years_active = 1964-present
| label = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[Columbia Records|Columbia]], [[Sony Records|Sony]], [[Harvest Records|Harvest]]
| associated_acts = [[Pink Floyd]], [[the Bleeding Heart Band]]
| website = {{URL|roger-waters.com}}
| notable_instruments = {{unbulleted list|[[Fender Precision Bass]]|[[Rickenbacker 4001]]|[[C.F. Martin & Company|Martin acoustic guitars]]}}
}}
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
'''George Roger Waters''' (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, [[singer-songwriter]] and [[composer]]. He was a <!--"founder member" is the correct term in the UK--do not change it to "founding member"--> founder member of the [[progressive rock]] band [[Pink Floyd]], serving as [[bass guitar|bassist]] and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate [[Syd Barrett]] in 1968, Waters became the band's [[lyricist]], principal songwriter and conceptual leader. The band subsequently achieved international success in the 1970s with the [[concept album]]s ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'', ''[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd album)|Wish You Were Here]]'', ''[[Animals (Pink Floyd album)|Animals]]'' and ''[[The Wall]]''. Although Waters' primary instrument in Pink Floyd was the bass guitar, he also experimented with [[synthesiser]]s and [[Music loop|tape loops]] and played [[rhythm guitar]] on recordings and in concerts. Amid creative differences within the group, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and began a legal battle with the remaining members over their intended use of the group's name and material. They settled the dispute out of court in 1987, and nearly eighteen years had passed before he performed with Pink Floyd again. The group have sold more than 250 million albums worldwide, including 74.5 million units sold in the United States {{as of|2012|lc=y}}.
* Singer
* songwriter
* composer
* record producer
}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* bass
* guitar
}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed or removed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| years_active = 1964–present
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]
* [[Harvest Records|Harvest]]
}}
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[Pink Floyd]]|[[The Bleeding Heart Band]]}}<!--Please do not add to this list without first discussing your proposal on the talk page. -->
| spouse = {{collapsible list|{{ubl|{{marriage|[[Judith Trim]]|1969|1975|end=div}}|{{marriage|[[Carolyne Christie]]|1976|1992|end=div}}|{{marriage|Priscilla Phillips|1993|2001|end=div}}|{{marriage|Laurie Durning|14 January 2012|September 2015|end=div}}|{{marriage|Kamilah Chavis|October 2021}}}}}}
| current_members = [[List of Roger Waters band members|List]]
| website = {{URL|rogerwaters.com}}
| module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Roger_Waters_BBC_Radio4_Desert_Island_Discs_29_May_2011_b011j39v.flac |title= Roger Waters' voice |type= speech |description= from the BBC programme ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', 29 May 2011.<ref>{{Cite episode |title= Roger Waters |series= Desert Island Discs |series-link= Desert Island Discs |url= http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011j39v |station= [[BBC Radio 4]] |date= 29 May 2011 |access-date= 18 January 2014 |archive-date= 20 February 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140220075642/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011j39v |url-status= live }}</ref> }}
}}

'''George Roger Waters''' (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. In 1965, he co-founded the rock band [[Pink Floyd]] as the bassist. Following the departure of the songwriter, [[Syd Barrett]], in 1968, Waters became Pink Floyd's lyricist, co-lead vocalist and conceptual leader until his departure in 1985.


Waters' solo career includes three studio albums: ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'' (1984), ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' (1987) and ''[[Amused to Death]]'' (1992). In 1986, he contributed songs and a score to the soundtrack of the animated film ''[[When the Wind Blows (film)|When the Wind Blows]]'' based on the [[Raymond Briggs]]' [[When the Wind Blows (comics)|book of the same name]]. In 1990, he staged one of the largest and most extravagant rock concerts in history, ''[[The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin]]'', with an official attendance of 200,000. In 1996, he was inducted into the US and the UK [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Pink Floyd. He has toured extensively as a solo act since 1999 and played ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' in its entirety for his [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live|world tours of 2006–2008]]. In 2005, he released ''[[Ça Ira]]'', an [[opera]] in three acts translated from [[Étienne Roda-Gil|Étienne]] and Nadine Roda-Gils' [[libretto]] based on the [[French Revolution]]. On 2 July 2005, he reunited with Pink Floyd bandmates [[Nick Mason]], [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] and [[David Gilmour]] for the [[Live 8]] global awareness event; it was the group's first appearance with Waters in 24 years.
Pink Floyd achieved international success with the concept albums ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' (1973), ''[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd album)|Wish You Were Here]]'' (1975), ''[[Animals (Pink Floyd album)|Animals]]'' (1977), ''[[The Wall]]'' (1979), and ''[[The Final Cut (album)|The Final Cut]]'' (1983). By the early 1980s, they had become one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful groups in popular music. Amid creative differences, Waters left in 1985 and began a legal dispute over the use of the band's name and material. They settled out of court in 1987. Waters's solo work includes the studio albums ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'' (1984), ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' (1987)'','' ''[[Amused to Death]]'' (1992)'','' and ''[[Is This the Life We Really Want?]]'' (2017). In 2005, he released ''{{lang|fr|[[Ça Ira (opera)|Ça Ira]]}}'', an opera translated from [[Étienne Roda-Gil|Étienne]] and Nadine Roda-Gils' [[libretto]] about the [[French Revolution]].


In 1990, Waters staged one of the largest rock concerts in history, ''[[The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin]]'', with an attendance of 450,000. As a member of Pink Floyd, he was inducted into the US [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1996 and the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] in 2005. Later in 2005, he reunited with Pink Floyd for the [[Live 8]] global awareness event, their only appearance with Waters since 1981. He has toured extensively as a solo act since 1999. He performed ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' for his [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live|world tour of 2006–2008]], and [[The Wall Live (2010–13)|The Wall Live]], his tour of 2010–2013, was the [[List of highest-grossing concert tours|highest-grossing tour by a solo artist at the time]].
In 2010, he began [[The Wall Live (concert tour)|The Wall Live]], a worldwide tour that features a complete performance of ''The Wall''. During this tour, at [[The O2 Arena (London)|The O<sub>2</sub> Arena]] in London on 12 May 2011, Gilmour and Mason once again appeared with Waters, Gilmour performing "[[Comfortably Numb]]", and Gilmour and Mason joining Waters for "[[Outside the Wall]]". Waters' tour topped international concert ticket sales for the first half of 2012, selling more than 1.4 million tickets globally.


Waters incorporates political themes in his work and is a prominent [[Pro-Palestine|supporter of Palestine]] in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. He has called for the removal of the [[Israeli West Bank Barrier]], supports the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)]] movement against Israel, and describes Israel's treatment of Palestinians [[Israel and apartheid|as apartheid]]. Some of his comments, such as his likening of Israel to [[Nazi Germany]], and elements of his live shows, drew accusations of [[antisemitism]], which Waters dismissed as a conflation of antisemitism with [[anti-Zionism]].
Four times married, he is the father of three children. In 2004, he became engaged to actress and filmmaker Laurie Durning; the pair married in 2012.


== 1943–1964: Early years ==
==Early years==
Waters was born on 6 September 1943, the younger of two boys, to Mary (née Whyte; 1913–2009) and Eric Fletcher Waters (1914–1944), in [[Great Bookham]], [[Surrey]].{{sfn|Thompson|2013|p=7}} His father, the son of a [[coal miner]] and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] activist, was a schoolteacher, a devout Christian, and a [[Communist Party of Great Britain|Communist Party]] member.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=13}}


George Roger Waters was born on 6 September 1943, the younger of two boys,{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=320}} to Mary and Eric Fletcher Waters, in [[Great Bookham]], Surrey.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} His father, the son of a coal miner and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] activist, was a schoolteacher, a devout Christian and a [[Communist Party of Great Britain|Communist Party]] member.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=13}} In the early years of the [[World War II|Second World War]], his father was a [[conscientious objector]] who drove an ambulance during [[the Blitz]].{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=13}} He later changed his stance on pacifism and joined the British Army, and as an officer of the 8th [[The Royal Fusiliers|Royal Fusiliers]] died at [[Operation Shingle|Anzio]] in Italy, declared missing or presumed dead on 18 February 1944,<ref>{{cite web|title= Casualty Details|publisher= Commonwealth War Graves Commission |url= http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2099066 |accessdate=1 Feb 2012}}</ref> when Roger was five months old.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp=13–14}} Following her husband's death, Mary, also a teacher, moved with her two sons to [[Cambridge]] and raised them there.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp=5–6}} His earliest memory is of the [[VJ Day]] celebrations.<ref name="DID">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011j39v|title=Desert Island Discs, Roger Waters|date=29 May 2011|publisher=BBC Radio 4|accessdate=29 May 2011}}</ref> Mary died in 2009 at the age of 96.
In the early years of the [[Second World War]], Waters's father was a [[conscientious objector]] who drove an ambulance during [[the Blitz]].{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=13}} He later changed his stance on [[pacifism]], joined the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] and was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, [[Royal Fusiliers]] as a Second Lieutenant on 11 September 1943.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36253 |date=16 November 1943 |page=5071 |supp=y}}</ref> He was killed five months later on 18 February 1944 at [[Aprilia, Lazio|Aprilia]], during the [[Battle of Anzio]], when Roger was five months old.<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|pp=13–14}}</ref> He is commemorated in Aprilia and at the [[Cassino War Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Waters, Eric Fletcher |publisher=[[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] |url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2099066/WATERS,%20ERIC%20FLETCHER |access-date=1 March 2013 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622051636/https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2099066/WATERS,%20ERIC%20FLETCHER |url-status=live }}</ref> On 18 February 2014, Waters unveiled a monument to his father and other war casualties in Aprilia, Italy and was made an honorary citizen of Anzio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wanted in Rome |url=http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/roger-waters-made-honorary-citizen-of-anzio/ |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=17 January 2017 |archive-date=18 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118051622/http://www.wantedinrome.com/news/roger-waters-made-honorary-citizen-of-anzio/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following her husband's death, Mary Waters, also a teacher, moved with her two sons to [[Cambridge]] and raised them there.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp=5–6}} Waters's earliest memory is of the [[Victory over Japan Day|V-J Day]] celebrations.<ref name="DID">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011j39v|title=Desert Island Discs, Roger Waters|date=29 May 2011|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|access-date=29 May 2011|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313052539/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011j39v|url-status=live}}</ref>


Waters attended Morley Memorial Junior School in Cambridge and then the [[Cambridgeshire High School for Boys]] (now [[Hills Road Sixth Form College]]) with [[Syd Barrett|Roger Barrett (later to be known as Syd)]],{{sfn|Watkinson|Anderson|1991|p=15}} while his future musical partner, [[David Gilmour]], lived nearby on the town's Mill Road, and attended [[the Perse School]].{{sfn|Watkinson|Anderson|1991|p=18}} At 15, Waters was chairman of the Cambridge [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament|Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] (YCND),{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 12–13}} having designed its publicity poster and participated in its organisation.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=13}} Though he was a keen sportsman and a highly regarded member of the high school's cricket and rugby teams,{{sfn|Watkinson|Anderson|1991|p=23}} his educational experience was lacking; according to Waters, "I hated every second of it, apart from games. The regime at school was a very oppressive one&nbsp;... the same kids who are susceptible to bullying by other kids are also susceptible to bullying by the teachers."{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 14–19}} Whereas Waters knew Barrett and Gilmour from his childhood in Cambridge, he met future Pink Floyd founder members [[Nick Mason]] and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] in London at the [[University of Westminster|Regent Street Polytechnic]] (later the University of Westminster) school of architecture. Waters enrolled there in 1962{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=320}} after a series of aptitude tests indicated he was well-suited to that field. He had initially considered a career in mechanical engineering.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=36}}
Waters attended Morley Memorial Junior School in Cambridge and then the [[Cambridgeshire High School for Boys]] (now [[Hills Road Sixth Form College]]) with [[Syd Barrett]].<ref> "Town vs Gown: The Perse School and Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2023.</ref> The future Pink Floyd guitarist [[David Gilmour]] lived nearby on [[Mill Road, Cambridge|Mill Road]] and attended [[the Perse School]].{{sfn|Watkinson|Anderson|1991|pp=15–18}} At 15, Waters was chairman of the Cambridge Youth [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] (YCND),{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 12–13}} having designed its publicity poster and participated in its organisation.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=13}} He was a keen sportsman and a highly regarded member of the high school's cricket and rugby teams.{{sfn|Watkinson|Anderson|1991|p=23}} Waters was unhappy at school, saying: "I hated every second of it, apart from games. The regime at school was a very oppressive one&nbsp;... The same kids who are susceptible to bullying by other kids are also susceptible to bullying by the teachers."{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 14–19}}


Waters met future Pink Floyd members [[Nick Mason]] and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] in London, at the Regent Street Polytechnic (later the [[University of Westminster]]) School of Architecture. Waters enrolled there in 1962, after a series of aptitude tests indicated he was well suited to that field.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=320}} He had initially considered a career in mechanical engineering.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=36}}
===Subsequent personal life===
In 1969, Waters married his childhood sweetheart and "girl next door"<ref name="DID" /> [[Judy Trim]], a successful potter; featured on the gatefold sleeve of the original release of ''[[Ummagumma]]'', but excised from subsequent CD reissues.{{sfn|Mabbett|2010|p=50}} They had no children together and divorced in 1975.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} She later remarried; and died on 9 January 2001.<ref name="cooper">{{Cite news|first= Emmanuel| last= Cooper |title= Judy Trim |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/judy-trim-728769.html |newspaper=The Independent |date= 25 January 2001 |accessdate=14 October 2010}}</ref> In 1976, he married Lady Carolyne Christie,{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} the niece of the [[Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Marquess of Zetland|Marquess of Zetland]]. His marriage to Christie produced a son, [[Harry Waters]], a musician who has played keyboards with his father's touring band since 2006,{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=335–339}} and a daughter, the model India Waters.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=258}} Through Harry, he has grandchildren.<ref name="DID" /> Christie and Waters divorced in 1992.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} In 1993, he married Priscilla Phillips;{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=348}} their marriage ended in 2001. In 2004, he became engaged to actress and filmmaker Laurie Durning, and the two wed on 14 January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=MacNeil |first=Jason |url= http://www.spinner.com/2012/01/19/roger-waters-marries-laurie-durning-pink-floyd/ |title=Roger Waters Marries Laurie Durning, Talks of 'Clinging to Pink Floyd Trademark'|publisher=spinner.com|accessdate=19 January 2012}}</ref>


== 1965–1985: Pink Floyd ==
==1965–1985: Pink Floyd==
{{main|Pink Floyd}}
{{main|Pink Floyd}}


===Formation and Barrett-led period===
===Formation and Barrett-led period===
[[File:Roger waters leeds 1970.jpg|thumb|upright=.65|left|Waters performing with Pink Floyd at [[Leeds University]] in 1970|alt=A monochrome image of Roger Waters playing bass guitar. He has shoulder-length hair, black attire, and is standing in front of a microphone.]]
[[File:Roger waters leeds 1970.jpg|thumb|upright=.75|left|Waters performing with Pink Floyd at [[Leeds University]] in 1970|alt=A monochrome image of Roger Waters playing bass guitar. He has shoulder-length hair, black attire, and is standing in front of a microphone.]]


By September 1963, Waters and Mason began losing interest in their studies,{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=40}} and they moved into the lower flat of Stanhope Gardens, owned by Mike Leonard, a part-time tutor at the Regent Street Polytechnic.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=20}} Waters, Mason and Wright first played music together in the autumn of 1963,{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=17}} in a group formed by vocalist Keith Noble and bassist [[Clive Metcalfe]].{{sfn|Manning|2006|p=13}} The group usually called themselves Sigma&nbsp;6, but they also used the name the Meggadeaths.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=13}} Waters played rhythm guitar and Mason played drums, Wright played on any keyboard he could arrange to use,{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=17–18}} and Noble's sister Sheilagh provided an occasional vocal accompaniment.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=17}} In the early years the band performed during private functions and rehearsed in a [[tearoom]] in the basement of Regent Street Polytechnic.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 13–18}}
By September 1963, Waters and Mason had lost interest in their studies and moved into the lower flat of Stanhope Gardens, owned by Mike Leonard, a part-time tutor at the Regent Street Polytechnic.<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p=40}}: (secondary source); {{harvnb|Mason|2005|p=20}}: (primary source).</ref> Waters, Mason and Wright first played music together in late 1963, in a band formed by vocalist Keith Noble and bassist Clive Metcalfe.<ref>{{harvnb|Manning|2006|p=13}}: (secondary source); {{harvnb|Mason|2005|p=17}}: (primary source).</ref> They usually called themselves Sigma&nbsp;6, but also used the name the Meggadeaths.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=13}} Waters played rhythm guitar, Mason played drums, Wright played any keyboard he could arrange to use, and Noble's sister Sheilagh provided occasional vocals.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=17–18}} In the early years the band performed during private functions and rehearsed in a [[tearoom]] in the basement of Regent Street Polytechnic.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=13–18}}


When Metcalfe and Noble left to form their own group in September 1963,{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=18}} the remaining members asked Barrett and guitar player [[Bob Klose]] to join.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}} By January 1964, the group became known as the Abdabs, or the Screaming Abdabs.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}} During the autumn of 1964, the band used the names Leonard's Lodgers, Spectrum Five, and eventually, the Tea Set.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 18, 28}} Sometime during the autumn of 1965, the Tea Set began calling itself the Pink Floyd Sound, later, the Pink Floyd, and by early 1966,{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=32}} Pink Floyd.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 30–37}}
When Metcalfe and Noble left to form their own group in September 1963, the remaining members asked Barrett and the guitarist [[Bob Klose]] to join.<ref>{{harvnb|Mason|2005|p=18}}: (primary source); {{harvnb|Povey|2008|p=14}}: (secondary source).</ref> Waters switched to the bass. By January 1964, the group became known as the Abdabs, or the Screaming Abdabs.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}} During late 1964, the band used the names Leonard's Lodgers, Spectrum Five, and eventually, the Tea Set.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 18, 28}} In late 1965, the Tea Set had changed their name to the Pink Floyd Sound, later the Pink Floyd Blues Band and, by early 1966, Pink Floyd.<ref>{{harvnb|Mason|2005|pp=30–37}}: (primary source); {{harvnb|Povey|2008|p=32}}: (secondary source).</ref>


By early 1966 Barrett was Pink Floyd's front-man, guitarist, and songwriter.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=87}} He wrote or co-wrote all but one track of their debut LP ''[[The Piper at the Gates of Dawn]]'', released in August 1967.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 87–107}} Waters contributed the song "[[Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk]]" (his first sole writing credit) to the album.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 91}} However, by late 1967, Barrett's deteriorating mental health and increasingly erratic behaviour,{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp=90–114}} rendered him "unable or unwilling"{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=129}} to continue in his capacity as Pink Floyd's singer-songwriter and lead guitarist.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=87–107}} Working with Barrett eventually proved too difficult, so in early March 1968 Pink Floyd met with managers [[Peter Jenner]] and [[Andrew King (music manager)|Andrew King]] of [[Blackhill Enterprises]] to discuss the band's future. Barrett agreed to leave Pink Floyd, and the band "agreed to Blackhill's entitlement in perpetuity" with regard to "past activities".{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=105}} The band's new manager [[Steve O'Rourke]] made a formal announcement about the departure of Barrett and the arrival of David Gilmour in April 1968.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=106}}
By early 1966, Barrett was Pink Floyd's frontman, guitarist, and songwriter.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=87}} He wrote or co-wrote all but one track of their debut LP ''[[The Piper at the Gates of Dawn]]'', released in August 1967.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 87–107}} Waters contributed the song "[[Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk]]" (his first sole writing credit) to the album.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 91}} By late 1967, Barrett's deteriorating mental health and increasingly erratic behaviour{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp=90–114}} rendered him "unable or unwilling"{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=129}} to continue in his capacity as Pink Floyd's songwriter and lead guitarist.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=87–107}} In early March 1968, to discuss the band's future, Barrett, Mason, Waters, and Wright met with the band's managers, [[Peter Jenner]] and [[Andrew King (music manager)|Andrew King]], of the rock music management company they had all founded, [[Blackhill Enterprises]]. Barrett agreed to leave Pink Floyd, and the band "agreed to Blackhill's entitlement in perpetuity" regarding "past activities".{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=105}} Their new manager, [[Steve O'Rourke]], made a formal announcement about the departure of Barrett and the arrival of Gilmour in April 1968.{{sfn|Mason|2005|p=106}}


===Waters-led period===
===Waters-led period===
[[File:DarkSideOfTheMoon1973.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A monochrome image of Pink Floyd performing on a concert stage. Each band member is illuminated from above by bright spotlights|A live performance of ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' at [[Earls Court]], shortly after its release in 1973: (l-r) David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Dick Parry, Roger Waters]]
[[File:DarkSideOfTheMoon1973.jpg|thumb|alt=A monochrome image of Pink Floyd performing on a concert stage. Each band member is illuminated from above by bright spotlights|A live performance of ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre]], shortly after its release in 1973: (l–r) David Gilmour, Nick Mason, [[Dick Parry]], Roger Waters]]


After Barrett's departure in March 1968, Waters began to chart Pink Floyd's artistic direction.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=106–107, 160–161, 265, 278}} In 1970, he composed – in collaboration with [[Ron Geesin]] – ''[[Music from The Body]]'', a soundtrack for [[Roy Battersby]]'s documentary ''[[The Body (1970 film)|The Body]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roger-waters.com/musicfromthebody.php|title=Roger Waters discography|website=rogerwaters.com|access-date=18 November 2019|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902131056/http://www.roger-waters.com/musicfromthebody.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/thebookofseth/ron-geesin-roger-waters-music-from-the-body|title=Ron Geesin/Roger Waters – Music from The Body|access-date=18 November 2019|date=November 2001|website=Head Heritage|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105033701/https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/thebookofseth/ron-geesin-roger-waters-music-from-the-body|url-status=live}}</ref>
Filling the void left by Barrett's departure in March 1968, Waters began to chart Pink Floyd's artistic direction. He became the principal songwriter, lyricist, and co-lead vocalist (along with Gilmour, and at times, Wright), and would remain the band's dominant creative figure until his departure in 1985.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 106–107, 160–161, 265, 278}} He wrote the lyrics to the five Pink Floyd albums preceding his own departure, starting with ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' (1973) and ending with ''The Final Cut'' (1983), while exerting progressively more creative control over the band and its music. Every Waters studio album since ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' has been a [[concept album]].{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 3, 9, 113, 156, 242, 279, 320, 398}} With lyrics written entirely by Waters, ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' was one of the most commercially successful rock albums of all time. It spent 736 straight weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart until July 1988 and sold over 40 million copies worldwide. It was continuing to sell over 8,000 units every week as of 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/news/floyd-s-dark-side-celebrates-chart-milestone-1002463719.story#/news/floyd-s-dark-side-celebrates-chart-milestone-1002463719.story|title= Floyd's 'Dark Side' Celebrates Chart Milestone|last1=Titus|first1=Christa|last2=Waddell|first2=Ray|publisher=Billboard.com |year=2005|accessdate=24 October 2011}}</ref> According to Pink Floyd biographer Glen Povey, ''Dark Side'' is the world's second best-selling album, and the United States' 21st best-selling album of all time.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p= 345}}


Waters said he wanted to "drag [Pink Floyd] kicking and screaming back from the borders of space, from the whimsy that Syd was into, to my concerns, which were much more political and philosophical".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Epstein|first=Dan|date=1 March 2018|title=Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon': 10 Things You Didn't Know|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/pink-floyds-dark-side-of-the-moon-10-things-you-didnt-know-201743/|access-date=6 October 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006181328/https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/pink-floyds-dark-side-of-the-moon-10-things-you-didnt-know-201743/|url-status=live}}</ref> He became a dominant songwriter and the band's principal lyricist, sharing lead vocals with Gilmour and sometimes Wright. Throughout the late 1970s, he was the band's dominant creative figure until his departure in 1985.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 106–107, 160–161, 265, 278}} He wrote most of the lyrics to the five Pink Floyd albums preceding his departure, starting with ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' (1973) and ending with ''[[The Final Cut (album)|The Final Cut]]'' (1983), while exerting progressively more creative control. Every Waters studio album from ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' onwards has been a [[concept album]].{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 3, 9, 113, 156, 242, 279, 320, 398}}
Waters produced thematic ideas that became the impetus for the Pink Floyd [[concept album]]s ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' (1973), ''[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd album)|Wish You Were Here]]'' (1975), ''[[Animals (Pink Floyd album)|Animals]]'' (1977), and ''[[The Wall]]'' (1979)—written largely by Waters—and ''[[The Final Cut (album)|The Final Cut]]'' (1983)—written entirely by Waters.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 265–269}} He referred or alluded to the cost of war and the loss of his father throughout his work, from "[[Corporal Clegg]]" (''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'', 1968) and "[[Free Four]]" (''[[Obscured by Clouds]]'', 1972) to "[[Us and Them (song)|Us and Them]]" from ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', "[[When the Tigers Broke Free]]", first used in the feature film, ''[[Pink Floyd—The Wall|The Wall]]'' (1982), later included with "[[The Fletcher Memorial Home]]" on ''The Final Cut'', an album dedicated to his father.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=294}} The theme and composition of ''The Wall'' was influenced by his upbringing in an English society depleted of men after the [[World War II|Second World War]].{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 294–295, 351}}


With lyrics entirely by Waters, ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' is one of the most successful rock albums ever. It spent 736 consecutive weeks on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart—until July 1988—and sold over 40 million copies worldwide. As of 2005, it continued to sell over 8,000 copies a week.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58524/floyds-dark-side-celebrates-chart-milestone|title=Floyd's ''Dark Side'' Celebrates Chart Milestone|last1=Titus|first1=Christa|last2=Waddell|first2=Ray|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|year=2005|access-date=24 October 2011|archive-date=30 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330033818/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58524/floyds-dark-side-celebrates-chart-milestone|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Pink Floyd biographer Glenn Povey, ''Dark Side of the Moon'' is the world's second-bestselling album and the United States' 21st-bestselling album.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=345}} In 2006, asked if he felt his goals for ''Dark Side'' had been accomplished, Waters said his wife wept the first time he played it for her: "You then hear it with fresh ears when you play it for somebody else. And at that point I thought to myself, 'Wow, this is a pretty complete piece of work,' and I had every confidence that people would respond to it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roger Waters Revisits The 'Dark Side' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58519/roger-waters-revisits-the-dark-side |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614130915/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58519/roger-waters-revisits-the-dark-side |archive-date=14 June 2019 |access-date=28 April 2019 |website=Billboard.com}}</ref>
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center|quote=I think things like "Comfortably Numb" were the last embers of mine and Roger's ability to work collaboratively together.|source=David Gilmour{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 275}}|align=right|width=29%}}


Waters's thematic ideas became the impetus for the concept albums ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' (1973), ''[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd album)|Wish You Were Here]]'' (1975), ''[[Animals (Pink Floyd album)|Animals]]'' (1977) and ''[[The Wall]]'' (1979) — written largely by Waters — and ''The Final Cut'' (1983), written entirely by him.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 265–269}} The cost of war and the loss of his father became a recurring theme, from "[[Corporal Clegg]]" (''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'', 1968) and "[[Free Four]]" (''[[Obscured by Clouds]]'', 1972) to "[[Us and Them (song)|Us and Them]]" from ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', "[[When the Tigers Broke Free]]", first used in the feature film ''[[Pink Floyd – The Wall|The Wall]]'' (1982), later included with "[[The Fletcher Memorial Home]]" on ''The Final Cut'', an album dedicated to his father.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=294}} The theme and composition of ''The Wall'' was influenced by his upbringing in an English society depleted of men after the World War II.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 294–295, 351}}
The double album ''The Wall'' was written almost entirely by Waters and is largely based on his life story,{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 260}} and having sold over 23&nbsp;million [[RIAA certification|RIAA certified units]] in the US as of 2010, is one of the top three best-selling albums of all-time in America, according to RIAA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100 |publisher=RIAA |title=RIAA GOLD & PLATINUM Top 100 Albums |accessdate=17 October 2010}}</ref> Pink Floyd hired [[Bob Ezrin]] to co-produce the album, and cartoonist [[Gerald Scarfe]] to illustrate the album's sleeve art.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp=260–261}} The band embarked on [[The Wall Tour]] of LA, New York, London and Dortmund. The last band performance of ''The Wall'' was on 16 June 1981, at Earls Court London, and this was Pink Floyd's last appearance with Waters until the band's brief reunion at 2 July 2005 Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park, 24 years later.{{sfn|Povey|Russell|1997|p= 185}}


''The Wall'', written almost entirely by Waters, is largely based on his life story.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 260}} Having sold over 23&nbsp;million [[RIAA certification|RIAA certified units]] in the US as of 2013, is tied for sixth-most certified album of all time in America.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_album#search_section |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |title=RIAA GOLD & PLATINUM Top Albums |access-date=24 February 2021 |archive-date=25 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225031458/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref> Pink Floyd hired [[Bob Ezrin]] to co-produce the album and cartoonist [[Gerald Scarfe]] to illustrate the sleeve art.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp=260–261}} They embarked on [[The Wall Tour (1980–81)|The Wall Tour]] of Los Angeles, New York, London, and [[Dortmund]], Germany. The last Pink Floyd performance of ''The Wall'' was on 17 June 1981, at Earls Court London, and this was Pink Floyd's last appearance with Waters until the band's brief reunion at 2 July 2005 [[Live 8 concert, London|Live 8 concert]] in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]], 24 years later.{{sfn|Povey|Russell|1997|p= 185}}
In March 1983, the last Waters–Gilmour–Mason collaboration, ''The Final Cut'', was released. The album was subtitled: "A requiem for the post-war dream by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd".{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=230}} Waters is credited with writing all the lyrics as well as all the music on the album. His lyrics to the album were critical of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] government of the day and mention Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] by name.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 294–299}} At the time Gilmour did not have any material for the album, so he asked Waters to delay the recording until he could write some songs, but Waters refused.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 295}} According to Mason, after power struggles within the band and creative arguments about the album, Gilmour's name "disappeared" from the production credits, though he retained his pay.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 264–270}} ''Rolling Stone'' magazine gave the album five stars, with [[Kurt Loder]] calling it "a superlative achievement"{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|p= 262}} and "art rock's crowning masterpiece".{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 300}} Loder viewed the work as "essentially a Roger Waters solo album".<ref>{{cite web|last=Loder |first=Kurt |title= Pink Floyd: The Final Cut (Toshiba) |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/3045/22114 |work=Rolling Stone|date=14 April 1983 |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref>


In March 1983, the last Pink Floyd album with Waters, ''The Final Cut'', was released. It was subtitled, "A requiem for the post-war dream by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd".{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=230}} Waters wrote all the album's lyrics and music. His lyrics were critical of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] government of the day and mention Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] by name.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 294–299}} At the time Gilmour did not have any new material, so he asked Waters to delay the recording until he could write some songs, but Waters refused.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 295}} According to Mason, after power struggles within the band and creative arguments about the album, Gilmour's name "disappeared" from the production credits, though he retained his pay.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp= 264–270}} ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album five stars, with [[Kurt Loder]] describing it as "a superlative achievement" and "art rock's crowning masterpiece".<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p=300}}: "art rock's crowning masterpiece"; {{harvnb|Schaffner|1991|p=262}}: "a superlative achievement".</ref> Loder viewed the work as "essentially a Roger Waters solo album".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Loder|first=Kurt|author-link=Kurt Loder|title=Pink Floyd: ''The Final Cut'' (Toshiba)|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-final-cut-19830414|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=14 April 1983|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-date=22 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622041133/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pinkfloyd/albums/album/107472/review/5943392/the_final_cut|url-status=live}}</ref>
Amidst creative differences within the group, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985, and began a legal battle with the remaining band members regarding their continued use of the name and material.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=240–241}} In December 1985 Waters "issued a statement to EMI and CBS invoking the 'Leaving Member' clause" on his contract. In October 1986, he initiated [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] proceedings to formally dissolve the Pink Floyd partnership. In his submission to the High Court he called Pink Floyd a "spent force creatively".{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 221, 237, 240–241, 246}} Gilmour and Mason opposed the application and announced their intention to continue as Pink Floyd. Waters claims to have been forced to resign much like Wright some years earlier, and he decided to leave Pink Floyd based on legal considerations, stating " ... because, if I hadn't, the financial repercussions would have wiped me out completely."{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 312–313}} In December 1987, an agreement between Waters and Pink Floyd was reached.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=240–241}} According to Mason:


===Departure and legal battles===
{{cquote|We eventually formalised a settlement with Roger. On Christmas Eve, 1987,&nbsp;... David and Roger convened for a summit meeting on the houseboat [the ''[[Astoria (recording studio)|Astoria]]''] with Jerome Walton, David's accountant. Jerome painstakingly typed out the bones of a settlement. Essentially—although there was far more complex detail—the arrangement allowed Roger to be freed from his arrangement with Steve [O'Rourke], and David and me to continue working under the name ''Pink Floyd''. In the end the court accepted Jerome's version as the final and binding document and duly stamped it.{{sfn|Mason|2005|pp=293–294}}}}
Amidst creative differences, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and began a legal battle with the band regarding their continued use of the name and material.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=240–241}} In December 1985, Waters issued a statement to EMI and CBS invoking the "Leaving Member" clause in his contract. In October 1986, he initiated [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] proceedings to formally dissolve the Pink Floyd partnership. In his submission to the High Court he called Pink Floyd a "spent force creatively."{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=221, 237, 240–241, 246}} Gilmour and Mason opposed the application and announced their intention to continue as Pink Floyd. Waters said he had been forced to resign like Barrett had been years earlier, and decided to leave the band based on legal considerations, saying: "If I hadn't, the financial repercussions would have wiped me out completely."{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 312–313}}


Waters did not want the band to use the name Pink Floyd without him. He said later: "I would be distressed if [[Paul McCartney]] and [[Ringo Starr]] made records and went on the road calling themselves [[the Beatles]]. If [[John Lennon]]'s not in it, it's sacrilegious ... To continue with Gilmour and Mason, getting in a whole bunch of other people to write the material, seems to me an insult to the work that came before."<ref name="Simmons-1999">{{Cite journal |last=Simmons |first=Sylvie |date=December 1999 |title=Danger! Demolition in progress |journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]}}</ref> In December 1987, Waters and Pink Floyd reached an agreement.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=240–241}} Waters was released from his contractual obligation with O'Rourke, and he retained the copyrights to the ''Wall'' concept and the inflatable ''Animals ''pig.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp= 139}} Pink Floyd released three studio albums without him: ''[[A Momentary Lapse of Reason]]'' (1987), ''[[The Division Bell]]'' (1994) and ''[[The Endless River]]'' (2014).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/roger-waters-reminds-curious-fans-i-am-not-part-of-pink-floyd-20141002|title=Roger Waters Reminds Fans: 'I Am Not Part of Pink Floyd'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=1 April 2018|archive-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401212740/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/roger-waters-reminds-curious-fans-i-am-not-part-of-pink-floyd-20141002|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 1999 interview with Gilmour, Waters declined an invitation to perform ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' with Pink Floyd at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court]], London.<ref name="Simmons-1999" />
Waters was released from his contractual obligation with O'Rourke, and he retained the copyrights to ''The Wall'' concept and his trademarked inflatable pig.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp= 139}} The Gilmour-led Pink Floyd released two studio albums: ''[[A Momentary Lapse of Reason]]'' (1987), and ''[[The Division Bell]]'' (1994). As of 2006, it is estimated that Pink Floyd have sold over 250&nbsp;million albums worldwide,<ref>{{Citation | title = Pink Floyd Reunion Tops Fans' Wish List in Music Choice Survey | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aOmothQgn6l4&refer=muse|publisher=Bloomberg| date = 26 September 2007| accessdate =25 May 2012}}; {{Cite web | title = Pink Floyd's a dream, Zeppelin's a reality| url = http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2007/sep/28/-rtd_2007_09_28_0044-ar-182172/|work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] | date = 28 September 2007| accessdate =25 May 2012}}; {{Cite web| title = Pink Floyd biography| url = http://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/biography.php|work=Official site| date = | accessdate =4 June 2012}}</ref> including 74.5 million RIAA certified units sold in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt |title=Top Selling Artists |publisher=[[RIAA]]|accessdate=17 October 2010}}</ref>


In 2005, Waters said the period of his departure had been a "bad, negative time", and that he regretted his part in the negativity: "Why should I have imposed my feeling about the work and what it was worth on the others if they didn't feel the same? I was wrong in attempting to do that."{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=395}} In 2013, Waters said he regretted the lawsuit and had failed to appreciate that the Pink Floyd name had commercial value independent of the band members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2013 |title=Pink Floyd star Roger Waters regrets suing band |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24160584 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228034159/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-24160584 |archive-date=28 February 2016 |access-date=10 March 2016 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>
== 1984–present: Solo career ==


==1984–present: solo career==
===1984–1996===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0722-405, Berlin, Aufführung der Rockoper "The Wall".jpg|thumb|alt=A wall covered in graffiti with a circular movie screen and lights atop it. Several cranes are visible in the center.|Waters performing ''The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin'', Germany, on 21 July 1990]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0722-401, Berlin, Aufführung der Rockoper "The Wall".jpg|thumb|alt=A concert stage in front of a wall with 2 levels. Five men stand on a balcony, including Roger Waters, who is saluting with his arm and is lit by a spotlight. On the lower level is a drum kit and a man playing guitar.|''The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin'', 21 July 1990]]


=== 1984–1989: ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' and ''Radio K.A.O.S.'' ===
Following the release of ''The Final Cut'', Waters embarked on a solo career that produced three concept albums and a movie soundtrack. In 1984, he released his first solo album, ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'', a project about a man's dreams across one night that dealt with Waters' feelings about his failed marriage to Judy Trim, sex, and the pros and cons of monogamy and family life versus "the call of the wild".{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} In the end the character, Reg, chooses love and matrimony over promiscuity. The album featured guitarist [[Eric Clapton]], jazz saxophonist [[David Sanborn]], and artwork by [[Gerald Scarfe|Scarfe]].{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} ''Rolling Stone's'' Kurt Loder described ''The Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking'' as a "strangely static, faintly hideous record",{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 305–306}} ''Rolling Stone'' rated the album a "rock bottom" one star."{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} Years later, Mike DeGagne of [[Allmusic]] praised the album for its, "ingenious symbolism" and "brilliant use of stream of consciousness within a subconscious realm", rating it four out of five stars.<ref>{{Cite web|url= {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r21602|pure_url=yes}} |title= The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking |first= Mike|last= DeGagne|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=17 October 2010 }}</ref> Waters began touring in support of the new album, aided by Clapton, a new band, new material, and a selection of Pink Floyd favourites. Waters débuted [[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (tour)|his tour]] in Stockholm on 16&nbsp;June 1984. Poor ticket sales plagued the tour,{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 332–333}} and some of the larger venues had to be cancelled. By his own estimate, he lost £400,000 on the tour.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 309}} In March 1985, Waters went to North America to play smaller venues with the Pros and Cons Plus Some Old Pink Floyd Stuff&nbsp;— North America Tour 1985. ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' has been certified Gold by the RIAA.<ref name= "RIAAGPC">{{Cite web| url= http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Roger%20Waters&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 | title=RIAA Certifications| publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]| accessdate=17 November 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1990-0722-401, Berlin, Aufführung der Rockoper "The Wall".jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A concert stage in front of a wall with 2 levels. Five men stand on a balcony, including Roger Waters, who is saluting with his arm and is lit by a spotlight. On the lower level is a drum kit and a man playing guitar.|Waters (top) performing ''The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin'' on 21 July 1990]]


In 1984, Waters released his first solo album, ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'', which dealt with Waters's feelings about monogamy and family life versus "the call of the wild."{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} The protagonist, Reg, finally chooses love and matrimony over promiscuity. The album features the guitarist [[Eric Clapton]], the jazz saxophonist [[David Sanborn]], and artwork by Gerald Scarfe.{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} [[Kurt Loder]] described ''The Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking'' as a "strangely static, faintly hideous record".{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 305–306}} ''Rolling Stone'' rated the album a "rock bottom one star".{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|pp= 272–273}} Years later, Mike DeGagne of [[AllMusic]] praised its "ingenious symbolism" and "brilliant use of stream of consciousness within a subconscious realm", rating it four out of five.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/r21602 |title= The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking |first= Mike |last= DeGagne |work= AllMusic |access-date= 17 October 2010 |archive-date= 16 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101016085637/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r21602 |url-status= live }}</ref>
In 1986, Waters contributed songs and a score to the soundtrack of the animated movie ''[[When the Wind Blows (film)|When the Wind Blows]]'', based on the [[Raymond Briggs]] [[When the Wind Blows (comics)|book of the same name]]. His backing band featuring [[Paul Carrack]] was credited as ''The Bleeding Heart Band''.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=36}} In 1987, Waters released ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'', a concept album based on a mute man named Billy from an impoverished Welsh mining town who has the ability to physically tune into radio waves in his head. Billy first learns to communicate with a radio DJ, and eventually to control the world's computers. Angry at the state of the world in which he lives, he simulates a nuclear attack. Waters followed the release with a supporting tour also in 1987.{{sfn|Manning|2006|p= 131}}


Waters toured the album with Clapton, a new band, and new material; the shows included a selection of Pink Floyd songs. Waters débuted his tour in Stockholm on 16 June 1984. The tour drew poor ticket sales and some performances at larger venues were cancelled;{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 332–333}} Waters estimated that he lost £400,000 on the tour.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 309}} In March 1985, played a tour of smaller venues in North America in 1985.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} ''The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking'' was [[certified gold]] in the US.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum: Roger Waters |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Roger+Waters#search_section |access-date=30 June 2020 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref>
In November 1989, the [[Berlin Wall]] fell, and in July 1990 Waters staged one of the largest and most elaborate rock concerts in history,{{sfn|Povey|Russell|1997|pp=246–247}} ''[[The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin]]'', on the vacant terrain between [[Potsdamer Platz]] and the [[Brandenburg Gate]]. The show reported an official attendance of 200,000, though some estimates are as much as twice that, with approximately one billion television viewers.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=346}} [[Leonard Cheshire]] asked him to do the concert to raise funds for charity. Waters' group of musicians included [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]], and [[Sinéad O'Connor]]. Waters also used an East German symphony orchestra and choir, a [[Soviet]] marching band, and a pair of helicopters from the US [[7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron]]. Designed by Mark Fisher, the Wall was 25&nbsp;metres tall and 170&nbsp;metres long and was built across the set. Scarfe's inflatable puppets were recreated on an enlarged scale, and although many rock icons received invitations to the show, Gilmour, Mason, and Wright, did not.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 342–347}} Waters released a concert double album of the performance which has been certified platinum by RIAA.<ref name="RIAAGPC"/>


In 1986, Waters contributed songs and a score to the soundtrack of the animated film ''[[When the Wind Blows (1986 film)|When the Wind Blows]]'', based on [[When the Wind Blows (comics)|the book]] by [[Raymond Briggs]]. His band featuring, [[Paul Carrack]], was credited as the Bleeding Heart Band.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=36}} In 1987, Waters released ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'', a concept album based on a mute man named Billy from an impoverished Welsh mining town who has the ability to tune into radio waves in his head. Billy learns to communicate with a radio DJ, and eventually to control the world's computers. Angry at the state of the world in which he lives, he simulates a nuclear attack. Waters followed the release with a tour.{{sfn|Manning|2006|p= 131}}
In 1990, Waters hired manager Mark Fenwick and left EMI for a worldwide deal with Columbia. He released his third studio album, ''[[Amused to Death]]'', in 1992. The record is heavily influenced by the events of the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]] and the [[Gulf War]], and a critique of the notion of war becoming the subject of entertainment, particularly on television. The title was derived from the book ''[[Amusing Ourselves to Death]]'' by [[Neil Postman]]. [[Patrick Leonard]], who had also worked on ''A Momentary Lapse of Reason'', co-produced the album. [[Jeff Beck]] played lead guitar on many of the album's tracks, which were recorded with an impressive cast of musicians at ten different recording studios.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 348–349}} It is Waters' most critically acclaimed solo recording, garnering some comparison to his previous work with Pink Floyd.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 347–352}} Waters described the record as, a "stunning piece of work", ranking the album with ''Dark Side Of The Moon'' and ''The Wall'' as one of the best of his career.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp= 141, 252}} The album had one hit, the song "[[What God Wants]], Pt. 1", which reached number 35 in the UK in September 1992 and number 5 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart in the US.<ref name="RWAM">{{Cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=roger-waters-p5795/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Roger Waters: Billboard Singles |publisher= Allmusic|accessdate=20 November 2010}}</ref> ''Amused to Death'' was certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=BPI Certifications|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> Sales of ''Amused to Death'' topped out at around one million and there was no tour in support of the album. Waters would first perform material from it seven years later during his [[In the Flesh (tour)|In the Flesh tour]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 323–324}} In 1996, Waters was inducted into the US and UK [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Pink Floyd.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://rockhall.com/inductees/pink-floyd/timeline/ |title= Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Pink Floyd |publisher= Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref>


=== 1989–1999: ''The Wall – Live in Berlin'' and ''Amused to Death'' ===
===1999–2004===
In November 1989, the [[Berlin Wall]] fell, and in July 1990 Waters staged one of the largest and most elaborate rock concerts in history,{{sfn|Povey|Russell|1997|pp=246–247}} ''[[The Wall&nbsp;– Live in Berlin]]'', on the vacant terrain between [[Potsdamer Platz]] and the [[Brandenburg Gate]]. The show reported an attendance of 200,000, though some estimates are as much as twice that, with approximately one billion television viewers.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=346}} [[Leonard Cheshire]] asked Waters to perform the concert to raise funds for charity. Waters's musicians included [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Van Morrison]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]], and [[Sinéad O'Connor]]. Waters also used an East German symphony orchestra and choir, a Soviet marching band, and a pair of helicopters from the US [[7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron]]. Designed by Mark Fisher, the wall was 25&nbsp;metres tall and 170&nbsp;metres long and was built across the set, and Scarfe's inflatable puppets were recreated on an enlarged scale. Many rock icons received invitations to the show, though Gilmour, Mason, and Wright did not.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 342–347}} Waters released a double album of the performance, which has been certified platinum by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAAGPC">{{cite web |title=RIAA Certifications |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Roger%20Waters&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724172824/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Roger%20Waters&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=24 July 2013 |access-date=17 November 2010 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |df=dmy-all}}</ref>


In 1990, Waters hired manager [[Mark Fenwick]] and left EMI for a worldwide deal with Columbia. He released his third studio album, ''[[Amused to Death]]'', in 1992. The record was influenced heavily by the events of the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]] and the [[Gulf War]], and a critique of the notion of war becoming the subject of entertainment, particularly on television. The title was derived from the book ''[[Amusing Ourselves to Death]]'' by [[Neil Postman]]. [[Patrick Leonard]], who worked on ''A Momentary Lapse of Reason'', co-produced the album. [[Jeff Beck]] played lead guitar on many of the album's tracks, which were recorded with a cast of musicians at ten different recording studios.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 348–349}} It is Waters's most critically acclaimed solo recording, garnering comparison to his work with Pink Floyd.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 347–352}} Waters described the record as a "stunning piece of work", ranking it alongside ''Dark Side of the Moon'' and ''The Wall'' as one of the best of his career.{{sfn|Manning|2006|pp= 141, 252}} The song "[[What God Wants]], Pt. 1" reached number 35 in the UK in September 1992 and number 5 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart in the US.<ref name="RWAM">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-waters-p5795/charts-awards/billboard-singles|title=Roger Waters: Billboard Singles|work=AllMusic|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-date=23 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123043758/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-waters-p5795/charts-awards/billboard-singles|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Amused to Death'' was certified Silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx|title=BPI Certifications|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=2 October 2010|archive-date=20 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120124207/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sales of ''Amused to Death'' topped out at around one million and there was no tour in support of the album. Waters would first perform material from it seven years later during his [[In the Flesh (1999-2002 concert tour by Roger Waters)|In the Flesh tour]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 323–324}} In 1996, Waters was inducted into the US and UK [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|Rock and Roll Halls of Fame]] as a member of Pink Floyd.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rockhall.com/inductees/pink-floyd/timeline/ |title= Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Pink Floyd |publisher= Rock & Roll Hall of Fame |access-date= 2 October 2010 |archive-date= 12 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180712215118/https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/pink-floyd/timeline |url-status= live }}</ref>
In 1999, after a nearly 12-year hiatus from touring, and a seven-year absence from the music industry, Waters embarked on the In the Flesh Tour, performing both solo and Pink Floyd material. The tour was a financial success in the US and though Waters had booked mostly smaller venues, tickets sold so well that many of the concerts were upgraded to larger ones.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 329–334}} The tour eventually stretched across the world and would span three years. A concert film was released on CD and DVD, named ''[[In the Flesh Live]]''. During the tour, he played two new songs "Flickering Flame" and "Each Small Candle" as the final encore to many of the shows. In June 2002, he completed the tour with a performance in front of 70,000 people at the [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts]], playing 15 Pink Floyd songs and five songs from his solo catalogue.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=329–334}}


===1999–2004: In the Flesh tour and ''Wall'' Broadway production===
[[Miramax]] announced in mid-2004 that a production of ''The Wall'' was to appear on Broadway with Waters playing a prominent role in the creative direction. Reports stated that the musical contained not only the original tracks from ''The Wall'', but also songs from ''Dark Side of the Moon'', ''Wish You Were Here'' and other Pink Floyd albums, as well as new material.<ref>{{Cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3539908.stm |title= Pink Floyd's Wall Broadway bound |publisher= BBC News|date= 5 August 2004 |accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> On the night of 1 May 2004, recorded extracts from the opera, including its [[overture]], were played on the occasion of the ''[[Enlargement of the European Union|Welcome Europe]]'' celebrations in the accession country of [[Malta]]. Gert Hof mixed recorded excerpts from the opera into a continuous piece of music which was played as an accompaniment to a large light and fireworks display over [[Grand Harbour]] in [[Valletta]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|p= 334}} In July 2004, Waters released two new tracks on the Internet: "To Kill the Child", inspired by the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], and "Leaving Beirut", "inspired by his travels in the Middle East as a teenager".{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=391}} The lyrics to "Leaving Beirut" are highly critical of former US President [[George W. Bush]] and British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].
In 1999, after a 12-year hiatus from touring and a seven-year absence from the music industry, Waters embarked on the In the Flesh tour, performing both solo and Pink Floyd material. The tour was a financial success in the US; though Waters had booked mostly smaller venues, tickets sold so well that many of the concerts were upgraded to larger ones.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 329–334}} The tour eventually stretched across the world and spanned three years. A concert film was released on CD and DVD, ''[[In the Flesh – Live]]''. During the tour, Waters played two new songs "Flickering Flame" and "Each Small Candle" as the final encore to many of the shows. In June 2002, he completed the tour with a performance in front of 70,000 people at the [[Glastonbury Festival|Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts]], playing 15 Pink Floyd songs and five songs from his solo catalogue.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=329–334}}

[[Miramax]] announced in 2004 that a production of ''The Wall'' was to appear on Broadway with Waters playing a prominent role in the creative direction. Reports stated that the musical contained not only the original tracks from ''The Wall'', but also songs from ''Dark Side of the Moon'', ''Wish You Were Here'' and other Pink Floyd albums, as well as new material.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3539908.stm |title= Pink Floyd's Wall Broadway bound |work= BBC News |date= 5 August 2004 |access-date= 2 October 2010 |archive-date= 24 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210224225554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3539908.stm |url-status= live }}</ref> On the night of 1 May 2004, recorded extracts from the opera, including its [[overture]], were played on the occasion of the ''[[Enlargement of the European Union|Welcome Europe]]'' celebrations in the accession country of [[Malta]]. Gert Hof mixed recorded excerpts from the opera into a continuous piece of music which was played as an accompaniment to a large light and fireworks display over [[Grand Harbour]] in [[Valletta]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|p= 334}} In July 2004, Waters released two new tracks online: "To Kill the Child", inspired by the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], and "Leaving Beirut", an anti-war song inspired by his travels in the Middle East as a teenager.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=391}}

=== 2005: Pink Floyd reunion and ''{{lang|fr|Ça Ira}}'' ===


===2005–present===
[[File:Pink floyd live 8 london.jpg|thumb|right|Waters (far right) performing with Pink Floyd at Live 8, 2 July 2005|alt=A concert stage lit by purple lighting. Four men are performing on the stage as a crowd stands in front of it. Behind the men are video screens displaying images of vinyl records.]]
[[File:Pink floyd live 8 london.jpg|thumb|right|Waters (far right) performing with Pink Floyd at Live 8, 2 July 2005|alt=A concert stage lit by purple lighting. Four men are performing on the stage as a crowd stands in front of it. Behind the men are video screens displaying images of vinyl records.]]

[[File:RogerWaters03.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Waters playing "In the Flesh" on his Dark Side of the Moon Tour at Viking Stadion, Stavanger, 26 June 2006|alt=Roger Waters, dressed in black, playing a bass guitar and speaking into a microphone. Behind him are several red vertical video panels.]]
[[File:RogerWaters03.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Waters playing "In the Flesh" on his Dark Side of the Moon Tour at Viking Stadion, Stavanger, 26 June 2006|alt=Roger Waters, dressed in black, playing a bass guitar and speaking into a microphone. Behind him are several red vertical video panels.]]


In July 2005, Waters reunited with Mason, Wright, and Gilmour for what would be their final performance together at the 2005 [[Live 8]] concert in London's Hyde Park, Pink Floyd's only appearance with Waters since their final performance of ''The Wall'' at Earls Court London 24 years earlier.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 237, 266–267}} They played a 23-minute set consisting of "[[Speak to Me]]/[[Breathe (Pink Floyd song)|Breathe]]"/"[[Breathe (Reprise)]]", "[[Money (Pink Floyd song)|Money]]", "Wish You Were Here", and "[[Comfortably Numb]]". Waters told the [[Associated Press]] that while the experience of playing with Pink Floyd again was positive, the chances of a bona fide reunion would be "slight" considering his and Gilmour's continuing musical and ideological differences.{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|p= 308}} Though Waters had differing ideas about which songs they should play, he "agreed to roll over for one night only",{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 382–383}} Gilmour told the Associated Press, "The rehearsals convinced me it wasn't something I wanted to be doing a lot of. There have been all sorts of farewell moments in people's lives and careers which they have then rescinded, but I think I can fairly categorically say that there won't be a tour or an album again that I take part in. It isn't to do with animosity or anything like that. It's just that ... I've been there, I've done it."<ref>{{Cite web | title = Gilmour says no Pink Floyd reunion | url = http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26628516 |publisher= MSNBC| date = 9 September 2008 | accessdate =6 October 2010}}</ref> In November 2005, Pink Floyd were inducted into the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] by [[Pete Townshend]] of [[The Who]].<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p= 386}}</ref>
In July 2005, Waters reunited with Mason, Wright, and Gilmour for their final performance together at the 2005 [[Live 8]] concert in London's Hyde Park, Pink Floyd's only appearance with Waters since their final performance of ''The Wall'' at Earls Court London 24 years earlier.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=237, 266–267}} They played a 23-minute set consisting of "[[Speak to Me]]/[[Breathe (Pink Floyd song)|Breathe]]"/"[[Breathe (Reprise)]]", "[[Money (Pink Floyd song)|Money]]", "[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)|Wish You Were Here]]", and "[[Comfortably Numb]]". Waters told the [[Associated Press]] that while the experience of playing with Pink Floyd again was positive, the chances of a bona fide reunion would be "slight" considering his and Gilmour's continuing musical and ideological differences.{{sfn|Schaffner|1991|p= 308}} Though Waters had differing ideas about which songs they should play, he "agreed to roll over for one night only".{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 382–383}} In November 2005, Pink Floyd were inducted into the [[UK Music Hall of Fame]] by [[Pete Townshend]] of [[the Who]].<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p= 386}}</ref>


In September 2005, he released ''Ça Ira'' (pronounced {{IPA-fr|sa iˈʁa|}}, [[French language|French]] for "it will be fine"; Waters added the subtitle, "There is Hope"), an opera in three acts translated from the late [[Étienne Roda-Gil]]'s French libretto based on the historical subject of the French Revolution.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Tsioulcas|first1= Anastasia|title= Waters' New Concept |publisher= ''Billboard'' |date= 27 August 2005 |page=45 |url= http://books.google.com/?id=-BIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45&dq=ca+ira+Nadine+Roda-Gil#v=onepage&q=ca%20ira%20Nadine%20Roda-Gil&f=false |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> ''Ça Ira'' was released as a double CD album, featuring baritone [[Bryn Terfel]], soprano [[Ying Huang]] and tenor [[Paul Groves (tenor)|Paul Groves]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 324–325}} Set during the early French Revolution, the original libretto was co-written in French by Roda-Gil and his wife Nadine Delahaye. Waters had begun rewriting the libretto in English in 1989,{{sfn|Manning|2006|p= 256}} and said about the composition: "I've always been a big fan of Beethoven's choral music, [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]] and [[Alexander Borodin|Borodin]]&nbsp;...&nbsp;This is unashamedly romantic and resides in that early 19th-century tradition, because that's where my tastes lie in classical and choral music."{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 392}} Waters appeared on television to discuss the opera, but the interviews often focused instead on his relationship with Pink Floyd, something Waters would "take in stride", a sign Pink Floyd biographer [[Mark Blake (writer)|Mark Blake]] believes to be, "a testament to his mellower old age or twenty years of dedicated psychotherapy".{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=392}} ''Ça Ira'' reached number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Classical Music Chart in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts#/artist/roger-waters/chart-history/5989?f=900&g=Albums&sort=date |title=Roger Waters: Ca Ira |publisher= Billboard.com |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref>
In September 2005, Waters released ''{{lang|fr|[[Ça Ira (opera)|Ça Ira]]}}'' (pronounced {{IPA|fr|sa iˈʁa|}}, French for "it will be fine"; Waters added the subtitle, "There is Hope"), an opera in three acts translated from the late [[Étienne Roda-Gil]]'s French libretto based on the historical subject of the [[French Revolution]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1= Tsioulcas|first1= Anastasia|title= Waters' New Concept|magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date= 27 August 2005|page= 45|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-BIEAAAAMBAJ&q=ca+ira+Nadine+Roda-Gil&pg=PA45|access-date= 6 May 2012|archive-date= 17 April 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230417070011/https://books.google.com/books?id=-BIEAAAAMBAJ&q=ca+ira+Nadine+Roda-Gil&pg=PA45|url-status= live}}</ref> ''{{lang|fr|Ça Ira}}'' was released as a double CD album, featuring baritone [[Bryn Terfel]], soprano [[Ying Huang (soprano)|Ying Huang]] and tenor [[Paul Groves (tenor)|Paul Groves]].{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp= 324–325}} Set during the early French Revolution, the original libretto was co-written in French by Roda-Gil and his wife Nadine Delahaye. Waters had begun rewriting the libretto in English in 1989,{{sfn|Manning|2006|p= 256}} and said about the composition: "I've always been a big fan of Beethoven's choral music, [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]] and [[Alexander Borodin|Borodin]]&nbsp;...&nbsp;This is unashamedly romantic and resides in that early 19th-century tradition, because that's where my tastes lie in classical and choral music."{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 392}} Waters appeared on television to discuss the opera, but the interviews often focused on his relationship with Pink Floyd, something Waters would "take in stride", a sign Pink Floyd biographer [[Mark Blake (writer)|Mark Blake]] believes is "a testament to his mellower old age or twenty years of dedicated psychotherapy".{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=392}} ''{{lang|fr|Ça Ira}}'' reached number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Classical Music Chart in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-10-15/classical-albums|title=Roger Waters: ''Ça Ira''|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=2 January 2013|access-date=17 February 2013|archive-date=20 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220125330/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2005-10-15/classical-albums|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== 2006–2009: The Dark Side of the Moon Live ===
In June 2006, he commenced [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live]] tour, a two-year, world-spanning effort that began in Europe in June and North America in September. The first half of the show featured both Pink Floyd songs and Waters' solo material, while the second half included a complete live performance of the 1973 Pink Floyd album ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', the first time in over three decades that Waters had performed the album. The shows ended with an encore from the third side of ''The Wall''. He utilised elaborate staging by concert lighting designer [[Marc Brickman]] complete with laser lights, fog machines, flame throwers, psychedelic projections, and inflatable floating puppets (Spaceman and Pig) controlled by a "handler" dressed as a butcher, and a full 360-degree [[quadraphonic sound]] system was used. Nick Mason joined Waters for ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' set and the encores on select 2006 tour dates.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=319, 334–338}} Waters continued touring in January 2007 in Australia and New Zealand, then Asia, Europe, South America, and back to North America in June.
In June 2006, Waters began the two-year [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live|Dark Side of the Moon Live]] world tour. The first half of the show featured both Pink Floyd songs and Waters's solo material; the second included a complete performance of ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', the first time in more than three decades that Waters had performed it. The shows ended with an encore from the third side of ''The Wall''. The elaborate staging, by the concert lighting designer Marc Brickman, included laser lights, fog machines, pyrotechnics, psychedelic projections, and inflatable floating puppets (Spaceman and Pig) controlled by a "handler" dressed as a butcher, and a full 360-degree [[quadraphonic sound]] system. Mason joined Waters for the ''Dark Side of the Moon'' set and the encores on some 2006 performances.{{sfn|Povey|2008|pp=319, 334–338}}


In March 2007, the Waters song, "Hello (I Love You)" was featured in the science fiction film ''[[The Last Mimzy]]''. The song plays over the film's end credits. He released it as a single, on CD and via download, and described it as, "a song that captures the themes of the movie, the clash between humanity's best and worst instincts, and how a child's innocence can win the day".<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200701/ai_n17103978/ |title= Reminder&nbsp;– Pink Floyd Rock Icon Roger Waters Records "Hello (I Love You)", an Original Song for New Line Cinema's "The Last Mimzy" |publisher= [[Marketwire]] |date=January 2007|accessdate=17 October 2010}}</ref> He performed at California's [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]] in April 2008 and was to be among the headlining artists performing at [[Live_Earth_India_2008#Live_Earth_India_2008|Live Earth 2008]] in Mumbai, India in December 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.nme.com/news/roger-waters/41209 |title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters to join Bon Jovi at Live Earth India |publisher= NME News |date=21 November 2008|accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> but that concert was cancelled in light of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26 November terrorist attacks]] in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/01/live-earth-india-cancelled|title= Live Earth India cancelled after Mumbai attacks|first= Sean |last= Michaels|date= 1 December 2008|publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|accessdate=18 October 2010}}</ref>
In March 2007, the Waters song "[[Hello (I Love You)]]" featured in the science fiction film ''[[The Last Mimzy]]''. Waters released it as a single, on CD and via download, and described it as "a song that captures the themes of the movie, the clash between humanity's best and worst instincts, and how a child's innocence can win the day".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/reminder-pink-floyd-rock-icon-roger-waters-records-hello-i-love-you-original-song-new-712330.htm |title= Reminder&nbsp;– Pink Floyd Rock Icon Roger Waters Records "Hello (I Love You)", an Original Song for New Line Cinema's "The Last Mimzy" |publisher= [[Marketwire]] |date= January 2007 |access-date= 29 June 2015 |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052921/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/reminder-pink-floyd-rock-icon-roger-waters-records-hello-i-love-you-original-song-new-712330.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> He performed at California's [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]] in April 2008 and was to be among the headlining artists at [[Live Earth India 2008#Live Earth India 2008|Live Earth 2008]] in Mumbai, India, in December 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/roger-waters/41209|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters to join Bon Jovi at Live Earth India|work=[[NME]]|date=21 November 2008|access-date=2 October 2010|archive-date=6 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006004623/http://www.nme.com/news/roger-waters/41209|url-status=live}}</ref> but the concert was cancelled following the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26 November terrorist attacks]] in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/01/live-earth-india-cancelled|title=Live Earth India cancelled after Mumbai attacks|first=Sean|last=Michaels|date=1 December 2008|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=18 October 2010|location=London|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308232829/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/01/live-earth-india-cancelled|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2008, Waters discussed a possible new album with the tentative name ''Heartland''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/rocky_mountain_music/2008/04/read_the_complete_roger_waters.html|title=Read the complete Roger Waters interview|first=Mark|last=Brown|work=Rocky Mountain News|date=25 April 2008|access-date=17 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429170452/http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/rocky_mountain_music/2008/04/read_the_complete_roger_waters.html|archive-date=29 April 2010}}</ref>


===2010s: The Wall Live and ''Is This the Life We Really Want?'' ===
In March 2008, Roger Waters reunited with Argentine musician [[Gustavo Cerati]] in New York to collaborate on a song to benefit the [[ALAS Foundation]]. The session was held in the [[Looking Glass Studios]] belonging to the minimalist composer [[Philip Glass]]. Until this day, is unknown what happened with that recording.<ref>http://www.rollingstone.com.ar/995327 Cerati y Roger Waters, juntos - RollingStone Argentina</ref>
[[File:Roger Waters en el Palau Sant Jordi de Barcelona (The Wall Live) - 01.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Waters on stage wearing sunglasses and a black leather coat. He is holding a microphone up to his mouth.|Waters in [[Barcelona]] during [[The Wall Live (concert tour)|The Wall Live]] in 2011]]In June 2010, Waters released a cover of "[[We Shall Overcome]]", a protest song rewritten and arranged by [[Guy Carawan]] and [[Pete Seeger]]. He performed with Gilmour at the Hoping Foundation Benefit Evening in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11556101|title=Pink Floyd may get back together for charity|last=Youngs|first=Ian|date=15 October 2010|access-date=19 October 2010|work=BBC News|archive-date=19 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019025636/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11556101|url-status=live}}</ref> The set comprised a cover of the [[Phil Spector]] song "[[To Know Him Is to Love Him]]", which was played in early Pink Floyd soundchecks, followed by "Wish You Were Here", "Comfortably Numb", and "[[Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pink-floyds-gilmour-and-waters-stun-crowd-with-surprise-reunion-20100712|title=Pink Floyd's Gilmour and Waters Stun Crowd With Surprise Reunion|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=12 July 2010|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=30 May 2011|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144046/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pink-floyds-gilmour-and-waters-stun-crowd-with-surprise-reunion-20100712|url-status=live}}</ref>


In September 2010, Waters began the [[The Wall Live (concert tour)|Wall Live]] tour, an updated version of the original Pink Floyd tour, featuring a complete performance of ''The Wall''.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8707442.stm |title= Pink Floyd's Roger Waters revisits The Wall |first= Rebecca |last= Jones |work= BBC News |date= 27 May 2010 |access-date= 19 October 2010 |archive-date= 10 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210210202732/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8707442.stm |url-status= live }}</ref> At the [[The O2 Arena|O2 Arena]] in London on 12 May 2011, Gilmour and Mason again performed with Waters on "Comfortably Numb", and "Outside the Wall".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viagogo.co.uk/News/Pink-Floyd-bandmates-reunite-at-Roger-Waters-concert/_A-1710 |title=Pink Floyd bandmates reunite at Roger Waters concert |date=16 May 2011 |publisher=[[viagogo]] |access-date=16 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020033144/http://www.viagogo.co.uk/News/Pink-Floyd-bandmates-reunite-at-Roger-Waters-concert/_A-1710 |archive-date=20 October 2013 }}</ref> For the first half of 2012, the tour topped worldwide concert ticket sales, having sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18826218 "Roger Waters tops worldwide ticket sales for 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412115758/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18826218 |date=12 April 2020 }}. BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2012</ref> By 2013, the Wall Live had become the [[List of highest-grossing concert tours|highest-grossing tour by a solo artist]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5748070/roger-waters-passes-madonna-for-solo-boxscore-record-with-459m-wall-live|title=Roger Waters Passes Madonna for Solo Boxscore Record with $459M Wall Live Tour|date=4 October 2013|access-date=5 October 2013|last=Allen|first=Bob|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614073359/https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5748070/roger-waters-passes-madonna-for-solo-boxscore-record-with-459m-wall-live|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters performed at [[12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief|the Concert for Sandy Relief]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] on 12 December 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/13/sprinsteen-jagger-clapton-sandy-concert/|title=12 Unforgettable Photos from the Epic 12–12–12 Sandy Benefit Concert|magazine=Time|access-date=15 December 2012|date=13 December 2012|archive-date=14 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814133024/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/13/sprinsteen-jagger-clapton-sandy-concert/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 July 2015, he headlined the [[Newport Folk Festival]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]], accompanied by the band [[My Morning Jacket]] and two singers from the group [[Lucius (band)|Lucius]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Kreps|first1=Daniel|title=Watch Roger Waters Perform With My Morning Jacket at Newport Folk Fest|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-roger-waters-perform-with-my-morning-jacket-at-newport-folk-fest-20150725|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=27 July 2015|date=25 July 2015|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144220/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-roger-waters-perform-with-my-morning-jacket-at-newport-folk-fest-20150725|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters performed at the [[Desert Trip]] festival in October 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title=Stones, McCartney, Dylan, the Who, Waters, Young Confirm Mega-Fest|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/stones-mccartney-dylan-the-who-waters-young-confirm-mega-fest-20160503|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=4 May 2016|date=3 May 2016|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052653/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/stones-mccartney-dylan-the-who-waters-young-confirm-mega-fest-20160503|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Roger Waters en el Palau Sant Jordi de Barcelona (The Wall Live) - 01.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Waters on stage wearing sunglasses and a black leather coat. He is holding a microphone up to his mouth.|Roger Waters in [[Barcelona]], during [[The Wall Live (concert tour)|The Wall Live]] in 2011]]


[[File:Roger Waters en el Zócalo 05.jpg|thumb|Waters performed a series of concerts in [[Mexico City]] in October 2016]]
He confirmed the possibility of an upcoming solo album which "might be called" ''Heartland'', and has said he has numerous songs written (some already recorded) that he intends to release when they are a complete album.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/rocky_mountain_music/2008/04/read_the_complete_roger_waters.html |title= Read the complete Roger Waters interview|first=Mark |last=Brown |publisher=''Rocky Mountain News''|date= 25 April 2008|accessdate=17 October 2010 }}</ref> In June 2010, Waters released a cover of "[[We Shall Overcome]]", a protest song derived from the refrain of a gospel hymn published by Charles Albert Tindley in 1901. He performed with David Gilmour at the Hoping Foundation Benefit Evening in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11556101|title= Pink Floyd may get back together for charity|first= Ian|last= Youngs|publisher= BBC News|date= 15 October 2010|accessdate=19 October 2010}}</ref> The four-song set included: "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which was played in early Pink Floyd sound checks, followed by "Wish You Were Here", "Comfortably Numb", and "Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pink-floyds-gilmour-and-waters-stun-crowd-with-surprise-reunion-20100712|title=Pink Floyd's Gilmour and Waters Stun Crowd With Surprise Reunion|first=David|last=Kreps|publisher=''Rolling Stone''|date=12 July 2010|accessdate=30 May 2011}}</ref>
Waters released his first solo album in nearly 25 years, ''[[Is This the Life We Really Want?]],'' on 2 June 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7710092/roger-waters-teases-solo-album-is-this-the-life-we-really-want|title=Roger Waters Posts New Tease of First Solo Rock Album in 25 Years, ''Is This the Life We Really Want?''|author=Gil Kaufman|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=3 March 2017|access-date=22 March 2017|archive-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309152828/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7710092/roger-waters-teases-solo-album-is-this-the-life-we-really-want|url-status=live}}</ref> It was produced by the [[Radiohead]] producer [[Nigel Godrich]]. Godrich was a fan of Waters's work with Pink Floyd, but was critical of his solo work and encouraged him to make a concise album showcasing his lyrics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/life/music/30315906|title=How Pink Floyd's Roger Waters refound his fire at 72 – The Nation|work=The Nation|access-date=25 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426075819/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/life/music/30315906|archive-date=26 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/roger-waters-talks-new-album-moving-past-spectacle-for-tour-w444785|title=Roger Waters Talks New Album, Moving Past 'Spectacle' for Tour|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=25 April 2018|archive-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426012247/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/roger-waters-talks-new-album-moving-past-spectacle-for-tour-w444785|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters returned to North America in 2017 with the [[Us + Them Tour]], performing Pink Floyd and solo material.<ref name="roger-waters.com Roger Waters Us + Them">{{cite web|date=October 2016|title=Roger Waters – Us + Them|url=http://www.roger-waters.com/|access-date=24 October 2016|website=roger-waters.com|archive-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426172448/http://www.roger-waters.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>


On 26 October 2018, [[Sony Classical Masterworks]] released an adaptation of [[Igor Stravinsky discography|Igor Stravinsky's]] theatrical work ''[[The Soldier's Tale]]'' narrated by Waters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/10/roger-waters-soldiers-tale-stravinsky/|title=Roger Waters to release adaptation of Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale|date=4 October 2018|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112064505/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/10/roger-waters-soldiers-tale-stravinsky/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 April 2019, Waters joined [[Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets]] on stage at the [[Beacon Theatre (New York City)|Beacon Theatre]] to sing "[[Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/roger-water-joined-nick-mason-to-play-pink-floyd-at-beacon-theatre-watch/|title=Roger Waters joined Nick Mason to play Pink Floyd at Beacon Theatre (watch)|website=BrooklynVegan|date=19 April 2019 |access-date=19 April 2019|archive-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419033603/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/roger-water-joined-nick-mason-to-play-pink-floyd-at-beacon-theatre-watch/|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters was one of the ten highest-grossing concert acts of the decade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pollstar says U2 top touring act over the last decade |url=https://apnews.com/54c9d0998b7b44cb99cd7c019f1844ce |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=AP NEWS |agency=AP |date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212084110/https://apnews.com/54c9d0998b7b44cb99cd7c019f1844ce |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 2010, he commenced [[The Wall Live (concert tour)|The Wall Live]] tour, an updated version of the original Pink Floyd shows, featuring a complete performance of ''The Wall''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8707442.stm|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters revisits The Wall |first= Rebecca |last=Jones |publisher= BBC News |date= 27 May 2010 |accessdate=19 October 2010}}</ref> According to Cole Moreton of the ''Daily Mail'', "The touring version of Pink Floyd's ''The Wall'' is one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever ...",<ref name="CMDM">{{Cite web|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1327045/Roger-Waters-Backstage-prepares-The-Wall-live-show.html?ito=feeds-newsxml|title= Backstage with Roger Waters as he prepares for The Wall spectacular $60 million live show |last=Moreton|first= Cole |publisher= ''Daily Mail''|date= 7 November 2010|accessdate=7 November 2010}}</ref> and it is estimated that the tour cost £37 million to stage.<ref name="CMDM"/> Waters told the Associated Press that The Wall Tour will likely be his last, stating: "I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm not like B.B. King, or Muddy Waters. I'm not a great vocalist or a great instrumentalist or whatever, but I still have the fire in my belly, and I have something to say. I have a swan song in me and I think this will probably be it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2010/04/roger_waters_revisits_the_wall.html|title=Roger Waters Revisits 'The Wall' For Final Anniversary Tour|last=Butler|first=Will|publisher=NPR|date= 12 April 2010|accessdate=26 November 2010}}</ref> At the [[The O2 Arena (London)|O2 Arena]] in London on 12 May 2011, Gilmour and Mason once again appeared with Waters and Gilmour performing "Comfortably Numb", and Gilmour and Mason joining Waters for "Outside the Wall".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viagogo.co.uk/News/Pink-Floyd-bandmates-reunite-at-Roger-Waters-concert/_A-1710|title=Pink Floyd bandmates reunite at Roger Waters concert |date=16 May 2011|publisher=www.viagogo.com|accessdate=16 May 2011}}</ref> For the first half of 2012, Waters' tour topped worldwide concert ticket sales having sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18826218 "Roger Waters tops worldwide ticket sales for 2012"]. BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2012</ref>


=== 2020s: This is Not a Drill, Pink Floyd disputes and ''The Dark Side of the Moon Redux'' ===
==Activism==
In January 2020, Waters announced a new arena tour, [[This Is Not a Drill]], that would tour North America and finish one month before the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref name="RWdrill">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-this-is-not-a-drill-941431/|title=Roger Waters Plots North American Tour, Calls on Human Race to 'Change' or 'Die'|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|date=23 January 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123225146/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-this-is-not-a-drill-941431/|url-status=live}}</ref> The tour was rescheduled to 2022 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="PostDrill">{{cite web|url=https://rogerwaters.com/tour-postponement/|title=Roger Waters 2020 Tour Postponed|date=27 March 2020|website=Roger Waters official website|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327171618/https://rogerwaters.com/tour-postponement/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RWcorona">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-postpone-coronavirus-974330/|title=Roger Waters Postpones This Is Not a Drill Tour Due to the Coronavirus|last1=Kreps|first1=Daniel|date=27 March 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327182659/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-postpone-coronavirus-974330/|url-status=live}}</ref> The concerts were held from July to October 2022,<ref name="rsdrill22">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-dates-2022-1152284/|title=Roger Waters Sets Rescheduled Tour Dates, Teases His 'First Farewell Tour'|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|date=8 April 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418205550/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-tour-dates-2022-1152284/|url-status=live}}</ref> and expanded with dates in Europe from March to June 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://rogerwaters.com/2023-european-tour/ | title=2023 European tour | date=23 September 2022 | access-date=3 October 2022 | archive-date=2 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002063910/https://rogerwaters.com/2023-european-tour/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, Waters said he had begun writing a memoir during the pandemic.<ref name="RSAnimals">{{cite magazine |last1=Greene |first1=Andy |date=1 June 2021 |title=Roger Waters Announces 'Animals' Deluxe Edition, Plans for a Memoir |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-announces-animals-deluxe-edition-plans-memoir-1176303/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2 June 2021 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013222550/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-announces-animals-deluxe-edition-plans-memoir-1176303/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2022, he released an EP, ''[[The Lockdown Sessions (Roger Waters album)|The Lockdown Sessions]]'', comprising six new versions of songs from his solo career and Pink Floyd.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=10 December 2022 |title=Roger Waters shares new EP 'The Lockdown Sessions' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-shares-new-ep-the-lockdown-sessions-3364531 |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108232051/https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-shares-new-ep-the-lockdown-sessions-3364531 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Waters continued to quarrel with Gilmour.<ref name="Greene-2018">{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=10 December 2018 |title=Nick Mason on the State of Pink Floyd: 'It's Silly to Still Be Fighting' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-nick-mason-talks-roger-waters-david-gilmour-763670/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |access-date=27 September 2020 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093832/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-nick-mason-talks-roger-waters-david-gilmour-763670/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, Waters wrote publicly of their disputes over Pink Floyd reissues and credits, accusing Gilmour of distorting the truth, and complained that Gilmour would not allow him to use Pink Floyd's website and social media channels.<ref name="RSAnimals" /> ''Rolling Stone'' noted that Waters and Gilmour had "hit yet another low point in their relationship".<ref name="RSAnimals" />
After the [[2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake]] and subsequent [[tsunami]] disaster, Waters performed "[[Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd song)|Wish You Were Here]]" with Eric Clapton during a benefit concert on the American network [[NBC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/6828271 |title=Stars lend a hand for tsunami relief |publisher=MSNBC|accessdate=2 October 2010}}</ref> He was outspoken against the [[Hunting Act 2004|Hunting Act of 2004]], and performed a concert for, and attended marches supporting, the [[Countryside Alliance]]. Waters explained:


Early in 2023, Waters gave an interview in which he criticised Pink Floyd's 2022 track "[[Hey, Hey, Rise Up!]]", which was released in support of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters Questioned in Depth About Ukraine, Russia, Israel, U.S. |url=https://www.pressenza.com/2023/02/roger-waters-questioned-in-depth-about-ukraine-russia-israel-u-s/ |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Pressenza |language=en-US |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208092642/https://www.pressenza.com/2023/02/roger-waters-questioned-in-depth-about-ukraine-russia-israel-u-s/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, [[Polly Samson]], the wife of Gilmour and a lyricist for Pink Floyd, wrote on Twitter that Waters was antisemitic and "a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy megalomaniac". Gilmour responded to the tweet on Twitter: "Every word demonstrably true."<ref name="Willman-2023">{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=7 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters Is 'Antisemitic to Rotten Core,' Says Former Pink Floyd Lyricist Polly Samson — and Her Husband, David Gilmour, Emphatically Agrees |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-antisemitic-says-polly-samson-david-gilmour-agrees-pink-floyd-ukraine-1235515432/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=[[Variety (website)|Variety]] |publisher= |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207224214/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-antisemitic-says-polly-samson-david-gilmour-agrees-pink-floyd-ukraine-1235515432/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters released a statement on Twitter saying he was aware of the "incendiary and wildly inaccurate" comments and was "taking advice as to his position".<ref name="Willman-2023" /> Asked by [[Piers Morgan]] to respond to the comments, Waters said: "No comment. Oh, shut up&nbsp;... They're public, and I'm private."<ref name=":3" />
{{quote|I've become disenchanted with the political and philosophical atmosphere in England. The anti-hunting bill was enough for me to leave England. I did what I could, I did a concert and one or two articles, but it made me feel ashamed to be English. I was in Hyde Park for both the Countryside Alliance marches. There were hundreds of thousands of us there. Good, honest English people. That's one of the most divisive pieces of legislation we've ever had in Great Britain. It's not a case of whether or not I agree with fox hunting, but I will defend to the hilt their right to take part in it.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p= 391}}}}


For the 50th anniversary of ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', Waters recorded a new version, ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon Redux]]'', released on 6 October 2023.<ref name="RollingStoneRedux">{{cite magazine |last=Zemler |first=Emily |date=21 July 2023 |title=Roger Waters to Release 'The Dark Side of the Moon Redux' as a Solo LP in October |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-dark-side-of-the-moon-redux-solo-album-1234793036/ |accessdate=21 July 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |quote=ROGER WATERS HAS re-recorded Pink Floyd's seminal album, The Dark Side of the Moon, and will release it as a solo LP, The Dark Side of the Moon Redux, on Oct. 6 via SGB Music.}}</ref> It features spoken-word sections and no guitar solos, to "bring out the heart and soul of the album musically and spiritually".<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters Questioned in Depth About Ukraine, Russia, Israel, U.S. |url=https://www.pressenza.com/2023/02/roger-waters-questioned-in-depth-about-ukraine-russia-israel-u-s/ |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Pressenza |language=en-US |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206054318/https://www.pressenza.com/2023/02/roger-waters-questioned-in-depth-about-ukraine-russia-israel-u-s/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Saunders-2023">{{Cite news |last=Saunders |first=Tristram Fane |date=8 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters: I wrote ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' – let's get rid of all this 'we' crap |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/roger-waters-pink-floyd-dark-side-moon-gilmour-putin-ukraine/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=9 February 2023 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208232625/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/roger-waters-pink-floyd-dark-side-moon-gilmour-putin-ukraine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a press release, Waters wrote: "Dave, Rick, Nick, and I were so young when we made [the original], and when you look at the world around us, clearly the message hasn't stuck. That's why I started to consider what the wisdom of an 80 year old could bring to a reimagined version."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duran |first=Anagricel |date=21 July 2023 |title=Roger Waters announces release of 'The Dark Side of the Moon Redux' as solo album |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-announces-release-of-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-redux-as-solo-album-3471637 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> In October, Waters held two concerts at the [[London Palladium]], where he performed ''The Dark Side of the Moon Redux'', spoke on topics such as [[Julian Assange]] and read from his unpublished memoir.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Music critics call out 'awkward' Roger Waters show at London Palladium |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/roger-waters-london-palladium-setlist-length-b2426641.html |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Roger Waters The Wall Live Kansas City 30 October 2010 2.jpeg|thumb|right|Waters performing "Comfortably Numb" during The Wall Live in Kansas City, 30 October 2010 |alt=In this scene, Waters punches the wall, while the projections simulate the wall crumbling as a result, revealing a bright sunset behind]]


== Politics ==
In October 2005, he clarified: "I come back to the UK quite often. I didn't leave as a protest against the hunting ban; I was following a child in the wake of a divorce."<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roger-waters-french-revolution-509524.html |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Roger Waters: French Revolution|date=4 October 2005|accessdate=17 October 2010 }}</ref> After leaving Britain, he moved to [[Long Island]] in New York with his fiancé Laurie Durning.{{sfn|Blake|2008|pp= 391–392}} In July 2007, he played on the American leg of the [[Live Earth concert, New York City|Live Earth]] concert, an international multi-venue concert aimed at raising awareness about global climate change, featuring the Trenton Youth Choir and his trademarked inflatable pig. Waters told [[David Fricke]] why he thinks ''The Wall'' is still relevant today:


=== Israeli–Palestinian conflict and accusations of antisemitism ===
{{quote|The loss of a father is the central prop on which [''The Wall''] stands. As the years go by, children lose their fathers again and again, for nothing. You see it now with all these fathers, good men and true, who lost their lives and limbs in Iraq for no reason at all. I've done Bring The Boys Back Home in my encore on recent tours. It feels more relevant and poignant to be singing that song now than it did in 1979.{{sfn|Fricke|2009|p=74}}}}
Waters is a vocal supporter of [[Palestinians|Palestine]] in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].<ref name="Thorpe-2013" /> He is a member<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alkousaa |first=Riham |date=December 5, 2017 |year=2017 |title=German broadcasters won't promote ex-Pink Floyd frontman's concerts over anti-Semitism accusations |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1DS2EM/ |work=Reuters}}</ref> of [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS), a campaign for an international [[Boycotts of Israel|boycott of Israel]].<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{Cite news |title=Read Roger Waters' Response to Thom Yorke Over Israel Controversy |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/read-roger-waters-response-to-thom-yorke-over-radiohead-israel-controversy-198319/#:~:text=However%2C%20in%20a%20statement%20to,to%20Waters%20before%20cutting%20off |access-date=7 June 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164840/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/read-roger-waters-response-to-thom-yorke-over-radiohead-israel-controversy-198319/#:~:text=However%2C%20in%20a%20statement%20to,to%20Waters%20before%20cutting%20off |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters first saw the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]] in 2006, at the request of Palestinian supporters, when he was scheduled to perform in [[Tel Aviv]]. He subsequently moved a Tel Aviv concert to [[Neve Shalom]] and called for the barrier's removal: "The wall is an appalling edifice to behold. It is policed by young Israeli soldiers who treated me, a casual observer from another world, with disdainful aggression."<ref name="guardian110311">{{cite news |last1=Waters |first1=Roger |date=11 March 2011 |title=Tear down this Israeli wall |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/11/cultural-boycott-west-bank-wall |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030040238/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/11/cultural-boycott-west-bank-wall |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Thil |first=Scott |date=2 June 2009 |title=Roger Waters to Israel: Tear Down the Wall |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/06/roger-waters-to-israel-tear-down-the-wall/ |magazine=[[Wired News]] |access-date=14 October 2010 |archive-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327170325/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/06/roger-waters-to-israel-tear-down-the-wall/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has repeatedly described Israel's treatment of Palestinians [[Israel and apartheid|as apartheid]].<ref name="Beaumont-Thomas-2023" /> In 2023, he was one of the principal signers of an open letter called Artists Against Apartheid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Glenn |date=18 October 2023 |title=Roger Waters, Kehlani Sign Free Palestine Open Letter |url=https://themessenger.com/news/roger-waters-kehlani-and-more-launch-pro-palestinian-artists-against-apartheid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018232655/https://themessenger.com/news/roger-waters-kehlani-and-more-launch-pro-palestinian-artists-against-apartheid |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=The Messenger |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sign the Letter: Artists Against Apartheid |url=https://peoplesforum.org/events/sign-the-letter-artists-against-apartheid/ |access-date=4 December 2023 |website=The People's Forum |language=en-US}}</ref>


Waters has criticised numerous other artists who have performed in Israel. In 2015, Waters published an open letter in ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' criticising the rock band [[Bon Jovi]] for performing in Tel Aviv.<ref>{{cite web |last=Waters |first=Roger |date=2 October 2015 |title=Roger Waters to Jon Bon Jovi: "You stand shoulder to shoulder with the settler who burned the baby" |url=http://www.salon.com/2015/10/02/roger_waters_to_jon_bon_jovi_you_stand_shoulder_to_shoulder_with_the_settler_who_burned_the_baby/ |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414133141/https://www.salon.com/2015/10/02/roger_waters_to_jon_bon_jovi_you_stand_shoulder_to_shoulder_with_the_settler_who_burned_the_baby/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, he urged [[Radiohead]] to cancel a concert there, signing a letter with 50 others,<ref name="Rolling Stone" /> and was co-signatory on an open letter asking [[Nick Cave]] to cancel his.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 October 2017 |title=Open letter to Nick Cave: 'Don't go – not while apartheid remains.' |url=https://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/2017/10/30/open-letter-to-nick-cave-dont-go-not-while-apartheid-remains/ |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=Artists for Palestine UK |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821060445/https://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/2017/10/30/open-letter-to-nick-cave-dont-go-not-while-apartheid-remains/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="alj291117">{{cite news |date=29 November 2017 |title=German broadcasters drop Roger Waters over BDS stance |publisher=Al-Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/german-broadcasters-drop-roger-waters-bds-stance-171129101108540.html |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918150019/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/german-broadcasters-drop-roger-waters-bds-stance-171129101108540.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Neither Radiohead nor Cave cancelled their concerts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2017 |title=Radiohead perform in Israel despite opposition from activists |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/19/radiohead-perform-israel-gig-despite-opposition-from-activists |url-status=live |access-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118014827/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/19/radiohead-perform-israel-gig-despite-opposition-from-activists |archive-date=18 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=11 December 2018 |title=Nick Cave Defends Israel Concert in Open Letter to Brian Eno |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nick-cave-defend-israel-concert-open-letter-brian-eno-767744/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503204618/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nick-cave-defend-israel-concert-open-letter-brian-eno-767744/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=11 December 2018 |title=Nick Cave: cultural boycott of Israel is 'cowardly and shameful' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/11/nick-cave-cultural-boycott-israel-brian-eno |access-date=31 July 2019 |archive-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731172720/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/11/nick-cave-cultural-boycott-israel-brian-eno |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters narrated the 2016 documentary ''[[The Occupation of the American Mind|The Occupation of the American Mind: Israel's Public Relations War in the United States]]'' about the methods used by Israel to shape American public opinion.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 September 2017 |title="The Occupation of the American Mind": Documentary Looks at Israel's PR War in the United States |publisher=Democracy Now |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2017/9/14/the_occupation_of_the_american_mind |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=18 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318015132/https://www.democracynow.org/2017/9/14/the_occupation_of_the_american_mind |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Occupation of the American Mind |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2017/03/occupation-american-mind-170304122330451.html |access-date=24 August 2018 |website=www.aljazeera.com |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823221638/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2017/03/occupation-american-mind-170304122330451.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2007, Waters became a spokesman for [[Millennium Promise]], a non-profit organisation that helps fight extreme poverty and [[malaria]]. He wrote an opinion piece for [[CNN]] in support of the topic.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/06/08/waters.commentary/index.html |title= Waters: Something can be done about extreme poverty|publisher= CNN.com|first=Roger|last=Waters|date=11 June 2007|accessdate=18 October 2010}}</ref> Waters has been outspoken about [[Middle East]]ern politics and in June 2009, he openly opposed the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]], calling it an "obscenity" that "should be torn down".<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/06/roger-waters-to-israel-tear-down-the-wall/ |title= Roger Waters to Israel: Tear Down the Wall |first= Scott |last= Thil |publisher=[[Wired News]] |date= 2 June 2009|accessdate=14 October 2010}}</ref> In December 2009, Waters pledged his support to the [[Gaza Freedom March]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/30/roger_waters |title= EXCLUSIVE...Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Speaks Out in Support of Gaza Freedom March, Blasts Israeli-Egyptian "Siege" of Gaza|publisher=Democracy Now! |date=30 December 2009 |accessdate=3 March 2012}}</ref> and in March 2011, he announced that he had joined the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) movement against Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/culture/roger-waters-voices-support-for-israel-boycott-1.347411 |title= Roger Waters voices support for Israel boycott |first= Amy |last= Goodman |publisher=Haaretz.com |date= 6 March 2011 |accessdate=6 March 2011}}</ref>


In 2013, Rabbi [[Abraham Cooper (rabbi)|Abraham Cooper]], the associate dean of the Jewish human rights organisation the [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]], accused Waters of antisemitism for including a giant pig balloon bearing a [[Star of David]] in his concerts.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2013 |title=Wiesenthal Center: By Floating a Pig Balloon Stamped With Star of David at His Concert, Roger Waters Has Moved to the Front of the Line of Anti-Semites |url=http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=8486393&ct=13225101 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806002202/http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=8486393&ct=13225101 |archive-date=6 August 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |publisher=[[The Simon Wiesenthal Center]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2013 |title=Pig Balloon at Roger Waters Concert Features Star of David; Wiesenthal Center Calls Him 'Open Hater of Jews' (VIDEO) |url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at-roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/ |access-date=31 October 2015 |website=Algemeiner.com |archive-date=19 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019161315/http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/07/24/massive-pig-balloon-at-roger-waters-concert-features-star-of-david-video/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters responded that it was one of several religious and political symbols in the show and not an attempt to single out Judaism as an evil force.<ref name="Thorpe-2013">{{Cite news |last1=Thorpe |first1=Vanessa |last2=Helmore |first2=Edward |date=14 December 2013 |title=Former Pink Floyd frontman sparks fury by comparing Israelis to Nazis |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/14/pink-floyd-frontman-fury-israel-nazis |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204174013/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/14/pink-floyd-frontman-fury-israel-nazis |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Equipment and instruments==


The same year, in an interview in [[CounterPunch]], Waters [[Comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany|compared]] the Israeli treatment of Palestinians to [[Nazi Germany]], saying: "The parallels with what went on in the 1930s in Germany are so crushingly obvious."<ref name="Thorpe-2013" /> He said the reason why few celebrities had joined the BDS movement in the United States was because "the [[Jewish lobby]] is extraordinary powerful here and particularly in the industry that I work in, the music industry".<ref name="counterpunch061213">{{cite web |last1=Barat |first1=Frank |date=6 December 2013 |title=An Interview with Roger Waters |url=https://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/06/an-interview-with-pink-floyds-roger-waters/ |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=CounterPunch.org |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809120559/https://www.counterpunch.org/2013/12/06/an-interview-with-pink-floyds-roger-waters/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Algemeiner">{{cite news |last1=Algemeiner |first1=The |title=After CounterPunch Interview ADL Accuses Roger Waters of 'Conspiratorial Anti-Semitism' |work=Algemeiner.com |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2013/12/12/after-counterpunch-interview-adl-accuses-roger-waters-of-conspiratorial-anti-semitism/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |archive-date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011234308/https://www.algemeiner.com/2013/12/12/after-counterpunch-interview-adl-accuses-roger-waters-of-conspiratorial-anti-semitism/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the remarks, the [[Anti-Defamation League]] charged that Waters's remarks were antisemitic.<ref name="Algemeiner" /> The American rabbi [[Shmuley Boteach]] responded to Waters in the ''[[The New York Observer|New York Observer]]'': "That you would have the audacity to compare Jews to monsters who murdered them shows you have no decency, you have no heart, you have no soul."<ref name="Thorpe-2013" /> Speaking in New York afterwards, Waters said supporters of Israel [[Weaponization of antisemitism|often attack critics as antisemitic]] as a "diversionary tactic" by conflating [[anti-Zionism]] with antisemitism.<ref name="Thorpe-2013" />
Waters' primary instrument in Pink Floyd was the electric bass guitar. He briefly played a [[Höfner]] bass but replaced it with a [[Rickenbacker]] RM-1999/4001S,{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}} until 1970 when it was stolen along with the rest of the band's equipment in New Orleans. He began using [[Fender Precision Bass]]es in 1968, originally alongside the Rickenbacker, and then exclusively after the Rickenbacker was lost in 1970. First seen at a concert in Hyde Park, London in July 1970, the black P-Bass was rarely used until April 1972 when it became his main stage guitar and as of 2 October 2010, the basis for a Fender Artist Signature model.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0147000306 |title= Roger Waters Precision Bass |publisher= Fender.com|accessdate=9 October 2010}}</ref> Waters endorses [[RotoSound]] Jazz Bass 77 flat-wound strings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rotosound.com/endorsees.php|title=Rotosound Endorsees|publisher=Rotosound|accessdate=23 November 2010}}</ref> Throughout his career he has used [[The Selmer Company|Selmer]], [[Watkins Electric Music|WEM]], [[Hiwatt]] and [[Ashdown Engineering|Ashdown]] amplifiers but has recently settled on using [[Ampeg]] for the last few major tours, also employing [[delay (audio effect)|delay]], [[tremolo]], [[chorus effect|chorus]], [[stereo panning]] and [[Phaser (effect)|phaser]] effects in his bass playing.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=416–430, 441–445}}


In a 2017 interview with [[Omar Barghouti]], Waters again likened Israel's public diplomacy to Nazi Germany: "The thing about propaganda – again, it's not hard to go back to [[Goebbels]] or the 1930s. You understand the tactic is to tell the big lie as often as possible over and over and over and over again. And people believe it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2017 |title=Roger Waters compares Israel to Nazi Germany in Facebook Q&A |url=https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/roger-waters-compares-israel-to-nazi-germany-in-facebook-q-and-a-499851 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927162859/https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/roger-waters-compares-israel-to-nazi-germany-in-facebook-q-and-a-499851 |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement |date=15 July 2017 |title=A Conversation with Roger Waters |url=https://www.facebook.com/BDSNationalCommittee/videos/1621084234603097/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927162742/https://www.facebook.com/BDSNationalCommittee/videos/1621084234603097/ |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=Facebook.com}}</ref> In 2017, the writer [[Ian Halperin]] produced a documentary, ''Wish You Weren't Here'', accusing Waters of antisemitism and "erecting the very walls that hinder peace in the region and fuel hatred".<ref>{{cite web |date=7 July 2017 |title=Roger Waters' Jewish Problem Catches Eye of Award-Winning Filmmaker |url=https://observer.com/2017/07/roger-waters-antisemitism-documentary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925221757/https://observer.com/2017/07/roger-waters-antisemitism-documentary/ |archive-date=25 September 2022 |access-date=10 September 2022 |website=[[The New York Observer]]}}</ref>
Waters experimented with the [[EMS Synthi A]] and [[EMS VCS 3|VCS 3]] synthesisers on Pink Floyd pieces such as "[[On the Run (instrumental)|On the Run]]",{{sfn|Mason|2005|p= 169}} "[[Welcome to the Machine]]",{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p= 324}} and "[[In the Flesh?]]"{{sfn|Fitch|Mahon|2006|p=71}} He played electric and acoustic guitar on Pink Floyd tracks using Fender, Martin, [[Ovation Guitar Company|Ovation]] and Washburn guitars.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=416–430, 441–445}} He played electric guitar on the Pink Floyd song "[[Sheep (song)|Sheep]]", from ''Animals'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=285}} and acoustic guitar on several Pink Floyd recordings, such as [[Pigs on the Wing|"Pigs on the Wing 1&nbsp;&&nbsp;2"]], also from ''Animals'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=241–242}} "[[Southampton Dock]]" from ''The Final Cut'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=295}} and on "[[Mother (Pink Floyd song)|Mother]]" from ''The Wall''.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=213}} A Binson Echorec 2 echo effect was used on his bass-guitar lead track "[[One of These Days (Pink Floyd song)|One of These Days]]".{{sfn|Mabbett|1995|p=39}} Waters has also played clarinet during concert performances of "[[Outside the Wall]]".{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=232}}

In 2020, [[Major League Baseball]] stopped advertising Waters's This Is Not a Drill concerts after receiving criticism from Jewish advocacy groups.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |date=8 February 2020 |title=Major League Baseball Halts Roger Waters Ads After Advocacy Group's Criticism |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/major-league-baseball-roger-waters-tour-949814/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=28 March 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328152744/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/major-league-baseball-roger-waters-tour-949814/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that year, Waters said the American Jewish businessman and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] donor [[Sheldon Adelson]] was a "puppet master" controlling American politics. He said that Adelson believed that "only Jewish people are completely human ... I'm not saying Jewish people believe this. I am saying that he does, and he is pulling the strings."<ref name="Richards-2020" /> In the same interview, Waters said that the [[murder of George Floyd]] was carried out with a technique developed by the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defence Forces]]. He said the Americans had studied the technique to learn "how to murder the blacks because they have seen how efficient the Israelis have been at murdering Palestinians in the occupied territories by using those techniques ... The Israelis are proud of it."<ref name="Richards-2020">{{cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=25 June 2020 |title=Roger Waters accused of anti-semitism from comments in new interview |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-accused-of-anti-semitism-from-comments-in-new-interview-2695522 |access-date=12 July 2020 |website=[[NME]] |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712120810/https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-accused-of-anti-semitism-from-comments-in-new-interview-2695522 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, the [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]] music company cancelled a publishing agreement with Waters over his comments on Israel, Ukraine and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2024 |title=Roger Waters dropped by BMG over Israel comments |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2024/jan/30/bmg-pink-floyd-roger-waters-antisemitic-comments |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

In a February 2024 interview with [[Al Jazeera]], Waters criticised the [[U2]] singer [[Bono]] for dedicating a live performance of "[[Pride (In the Name of Love)]]" to those killed in the 2023 [[Nova music festival massacre]]. Bono changed the lyrics of the song, which was written about [[Martin Luther King]], from "Free at last/They took your life" to "Stars of David/They took your life". Waters said it was "so disgusting and degrading when you stand up for the Zionist entity. What he did a couple of weeks ago in the Sphere in Las Vegas, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in my life."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=19 February 2024 |title=Roger Waters calls Bono 'disgusting' and a 'sh*t' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/roger-waters-calls-bono-disgusting-and-a-sht/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219101151/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/roger-waters-calls-bono-disgusting-and-a-sht/ |archive-date=19 February 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]}}</ref>

In July 2024, Waters engaged in heated debate with [[Piers Morgan]] on ''[[Piers Morgan Uncensored]]'', arguing that there was no evidence of sexual assault by the Palestinian organisation [[Hamas]], that Israel targeted its own citizens in [[false flag]] operations, and that Palestinians had a right to "fight back against the oppressor".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Emma |date=2024-07-04 |title=Roger Waters and Piers Morgan clash over anti-Semitism claims and Israel Palestine conflict after being called 'world's dumbest rockstar' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-and-piers-morgan-clash-over-anti-semitism-claims-and-israel-palestine-conflict-after-being-called-worlds-dumbest-rockstar-3771973 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> During the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|UK general election that month]], Waters criticised the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] leader, [[Keir Starmer]], for his stance on the [[Israel–Hamas war]] and a ceasefire in the [[Gaza Strip]], and performed a pro-Palestine concert in London with [[Cat Stevens]] and [[Lowkey]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Larman |first=Alexander |date=2024-06-22 |title=Roger Waters lambasts Keir Starmer in pro-Palestine fundraiser concert |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/concerts/roger-waters-yusuf-cat-stevens-keir-starmer-palestine/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

====Fascist imagery and German police investigation====
On 25 February 2023, the German city of [[Frankfurt]] cancelled one of Waters's scheduled shows, calling him one of the "most widely known antisemites" and citing his support for BDS, the imagery at his shows and his talks with Hamas. The move was supported by the [[Central Council of Jews in Germany]] and the Frankfurt Jewish Community.<ref>{{Cite web| author=ToI Staff|title=German city cancels Roger Waters performance due to his antisemitism |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-city-cancels-roger-waters-performance-due-to-his-antisemitism/|date=25 February 2023 |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225060811/https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-city-cancels-roger-waters-performance-due-to-his-antisemitism/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Beaumont-Thomas-2023">{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=16 March 2023 |title=Roger Waters threatens legal action over German concert cancellations |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/16/roger-waters-threatens-legal-action-over-german-concert-cancellations |access-date=16 March 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316225202/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/16/roger-waters-threatens-legal-action-over-german-concert-cancellations |url-status=live }}</ref> Waters hired a German law firm to challenge the concert cancellation, and released a statement denying the accusations and stating that the cancellation could have "serious, far-reaching consequences for artists and activists all over the world".<ref name="Beaumont-Thomas-2023" /> A German court overturned the cancellation, saying the concert should be viewed as a work of art and that it "did not glorify or relativise the crimes of the Nazis or identify with Nazi racist ideology".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Kate |date=25 April 2023 |title=Roger Waters wins legal battle to gig in Frankfurt amid antisemitism row |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/25/roger-waters-pink-floyd-wins-legal-battle-to-gig-in-frankfurt-amid-antisemitism-row |access-date=26 May 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

That May, German police opened a criminal investigation into Waters and the Nazi-style uniform he wore during his Berlin performance for possible [[incitement]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2023 |title=Berlin police investigate Roger Waters for possible incitement over concert outfit |url=https://apnews.com/article/germany-roger-waters-costume-police-incitement-investigation-ec5b3e2a6592d92ecd78af793644f3f5 |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> [[Nazi symbolism]] is banned in Germany, with exemptions for educational and artistic purposes.<ref name="Oltermann-2023">{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=26 May 2023 |title=Berlin police investigate Roger Waters over Nazi-style uniform at concert |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/26/berlin-police-investigate-roger-waters-nazi-style-uniform-pink-floyd-concert |access-date=26 May 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Waters has long used similar uniforms for performances of ''The Wall,'' in which the protagonist hallucinates himself as a fascist dictator.<ref name="Oltermann-2023" /> [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israel's Foreign Ministry]] criticised Waters for his performance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schuetze |first=Christopher F. |date=26 May 2023 |title=Berlin Police Investigate Roger Waters After He Wore Nazi-Style Costumes at Concerts |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/26/world/europe/roger-waters-berlin-nazi.html |access-date=30 May 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] called it "deeply offensive to Jewish people" and accused Waters of having a record of using antisemitic tropes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/us-calls-roger-waters-performance-berlin-deeply-offensive-jewish-people-2023-06-06/|title=US calls Roger Waters performance in Berlin 'deeply offensive to Jewish people'|work=Reuters|date=6 June 2023|accessdate=7 June 2023}}</ref> In the UK, Starmer and the secretary of state, [[Michael Gove]], issued statements condemning him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-resumes-nazi-act-in-london-that-hed-dropped-following-germany-uproar/|title=Roger Waters resumes Nazi act in London that he'd dropped following Germany uproar|work=The Times of Israel|first=Canaan|last=Lidor|date=8 June 2023|accessdate=8 June 2023}}</ref>

Waters said the use of fascist imagery was a statement in "opposition to fascism, injustice and bigotry".<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=27 May 2023 |title=Pink Floyd star Roger Waters says he was opposing 'fascism' when he wore Nazi-inspired uniform |url=https://news.sky.com/story/pink-floyd-star-roger-waters-says-he-was-opposing-fascism-when-he-wore-nazi-inspired-uniform-12890501 |accessdate=27 May 2023 |work=Sky News}}</ref> He pointed out that he had been using Nazi-inspired uniforms in performances since 1980, but they had only recently attracted controversy.<ref name=":1" /> Waters felt the criticism was disingenuous and politically motivated,<ref name=":0" /> and that he had been attacked at the behest of the "Israeli lobby" in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 May 2023 |title=Roger Waters: German police investigate ex-Pink Floyd star over Nazi-style costume |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65725902 |accessdate=27 May 2023 |work=[[BBC News]]|first=Nadeem|last=Shad}}</ref> In an interview with [[Double Down News]], Waters said the accusations of antisemitism were a "vicious lie" and "deeply insulting", and that he was a victim of [[cancel culture]]. He said that the Israeli government was attempting to discredit him as they saw him as an "existential threat to their settler-colonialist, racist, apartheid regime".<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters EXPLOSIVE Interview Sets Record Straight |date=6 June 2023 |url=https://www.doubledown.news/watch/2023/june/6/roger-waters-explosive-interview |publisher=Double Down News |access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref>

In May 2023, the Labour MP [[Christian Wakeford]] criticised Waters's shows in UK parliament. Waters responded at a concert in London the following month, calling Wakeford a "fucking moron" and a "cripple", which ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said "drew a sharp intake of breath" from some in attendance. Waters also said he was "pissed off with this [[Israel lobby in the United Kingdom|Israeli lobby]] bullshit" and accused critics of "making up stuff because you've been told to by your masters from the Foreign Office in Tel Aviv".<ref name="varietywaters">{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2023/music/reviews/roger-waters-controversial-comments-london-concert-review-1235635917/ | title=Roger Waters Doubles Down on Controversial Comments and Conspiracy Theories at London Show: Concert Review| website=variety.com| date=7 June 2023| access-date=8 December 2023 | archive-date=7 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607153424/https://variety.com/2023/music/reviews/roger-waters-controversial-comments-london-concert-review-1235635917/| url-status=live }}</ref>

====2023 documentary alleging antisemitism====
In September 2023, a documentary alleging antisemitism by Waters, ''The Dark Side of Roger Waters'', was released by the British group [[Campaign Against Antisemitism]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=28 September 2023 |title=Roger Waters Is Undermining the Cause He Claims to Support |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/roger-waters-antisemitism-allegations-palestine-support-1234834848/ |access-date=19 October 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> It includes accounts from Waters's past collaborators, including the ''Wall'' producer [[Bob Ezrin]], who say Waters made offensive remarks about Jewish people.<ref name=":2" /> In a separate statement, Ezrin said he did not object to Waters's challenging Israeli policy, but that "if your language directly or by implication promotes the eradication of the world's only Jewish state, then that is absolutely antisemitism in my book".<ref name=":2" /> Waters responded in a statement that he was "frequently mouthy and prone to irreverence" but not antisemitic, and that the film misrepresented his views.<ref name=":2" />

According to the documentary, in a 2010 email to his crew, Waters described his idea for the inflatable pig to be floated above his gigs, which would have the words "dirty [[kike|kyke]]", "follow the money" and "Scum" written on it.<ref name="timesofisraelwaters">{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-defends-using-anti-jewish-slur-after-film-exposes-antisemitic-comments/ | title=Roger Waters defends using anti-Jewish slur after film exposes antisemitic comments | website=[[The Times of Israel]] | access-date= 8 December 2023| archive-date=30 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930063344/https://www.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-defends-using-anti-jewish-slur-after-film-exposes-antisemitic-comments/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In response, Waters said that the "offensive words I referenced... were my brainstorming ideas on how to make the evils and horrors of fascism and extremism apparent", and "not the manifestation of any underlying bigotry as the film suggests".<ref name="timesofisraelwaters"></ref>

====Hotel cancellations====
Waters said in an interview with [[Glenn Greenwald]] that the [[2023 Hamas attack on Israel]] may have been a [[false flag operation]] and that "resistance to the Israeli occupation" is legally and morally justifiable.<ref>Glenn Greenwald. {{YouTube|id=0-WSb23wdLI|title=Roger Waters Addresses Israel-Gaza, Antisemitism Accusations}}</ref> In November 2023, after the interview with Greenwald, the [[Faena Hotel Buenos Aires|Faena Hotel]] and the [[Alvear Palace Hotel]] in [[Buenos Aires]] cancelled Waters reservations without giving a reason.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-772903|title=Roger Waters loses Argentina hotel bookings after Israel-Hamas comments|website=Jerusalem Post|date=12 November 2023}}</ref> Several Argentine deputies repudiated Waters's visit to their country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2023/11/12/diputados-repudiaron-la-presencia-de-roger-waters-en-argentina-tras-sus-dichos-sobre-israel/|title=Diputados repudiaron la presencia de Roger Waters en Argentina tras sus dichos sobre Israel|website=Infobae|date=12 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-blames-israeli-lobby-for-alleged-argentina-uruguay-hotel-ban/|title=Roger Waters blames 'Israeli lobby' for alleged Argentina, Uruguay hotel ban|publisher=Times of Israel}}</ref>

The Hyatt Centric and the Regency Hotels in [[Montevideo]] denied Waters accommodation based on the right of admission.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2023 |title=Hoteles de Montevideo niegan alojamiento a Roger Waters por sus comentarios sobre Israel |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/musica/dos-hoteles-de-montevideo-niegan-alojamiento-a-roger-waters-por-sus-comentarios-sobre-israel |access-date=15 November 2023 |website=EL PAIS |language=es-UY}}</ref> {{Ill|Felipe Schipani|es}}, a [[Colorado Party (Uruguay)|Colorado Party]] [[Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay|National Representative]], asked the [[Intendancy of Montevideo|Municipality of Montevideo]] to withdraw the "illustrious visitor to Montevideo" title given to Waters in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redacción |title=Diputado colorado pidió a Cosse retirar título de "visitante ilustre" a Roger Waters |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/diputado-colorado-pidio-a-cosse-retirar-titulo-de-visitante-ilustre-a-roger-waters-20231114204822 |access-date=15 November 2023 |website=El Observador}}</ref>

===Russian invasion of Ukraine===
A week before the 2022 full [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Waters told an [[RT (TV network)|RT]] interviewer that rumours of Russia launching an invasion were "bullshit" and [[Anti-Russian sentiment|anti-Russian]] propaganda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine|title='This is a crazy, unjust attack': Pink Floyd re-form to support Ukraine|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=4 April 2022|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809192321/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/07/pink-floyd-reform-to-support-ukraine|archive-date=9 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> After the invasion, Waters said that US President [[Joe Biden]] was "fuelling the fire in the Ukraine... that is a huge crime", and questioned why the United States was not encouraging Ukraine "to negotiate, obviating the need for this horrific, horrendous war". Responding to accusations that he was placing the responsibility to negotiate on the country that was invaded, Waters said that Russia was [[Russian allegations of NATO aggression in Ukraine|responding to provocations from NATO]]: "This war is basically about the action and reaction of [[NATO]] pushing right up to the Russian border – which they promised they wouldn't do when Gorbachev negotiated the withdrawal of the U.S.S.R. from the whole of Eastern Europe."<ref name="nme1">{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Ellie |date=7 August 2022 |title=Roger Waters defends branding Joe Biden as a war criminal: 'He's fuelling the fire in the Ukraine' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-defends-branding-joe-biden-as-a-war-criminal-hes-fuelling-the-fire-in-the-ukraine-3284791 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810230610/https://www.nme.com/news/music/roger-waters-defends-branding-joe-biden-as-a-war-criminal-hes-fuelling-the-fire-in-the-ukraine-3284791 |archive-date=10 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-joe-biden-war-criminal/|title=Why Rogers Waters Calls Joe Biden 'A War Criminal'|last=Rapp|first=Allison|date=8 August 2022|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=10 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810201200/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-joe-biden-war-criminal/|archive-date=10 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In another interview, Waters said the invasion of Ukraine was "probably the most provoked invasion ever" and that he refused to "see Russia from the current Russo-phobic perspective".<ref name="Willman-2023-2">{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=8 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters Addresses U.N. Security Council, at Russia's Behest, Urging Peace but Repeating Charge That Ukraine Invasion Was 'Provoked' |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-addresses-united-nations-security-council-russia-ukraine-pink-floyd-1235517133/ |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208203339/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/roger-waters-addresses-united-nations-security-council-russia-ukraine-pink-floyd-1235517133/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 September 2022, the day after [[Olena Zelenska]], the [[First Lady of Ukraine]], appeared on the BBC, Waters published an open letter to her. He accused Ukrainian "extreme nationalists" of starting the war and made no mention of Russia's responsibility for the invasion.<ref name="Poland cancelled">{{Cite news |last=Easton |first=Adam |date=25 September 2022 |title=Roger Waters gigs in Poland cancelled amid Ukraine backlash |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63026101 |access-date=25 September 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925153920/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63026101 |url-status=live }}</ref> He argued that the West should not provide Ukraine with weapons, and that Western governments were prolonging the war with their support. Waters urged her husband to end the war based on the [[Minsk agreements]].<ref>[https://www.pressenza.com/2022/09/an-open-letter-to-mrs-olena-zelenska-from-roger-waters/ An Open letter to Mrs Olena Zelenska from Roger Waters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907195930/https://www.pressenza.com/2022/09/an-open-letter-to-mrs-olena-zelenska-from-roger-waters/ |date=7 September 2022 }}, pressenza.com, 05.09.22, Independent Media Institute</ref> Waters's concerts in Poland were cancelled following local outrage over his comments.<ref name="Poland cancelled"/> In February 2023, at the Russian government's request, Waters gave a speech to the [[United Nations Security Council]]. He condemned the invasion of Ukraine as illegal, but said it was "not unprovoked" and that he also "condemned the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms. ... The only sensible course of action today is to call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine".<ref name="Willman-2023-2" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=8 February 2023 |title=Invited by Russia, Roger Waters tells UN: Ukraine invasion illegal |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/invited-by-russia-roger-waters-tells-un-ukraine-invasion-illegal-2023-02-08/ |access-date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208211227/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/invited-by-russia-roger-waters-tells-un-ukraine-invasion-illegal-2023-02-08/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The speech drew criticism from American, Ukrainian and Albanian diplomats, and praise from Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy.<ref name="Willman-2023-2" />

===Other views===
[[File:Roger Waters The Wall Live Kansas City 30 October 2010 2.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.25|Waters performing "Comfortably Numb" during [[The Wall Live (2010–13)|The Wall Live]] in Kansas City, 30 October 2010 |alt=In this scene, Waters punches the wall, while the projections simulate the wall crumbling as a result, revealing a bright sunset behind]]

After the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and subsequent [[tsunami]] disaster, Waters performed "Wish You Were Here" with Eric Clapton during a benefit concert on the American network [[NBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/id/6828271/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/stars-lend-hand-tsunami-relief/|title=Stars lend a hand for tsunami relief|date=15 January 2005 |publisher=MSNBC|access-date=2 October 2010|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305134753/http://www.today.com/id/6828271/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/stars-lend-hand-tsunami-relief/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He criticised the [[Hunting Act 2004|Hunting Act of 2004]] and supported the [[Countryside Alliance]], but explained he was defending the right to hunt rather than supporting the activity himself. Waters explained that whether he supported hunting or not, it was important to defend it as a right.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=391}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roger-waters-french-revolution-509524.html |work=[[The Independent]] |title=Roger Waters: French Revolution |date=4 October 2005 |access-date=29 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005013607/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roger-waters-french-revolution-509524.html |archive-date=5 October 2010 }}</ref>

In 2007, Waters became a spokesman for [[Millennium Promise]], a non-profit organisation fighting poverty and [[malaria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/06/08/waters.commentary/index.html|title=Waters: Something can be done about extreme poverty|publisher=CNN|first=Roger|last=Waters|date=11 June 2007|access-date=18 October 2010|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224090506/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/06/08/waters.commentary/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That July, he participated in the American leg of the [[Live Earth concert, New York City|Live Earth]] concert, aimed at raising awareness about global climate change.{{sfn|Fricke|2009|p=74}} In 2015, Waters said that [[socialism]] was "a good thing", and called for [[socialised healthcare]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2 November 2015 |title=Roger Waters on 'The Wall,' Socialism, His Next Concept LP |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-on-the-wall-socialism-and-his-next-concept-album-53352/ |access-date=19 February 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=7 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307053940/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-on-the-wall-socialism-and-his-next-concept-album-53352/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Waters is supportive of [[veteran]]s, which he partly attributes to the death of his father in World War II. He allocates a block of tickets for veterans at his shows. For a few years he performed with a group of wounded veterans that was arranged through the United States National Military Medical Center.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roger Waters on veterans, touring and his new, solo album |url=https://apnews.com/aea9a7b09de746bc8f5b5e44ae7f2338 |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=AP NEWS |agency=AP |date=2 June 2017 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126123336/https://apnews.com/aea9a7b09de746bc8f5b5e44ae7f2338 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, he led a benefit for United States military veterans, Stand Up for Heroes, and invited a group of combat-wounded veterans, [[Arthur Bloom (musician)|MusiCorps]], to perform with him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/roger-waters-veterans-stand-up-for-heroes-benefit_n_2099380.html|last=Carucci|first=John|title=Roger Waters & Veterans Perform Together At Stand Up for Heroes Benefit|work=Huffington Post|date=9 November 2012|access-date=19 May 2013|archive-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619151040/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/roger-waters-veterans-stand-up-for-heroes-benefit_n_2099380.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:180505 Roger Waters Gdansk Konstytucja Courts Media.jpg|thumb|Waters performing in [[Gdańsk]] in August 2018 during the [[Us + Them Tour]], criticising the [[First Cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki|Polish government]]'s [[2015 Polish Constitutional Court crisis|treatment]] of the courts and media.]]

Waters opposed [[Brexit]] (the UK leaving the [[European Union]]). Following the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|June 2016 referendum]], which resulted in leaving the EU, he said: "I thought we were better than that. I was wrong."<ref>{{cite news |title=Roger Waters on Political 'Runaway Train' That Inspired New Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/roger-waters-on-political-runaway-train-that-inspired-new-album-122405/ |magazine=Rolling Stone|first=David|last=Fricke |date=22 August 2017 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408121846/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/roger-waters-on-political-runaway-train-that-inspired-new-album-122405/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He criticised US President [[Donald Trump]] and his policies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters considers performing "The Wall" on US-Mexico border |url=https://www.euronews.com/2017/02/16/pink-floyd-s-roger-waters-considers-performing-the-wall-on-us-mexico-border |publisher=[[Euronews]] |date=16 February 2017 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821024218/https://www.euronews.com/2017/02/16/pink-floyd-s-roger-waters-considers-performing-the-wall-on-us-mexico-border |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Waters condemned Trump's plan to build a [[Trump wall|wall separating the US and Mexico]], drawing parallels to ''The Wall''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roger Waters speculates performing 'The Wall' at US-Mexico border |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/around-the-web/2017/02/23/roger-waters-speculates-performing-wall-us-mexico-border |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]] |date=23 February 2017 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309063401/https://www.dhakatribune.com/around-the-web/2017/02/23/roger-waters-speculates-performing-wall-us-mexico-border |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the April 2018 [[Douma chemical attack]] carried out by the Syrian government, Waters called civil defence volunteers, the [[White Helmets (Syrian civil war)|White Helmets]], "a fake organisation that exists only to create propaganda for the [[jihadists]] and terrorists" trying to incite the West to "start dropping bombs on people in Syria".<ref name=" The Jerusalem Post JPost.com 2018">{{cite news| title=Roger Waters slams Syria intervention, attacks 'White Helmets' as 'fake' | website= The Jerusalem Post|first=Seth J.|last=Frantzman | date=15 April 2018 | url=https://www.jpost.com/international/roger-waters-slams-syria-intervention-attacks-white-helmets-as-fake-549894 | access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="Sharon 2018">{{cite news| last=Sharon | first=Jeremy | title=Roger Waters claims Syria's White Helmets a 'fake organization' | website=The Times of Israel | date=16 April 2018 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/roger-waters-claims-syrias-white-helmets-a-fake-organization/ | access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="The New Arab 2018">{{cite web | author=The New Arab | title=Pink Floyd's co-founder Roger Waters says White Helmets 'fake' | publisher=The New Arab | date=15 April 2018 | url=https://www.newarab.com/opinion/pink-floyds-co-founder-roger-waters-says-white-helmets-fake | access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="Tablet Magazine 2018">{{cite web |date=16 April 2018 |title=Roger Waters Attacks Syria's White Helmets as 'Fake' |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/roger-waters-attacks-syrias-white-helmets-as-fake |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Tablet Magazine}}</ref>

In 2018, Waters included the Brazilian far-right presidential candidate [[Jair Bolsonaro]] in a list of "neo-fascists" displayed on a screen at his concert in [[São Paulo]], which drew mixed responses from the crowd.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/10/roger-waters-jair-bolsonaro-brazil-concert|title=Roger Waters divides crowd with anti-Bolsonaro comments at Brazil concert|newspaper=The Guardian|date=10 October 2018|last1=Phillips|first1=Tom|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411170413/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/10/roger-waters-jair-bolsonaro-brazil-concert|url-status=live}}</ref> In a concert in [[Rio de Janeiro]] that October, he acknowledged the murdered Brazilian councilwoman [[Marielle Franco]] and brought her daughter, sister and widow on stage.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roger Waters honors murdered Brazil councilwoman |url=https://apnews.com/f94fb3e0649549c0855d7353a246d73a |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=AP NEWS |agency=AP |date=25 October 2018 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126132841/https://apnews.com/f94fb3e0649549c0855d7353a246d73a |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with the online music magazine ''[[BrooklynVegan]]'', he said he tried to visit the progressive politician [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva|Lula da Silva]], who was imprisoned on corruption charges; Waters said "the only reason Lula is in prison is because he would have won the election".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergstrom |first=Jeff|date=15 February 2019 |title=Roger Waters talks "Us + Them" tour, Pink Floyd, politics & more in BV interview |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/roger-waters-interview/ |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, Waters spoke at a rally outside the [[Home Office]] calling for the release of the [[WikiLeaks]] founder [[Julian Assange]], and dedicated a performance of "Wish You Were Here" to him.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-sing-with-you-were-here-at-london-julian-assange-rally-879490/|title=Watch Roger Waters Sing 'Wish You Were Here' at Julian Assange Rally|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|date=3 September 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=7 September 2019|archive-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909034137/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/roger-waters-sing-with-you-were-here-at-london-julian-assange-rally-879490/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, he spoke at a rally in support of Assange outside parliament in London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marchers support Assange ahead of London extradition hearing |url=https://apnews.com/bb8d93bb1c1510b70b0f2c71e93879ca |access-date=20 August 2020 |work=AP NEWS |agency=AP |date=22 February 2020 |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426024823/https://apnews.com/bb8d93bb1c1510b70b0f2c71e93879ca |url-status=live }}</ref> He showed his support for the [[2019–2022 Chilean protests]] through a video from POUSTA.com.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=31 October 2019 |title=Roger Waters saca la cacerola y muestra apoyo a las manifestaciones en Chile |url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/multimedia/2019/10/31/roger-waters-saca-la-cacerola-y-muestra-apoyo-a-las-manifestaciones-en-chile/ |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=El Mostrador |language=es}}</ref> In an interview with the communist deputy [[Camila Vallejo]], he condemned the president [[Sebastián Piñera|Sebastian Piñera]], calling him a "rat", and said the [[2022 Chilean national plebiscite]] was "extraordinarily revolutionary".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarín.com |date=17 August 2020 |title=Roger Waters atacó a Sebastián Piñera: 'Es una rata' |url=https://www.clarin.com/espectaculos/musica/roger-waters-ataco-sebastian-pinera-rata-_0_PNQ2gp_26.html |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=Clarín |language=es}}</ref>

Waters supports [[Steven Donziger]], an American lawyer embroiled in environmental litigation against [[Chevron corporation]], and has funded some of Donziger's legal fees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Jonathan |title=Nobel laureates condemn 'judicial harassment' of environmental lawyer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/nobel-laureates-condemn-judicial-harassment-of-environmental-lawyer |access-date=9 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228214556/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/nobel-laureates-condemn-judicial-harassment-of-environmental-lawyer |url-status=live }}</ref> He endorsed the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the [[2019 UK general election]], describing him as a "beacon of hope".<ref name="nme2">{{cite news|last=Neale|first=Matthew|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-letter-supporting-jeremy-corbyn-2568734|title=Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more|work=[[NME]]|date=16 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019|archive-date=26 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126184628/https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-letter-supporting-jeremy-corbyn-2568734|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his 2022 ''This Is Not a Drill'' shows, every US president from [[Ronald Reagan]] to Donald Trump was labelled a [[war criminal]] and a message was displayed that Joe Biden was "just getting started".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/07/07/roger-waters-pulls-no-punches-in-ppg-paints-arena-tour-launcher-pittsburgh-allegheny-county/65368119007/|title=Review: Roger Waters pulls no punches in Pittsburgh tour launcher|last=Tady|first=Scott|date=7 July 2022|website=[[The Beaver County Times]]|access-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809191835/https://www.timesonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2022/07/07/roger-waters-pulls-no-punches-in-ppg-paints-arena-tour-launcher-pittsburgh-allegheny-county/65368119007/|archive-date=9 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with [[Michael Smerconish]], Waters said that [[Taiwan, China|Taiwan was part of China]] and that this had been "absolutely accepted by the whole of the international community since 1948".<ref name="nme1" /> Waters endorsed the Venezuelan president [[Nicolás Maduro]] for the [[2024 Venezuelan presidential election]], saying the main [[Venezuelan opposition]] candidate, [[Edmundo González Urrutia]], is a "sockpuppet" of the U.S. government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-26 |title=Roger Waters declares support for Maduro in Venezuela and says his right-wing opponent is a 'sock puppet' of the US |url=https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2024/07/26/roger-waters-declares-support-for-maduro-in-venezuela-and-says-his-right-wing-opponent-is-a-sock-puppet-of-the-us |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Brasil de Fato |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

==Artistry==
[[File:Roger Waters en el Palau Sant Jordi de Barcelona (The Wall Live) - 04 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Roger Waters playing bass and singing|Waters in Barcelona during The Wall Live, 5 April 2011]]
Waters's primary instrument in Pink Floyd was the bass guitar. However, he said in 1992 that he was "never a bass player" and was "not interested in playing instruments and I never have been".<ref name="Resnicoff-1992">{{Cite journal |last=Resnicoff |first=Matt |date=November 1992 |title=Roger and Me – The Other Side of the Pink Floyd Story |journal=[[Musician (magazine)|Musician]]}}</ref> Gilmour said that Waters used a limited, simple style and had not been interested in improving, and that Gilmour had played many of the bass parts on Pink Floyd records.<ref name="Resnicoff-1992" /> According to Mason in 2018, Waters feels that "everything should be judged on the writing rather than the playing".<ref name="Greene-2018" />

Author Mike Cormack claims that Waters is "surely the greatest lyricist in all of rock music",{{sfn|Cormack|2024|p=61}} for example pointing to Waters's use of [[trochaic tetrameter]] in the refrain of the song "[[Time (Pink Floyd song)|Time]]",{{sfn|Cormack|2024|p=115}} calling the lyrics to "[[Comfortably Numb]]" "the greatest ever in rock music"{{sfn|Cormack|2024|p=175}} and highlighting the "exquisite phrasing"{{sfn|Cormack|2024|p=192}} of "[[Your Possible Pasts]]".

Waters briefly played a [[Höfner]] bass, but replaced it with a [[Rickenbacker 4001|Rickenbacker RM-1999/4001S]]. In 1970, it was stolen along with the rest of Pink Floyd's equipment in New Orleans.{{sfn|Povey|2008|p=14}} He began using [[Fender Precision Bass]]es in 1968, originally alongside the Rickenbacker 4001, and then exclusively after the Rickenbacker was lost in 1970. First seen at a concert in Hyde Park, London, in July 1970, the black P-Bass was rarely used until April 1972, when it became his main stage guitar. On 2 October 2010, it became the basis for a Fender Artist Signature model.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fender.com/series/artist/roger-waters-precision-bass/ |title= Roger Waters Precision Bass |publisher= [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation]] |access-date= 9 October 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130112075529/http://www.fender.com/series/artist/roger-waters-precision-bass/ |archive-date= 12 January 2013 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> Waters endorses [[Rotosound]] Jazz Bass 77 flat-wound strings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rotosound.com/endorsees.php|title=Rotosound Endorsees|publisher=Rotosound|access-date=23 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205210630/http://www.rotosound.com/endorsees.php|archive-date=5 February 2011}}</ref> He has used [[The Selmer Company|Selmer]], [[Watkins Electric Music|WEM]], [[Hiwatt]], and [[Ashdown Engineering|Ashdown]] amplifiers but used [[Ampeg]] for later tours. He has employed [[delay (audio effect)|delay]], [[tremolo]], [[chorus effect|chorus]], [[stereo panning]] and [[Phaser (effect)|phaser]] effects in his bass playing.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=416–430, 441–445}}

Waters experimented with the [[EMS Synthi A]] and [[EMS VCS 3|VCS 3]] synthesisers on Pink Floyd pieces such as "[[On the Run (instrumental)|On the Run]]",{{sfn|Mason|2005|p= 169}} "[[Welcome to the Machine]]",{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p= 324}} and "[[In the Flesh?]]"{{sfn|Fitch|Mahon|2006|p=71}} He played electric and acoustic guitar on Pink Floyd tracks using Fender, Martin, [[Ovation Guitar Company|Ovation]] and Washburn guitars.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=416–430, 441–445}} He played electric guitar on the Pink Floyd song "[[Sheep (Pink Floyd song)|Sheep]]", from ''Animals'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=285}} and acoustic guitar on several Pink Floyd recordings, such as [[Pigs on the Wing|"Pigs on the Wing 1&nbsp;&&nbsp;2"]], also from ''Animals'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|pp=241–242}} "[[Southampton Dock]]" from ''The Final Cut'',{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=295}} and on "[[Mother (Pink Floyd song)|Mother]]" from ''The Wall''.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=213}} A Binson Echorec 2 [[delay effect]] was used on his bass lead track "[[One of These Days (instrumental)|One of These Days]]".{{sfn|Mabbett|2010|p=105}} Waters plays trumpet during concert performances of "[[Outside the Wall (song)|Outside the Wall]]".{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=232}}

== Personal life ==
In 1969, Waters married his childhood sweetheart [[Judith Trim]], a school teacher and potter. She was featured on the gatefold sleeve of the original release of the Pink Floyd album ''[[Ummagumma]]'', but excised from CD reissues.{{sfn|Mabbett|2010|p=50}} They had no children and divorced in 1975.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} Trim died in 2001.{{sfn|Blake|2008|p=376}}

In 1976, Waters married [[Carolyne Christie]], the niece of the [[Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Marquess of Zetland|third Marquess of Zetland]].{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} They had a son, [[Harry Waters]], who has played keyboards with Waters's touring band since 2002, and a daughter, India Waters, who has worked as a model.<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p=258}}: India Waters; {{harvnb|Povey|2008|pp=335–339}}: Harry has performed with Waters since 2006.</ref> Christie and Waters divorced in 1992.{{sfn|Fitch|2005|p=335}} In 1993, Waters married Priscilla Phillips. They had a son, Jack Fletcher. Their marriage ended in 2001.<ref>{{harvnb|Blake|2008|p=348}}; {{harvnb|Thompson|2013|p=109}}: Jack Fletcher.</ref>

In 2004, Waters became engaged to the actress and filmmaker Laurie Durning.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pink-floyd-62-1273588 | title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters marries for a fourth time | website=[[NME]] | date=21 January 2012 }}</ref> They married on 14 January 2012<ref>{{cite web|date=21 January 2013|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters marries for a fourth time|url=https://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/61568|access-date=6 September 2013|work=[[NME]]|archive-date=13 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613142757/http://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/61568|url-status=live}}</ref> and filed for divorce in September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 September 2015|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Files for Divorce from Wife Laurie Durning|url=http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/pink-floyd-roger-waters-divorce-wife-laurie-durning-report-71953|access-date=8 October 2015|publisher=[[Closer Weekly]]|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002000439/http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/pink-floyd-roger-waters-divorce-wife-laurie-durning-report-71953|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters married his fifth wife, Kamilah Chavis, in October 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=DeSantis|first=Rachel|date=14 October 2021|title=Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Marries Girlfriend Kamilah Chavis: 'I'm So Happy, Finally a Keeper'|url=https://people.com/music/pink-floyd-roger-waters-marries-girlfriend-kamilah-chavis/|access-date=14 October 2021|publisher=People|archive-date=14 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014170531/https://people.com/music/pink-floyd-roger-waters-marries-girlfriend-kamilah-chavis/|url-status=live}}</ref> Waters has homes in [[Long Island]] and [[Hampshire]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saunders |first=Tristram Fane |date=8 February 2023 |title=Roger Waters: I wrote ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' – let's get rid of all this 'we' crap |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/roger-waters-pink-floyd-dark-side-moon-gilmour-putin-ukraine/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=9 February 2023 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209093222/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/roger-waters-pink-floyd-dark-side-moon-gilmour-putin-ukraine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14784-roger-waters|title=Freethought of the Day|website=ffrf.org|access-date=8 March 2018|archive-date=13 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313052536/https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14784-roger-waters|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asFm7lA32k0|title=Roger Waters Weighs In On Politics, Religion, & Money &#124; On The Table Ep. 5 Full &#124; Reserve Channel|date=5 November 2012 |via=www.youtube.com|access-date=8 March 2018|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110134807/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asFm7lA32k0|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{Main|Roger Waters discography}}
{{Main|Roger Waters discography}}
{{See also|Pink Floyd discography}}
{{See also|Pink Floyd discography}}
;Solo albums

* ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'' (1984)
* ''[[The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Amused to Death]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Amused to Death]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Ça Ira]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Is This the Life We Really Want?]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale]]'' (2018)
* ''[[The Lockdown Sessions (Roger Waters album)|The Lockdown Sessions]]'' (2022)
* ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon Redux]]'' (2023)

;Other work
* ''[[Music from The Body]]'' <small>(with [[Ron Geesin]])</small> (1970)
* ''[[When the Wind Blows (soundtrack)|When the Wind Blows]]'' (1986)
* [[Ça Ira (opera)|''Ça Ira'']] (2005)
* ''Pros and Cons (The Interviews)'' (2015)

==Tours==
{{See also|Pink Floyd live performances}}
* The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984–1985)
* [[Radio K.A.O.S. (tour)|K.A.O.S. On the Road]] (1987)
* [[In the Flesh (Roger Waters tour)|In the Flesh]] (1999–2002)
* [[The Dark Side of the Moon Live]] (2006–2008)
* [[The Wall Live (2010–2013)|The Wall Live]] (2010–2013)
* [[Us + Them Tour]] (2017–2018)
* [[This Is Not a Drill]] (2022–2023)

== Live band members ==
{{See also|The Bleeding Heart Band}}{{Main|List of Roger Waters band members}}

=== Current members ===

* Roger Waters – [[lead vocal]]s, [[bass guitar]], [[rhythm guitar]]s, [[piano]] (1984–present)
* [[Jon Carin]] – [[piano]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[lap steel guitar]], rhythm guitars, vocals (1999–2000, 2006–present)<ref name="Billboard-2000">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ww4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA106 |title=Billboard |date=1 April 2000 |publisher= |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111031752/https://books.google.com/books?id=ww4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA106 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Pink Floyd – A Fleeting Glimpse">{{cite web |title=Roger Waters – Dark Side Tour 2006 |url=https://www.pinkfloydz.com/concerts-tours/roger-waters-dark-side-tour-2006/ |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=Pink Floyd – A Fleeting Glimpse |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709063401/https://www.pinkfloydz.com/concerts-tours/roger-waters-dark-side-tour-2006/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="www.facebook.com">{{cite web |title=Log in or sign up to view |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/2864779220431565/ |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=www.facebook.com |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417070058/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnotes%2F2864779220431565%2F |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Roger Waters">{{Citation |title=Roger Waters – Us + Them |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1814366-Roger-Waters-Us-Them |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618160422/https://www.discogs.com/master/1814366-Roger-Waters-Us-Them |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dave Kilminster]] – [[lead guitar]]s, [[talk box]], vocals (2006–present);<ref name="Pink Floyd – A Fleeting Glimpse" /><ref name="www.facebook.com" /><ref name="Roger Waters" /> additional bass guitar (2006–2013)<ref>{{citation |title=Roger Waters "Mother" from "The Wall" Hartford 2010 | date=29 August 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6AXeobvFLg |access-date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618160422/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6AXeobvFLg |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Gus Seyffert – rhythm guitars, bass guitar, [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]] (2017–present)<ref name="Roger Waters" />
* [[Jonathan Wilson (musician)|Jonathan Wilson]] – lead and rhythm guitars, vocals (2017–present)<ref name="Roger Waters" />
* [[Joey Waronker]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[percussion]] (2017–present)<ref name="Roger Waters" />
* [[Robert Walter (musician)|Robert Walter]] – organ, keyboards (2022–present)
* Shanay Johnson – backing vocals (2022–present)
* Amanda Belair – backing vocals (2022–present)
* Seamus Blake – saxophone (2022–present)


==Citations==
== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=22em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


== General and cited sources ==
==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=Da Capo Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-306-81752-6|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=hKXhLoWCPQ8C }}
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
* {{cite book|last=Cormack|first=Mike|title=Everything Under The Sun: The Complete Guide To Pink Floyd|year=2024|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-1803995359 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7fccEQAAQBAJ}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=Da Capo Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-306-81752-6|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=hKXhLoWCPQ8C&dq |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Fitch|first=Vernon|title=The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia|edition=Third|year=2005|publisher= Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.|isbn=978-1-894959-24-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HNkiAQAAIAAJ }}
* {{Cite book|last=Fitch|first=Vernon|title=The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia|edition=Third|year=2005|publisher= Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.|isbn=978-1-894959-24-7|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=HNkiAQAAIAAJ&q |ref= harv}}
* {{cite book|last1=Fitch|first1=Vernon|last2=Mahon|first2=Richard|title=Comfortably Numb: A History of "The Wall" – Pink Floyd 1978–1981|edition=1st|year=2006|publisher=PFA Publishing |isbn=978-0-9777366-0-7}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Fricke|first1=David|title=Roger Waters: Welcome to My Nightmare ... Behind The Wall|magazine=Mojo|volume=193|date=December 2009|pages=68–84}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Fitch|first1=Vernon|last2=Mahon|first2=Richard|title=Comfortably Numb-A History of "The Wall" - Pink Floyd 1978–1981|edition=1st|year=2006|publisher=PFA Publishing, Inc.|isbn=978-0-9777366-0-7 |url=|ref= harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Mabbett|first=Andy|year=2010|title=Pink Floyd&nbsp;– The Music and the Mystery|edition=1st UK paperback|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-1-84938-370-7}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Fricke|first1=David|title=Roger Waters: Welcome to my Nightmare ... Behind The Wall|journal=Mojo Magazine|publisher=Emap Metro|volume=193|date=December 2009|pages=pp.68–84|ref= harv}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mabbett|first=Andy|title=The complete guide to the music of Pink Floyd|year=1995|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=1st UK paperback|isbn= 978-0-7119-4301-8|ref= harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Manning|first=Toby|title= The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd|year=2006|publisher=Rough Guides Ltd|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-1-84353-575-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yHsZAQAAIAAJ }}
* {{cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|title=Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd|year=2005|publisher=Chronicle Books|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-8118-4824-4|url=https://archive.org/details/insideoutpersona0000maso |url-access=registration}}
*{{Cite book|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-1-84938-370-7|last=Mabbett|first=Andy|title=Pink Floyd&nbsp;– The Music and the Mystery|edition=1st UK paperback|year=2010|ref=harv}}
* {{Cite book|last=Manning|first=Toby|title= The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd|year=2006|publisher=Rough Guides Ltd|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-1-84353-575-1|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=yHsZAQAAIAAJ&q |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Povey|first=Glen|title=Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=3C Publishing Ltd.|edition=2nd UK paperback|isbn=978-0-9554624-1-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnnl3FnO-B4C }}
* {{Cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|title=Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd|year=2005|publisher=Chronicle Books|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-8118-4824-4|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=idOGghPNM6UC&dq |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last1=Povey|first1=Glen|last2=Russell|first2=Ian|title=Pink Floyd: In the Flesh: The Complete Performance History|year=1997|publisher=St. Martin's Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn= 978-0-9554624-0-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KrOPQni4yTsC}}
* {{Cite book|last=Povey|first=Glen|title=Echoes: the complete history of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=3C Publishing Ltd.|edition=2nd UK paperback|isbn=978-0-9554624-1-2|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qnnl3FnO-B4C&dq |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|title=Saucerful of Secrets: the Pink Floyd Odyssey|year=1991|publisher=Dell Publishing|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-385-30684-3|url=https://archive.org/details/saucerfulofsecre00scha |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book|last=Povey|first=Glen|last2=Russell|first2=Ian|title=Pink Floyd: in the flesh, the complete performance history|year=1997|publisher=St. Martin's Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn= 978-0-9554624-0-5|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KrOPQni4yTsC&dq|ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|title=Roger Waters: The Man Behind the Wall |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWNYAQAAQBAJ |year=2013|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1-61713-564-4}}
* {{Cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|title=Saucerful of Secrets: the Pink Floyd odyssey|year=1991|publisher=Dell Publishing|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-385-30684-3|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xfqremepxrkC&dq |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book|last1=Watkinson|first1=Mike|last2=Anderson|first2=Pete|title=Crazy Diamond: Syd Barrett & the Dawn of Pink Floyd|year=1991|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=1st UK paperback|isbn=978-1-84609-739-3|url=https://archive.org/details/sydbarrettcrazyd00mike}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Watkinson|first1=Mike|last2=Anderson|first2=Pete|title=Crazy diamond: Syd Barrett & the dawn of Pink Floyd|year=1991|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=1st UK paperback|isbn= 978-1-84609-739-3|ref=harv}}
{{Refend}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|title=Back to The Wall|magazine=Rolling Stone|volume=1114|date= September 2010|pages=50–57|ref=none}}
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book|last=Di Perna|first=Alan|title=Guitar World Presents Pink Floyd|year=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-634-03286-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nQ1f7Vasrv8C&dq}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=Phil |title=Roger Waters and Pink Floyd: The Concept Albums |date=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-61147-761-0 |ref=none}}
*{{Cite book|last=Fitch|first=Vernon|title=Pink Floyd: The Press Reports 1966–1983|year=2001|publisher=Collector's Guide Publishing Inc|isbn= 978-1-896522-72-2 }}
* {{cite book|last=Scarfe|first=Gerald|title=The Making of Pink Floyd: The Wall|year=2010|publisher=Da Capo Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-306-81997-1|ref=none}}
* {{cite magazine| last1= Simmons| first1= Sylvie| title= Pink Floyd: The Making of ''The Wall''| magazine=Mojo| volume= 73| date= December 1999| pages=76–95|ref=none}}
*{{Cite book|last=Harris|first=John|title=The Dark Side of the Moon: The Making of the Pink Floyd Masterpiece|year=2005|publisher=Da Capo| isbn=978-0-306-81342-9 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=8ioY6m4EHKkC&dq}}
*{{Cite journal|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|title=Back to The Wall|publisher=''Rolling Stone''|volume=1114|date= September 2010|pages= pp. 50–57}}
* {{Cite book|last= MacDonald|first= Bruno|title= Pink Floyd: through the eyes of ... the band, its fans, friends, and foes|year= 1997|publisher= Da Capo Press|isbn= 978-0-306-80780-0|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=b7J3K2snuhAC&dq }}
*{{Cite book |last1=Mabbett |first1=Andy|last2=Mabbett|first2=Miles|title=Pink Floyd : the visual documentary|year=1994|publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-7119-1444-5}}
*{{Cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|title=Pink Floyd: A Visual Documentary by Miles|year=1982|publisher= Putnam Publishing Group|location=New York|isbn=978-0-399-41001-7 }}
*{{Cite book|last=Scarfe|first=Gerald|title=The Making of Pink Floyd: The Wall|year=2010|publisher=Da Capo Press|edition=1st US paperback|isbn=978-0-306-81997-1|ref=}}
* {{Cite journal| last1= Simmons| first1= Sylvie| title= Pink Floyd: The Making of The Wall| journal=Mojo Magazine| publisher=Emap Metro| location=London| volume= 73| date= December 1999| pages= pp. 76–95}}
{{Refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Commons-inline}}
* {{IMDb name}}
*[http://www.roger-waters.com/ Roger Waters Official website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/rogerwaters Roger Waters Facebook page to support The Wall live tour 2010–2012]
*[http://www.outsidethewall.net/rogerwaters2006.html Roger Waters Tour and Tickets 2012]
*[http://rogerwaterstour2012.blogspot.com/ Roger Waters Blog]
*{{OpenCorp|Roger Waters}}


{{Roger Waters}}
{{Roger Waters}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}


{{featured article}}

{{Persondata
|NAME= Waters, Roger
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Waters, George Roger
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= British Musician
|DATE OF BIRTH= 6 September 1943
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Surrey]], England
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, Roger}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waters, Roger}}
[[Category:Roger Waters| ]]
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Latest revision as of 15:17, 18 December 2024

Roger Waters
Roger Waters playing guitar
Waters in 2015
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Roger Waters
Born (1943-09-06) 6 September 1943 (age 81)
Great Bookham, Surrey, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass
  • guitar
Years active1964–present
Labels
Formerly of
Spouses
List
    • (m. 1969; div. 1975)
    • (m. 1976; div. 1992)
    • Priscilla Phillips
      (m. 1993; div. 2001)
    • Laurie Durning
      (m. 2012; div. 2015)
    • Kamilah Chavis
      (m. 2021)
MembersList
Websiterogerwaters.com

George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. In 1965, he co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd as the bassist. Following the departure of the songwriter, Syd Barrett, in 1968, Waters became Pink Floyd's lyricist, co-lead vocalist and conceptual leader until his departure in 1985.

Pink Floyd achieved international success with the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), and The Final Cut (1983). By the early 1980s, they had become one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful groups in popular music. Amid creative differences, Waters left in 1985 and began a legal dispute over the use of the band's name and material. They settled out of court in 1987. Waters's solo work includes the studio albums The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984), Radio K.A.O.S. (1987), Amused to Death (1992), and Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017). In 2005, he released Ça Ira, an opera translated from Étienne and Nadine Roda-Gils' libretto about the French Revolution.

In 1990, Waters staged one of the largest rock concerts in history, The Wall – Live in Berlin, with an attendance of 450,000. As a member of Pink Floyd, he was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Later in 2005, he reunited with Pink Floyd for the Live 8 global awareness event, their only appearance with Waters since 1981. He has toured extensively as a solo act since 1999. He performed The Dark Side of the Moon for his world tour of 2006–2008, and The Wall Live, his tour of 2010–2013, was the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist at the time.

Waters incorporates political themes in his work and is a prominent supporter of Palestine in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He has called for the removal of the Israeli West Bank Barrier, supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, and describes Israel's treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. Some of his comments, such as his likening of Israel to Nazi Germany, and elements of his live shows, drew accusations of antisemitism, which Waters dismissed as a conflation of antisemitism with anti-Zionism.

Early years

Waters was born on 6 September 1943, the younger of two boys, to Mary (née Whyte; 1913–2009) and Eric Fletcher Waters (1914–1944), in Great Bookham, Surrey.[2] His father, the son of a coal miner and Labour Party activist, was a schoolteacher, a devout Christian, and a Communist Party member.[3]

In the early years of the Second World War, Waters's father was a conscientious objector who drove an ambulance during the Blitz.[3] He later changed his stance on pacifism, joined the Territorial Army and was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant on 11 September 1943.[4] He was killed five months later on 18 February 1944 at Aprilia, during the Battle of Anzio, when Roger was five months old.[5] He is commemorated in Aprilia and at the Cassino War Cemetery.[6] On 18 February 2014, Waters unveiled a monument to his father and other war casualties in Aprilia, Italy and was made an honorary citizen of Anzio.[7] Following her husband's death, Mary Waters, also a teacher, moved with her two sons to Cambridge and raised them there.[8] Waters's earliest memory is of the V-J Day celebrations.[9]

Waters attended Morley Memorial Junior School in Cambridge and then the Cambridgeshire High School for Boys (now Hills Road Sixth Form College) with Syd Barrett.[10] The future Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour lived nearby on Mill Road and attended the Perse School.[11] At 15, Waters was chairman of the Cambridge Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (YCND),[12] having designed its publicity poster and participated in its organisation.[13] He was a keen sportsman and a highly regarded member of the high school's cricket and rugby teams.[14] Waters was unhappy at school, saying: "I hated every second of it, apart from games. The regime at school was a very oppressive one ... The same kids who are susceptible to bullying by other kids are also susceptible to bullying by the teachers."[15]

Waters met future Pink Floyd members Nick Mason and Richard Wright in London, at the Regent Street Polytechnic (later the University of Westminster) School of Architecture. Waters enrolled there in 1962, after a series of aptitude tests indicated he was well suited to that field.[16] He had initially considered a career in mechanical engineering.[17]

1965–1985: Pink Floyd

Formation and Barrett-led period

A monochrome image of Roger Waters playing bass guitar. He has shoulder-length hair, black attire, and is standing in front of a microphone.
Waters performing with Pink Floyd at Leeds University in 1970

By September 1963, Waters and Mason had lost interest in their studies and moved into the lower flat of Stanhope Gardens, owned by Mike Leonard, a part-time tutor at the Regent Street Polytechnic.[18] Waters, Mason and Wright first played music together in late 1963, in a band formed by vocalist Keith Noble and bassist Clive Metcalfe.[19] They usually called themselves Sigma 6, but also used the name the Meggadeaths.[13] Waters played rhythm guitar, Mason played drums, Wright played any keyboard he could arrange to use, and Noble's sister Sheilagh provided occasional vocals.[20] In the early years the band performed during private functions and rehearsed in a tearoom in the basement of Regent Street Polytechnic.[21]

When Metcalfe and Noble left to form their own group in September 1963, the remaining members asked Barrett and the guitarist Bob Klose to join.[22] Waters switched to the bass. By January 1964, the group became known as the Abdabs, or the Screaming Abdabs.[23] During late 1964, the band used the names Leonard's Lodgers, Spectrum Five, and eventually, the Tea Set.[24] In late 1965, the Tea Set had changed their name to the Pink Floyd Sound, later the Pink Floyd Blues Band and, by early 1966, Pink Floyd.[25]

By early 1966, Barrett was Pink Floyd's frontman, guitarist, and songwriter.[26] He wrote or co-wrote all but one track of their debut LP The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, released in August 1967.[27] Waters contributed the song "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" (his first sole writing credit) to the album.[28] By late 1967, Barrett's deteriorating mental health and increasingly erratic behaviour[29] rendered him "unable or unwilling"[30] to continue in his capacity as Pink Floyd's songwriter and lead guitarist.[27] In early March 1968, to discuss the band's future, Barrett, Mason, Waters, and Wright met with the band's managers, Peter Jenner and Andrew King, of the rock music management company they had all founded, Blackhill Enterprises. Barrett agreed to leave Pink Floyd, and the band "agreed to Blackhill's entitlement in perpetuity" regarding "past activities".[31] Their new manager, Steve O'Rourke, made a formal announcement about the departure of Barrett and the arrival of Gilmour in April 1968.[32]

Waters-led period

A monochrome image of Pink Floyd performing on a concert stage. Each band member is illuminated from above by bright spotlights
A live performance of The Dark Side of the Moon at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, shortly after its release in 1973: (l–r) David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Dick Parry, Roger Waters

After Barrett's departure in March 1968, Waters began to chart Pink Floyd's artistic direction.[33] In 1970, he composed – in collaboration with Ron GeesinMusic from The Body, a soundtrack for Roy Battersby's documentary The Body.[34][35]

Waters said he wanted to "drag [Pink Floyd] kicking and screaming back from the borders of space, from the whimsy that Syd was into, to my concerns, which were much more political and philosophical".[36] He became a dominant songwriter and the band's principal lyricist, sharing lead vocals with Gilmour and sometimes Wright. Throughout the late 1970s, he was the band's dominant creative figure until his departure in 1985.[33] He wrote most of the lyrics to the five Pink Floyd albums preceding his departure, starting with The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and ending with The Final Cut (1983), while exerting progressively more creative control. Every Waters studio album from The Dark Side of the Moon onwards has been a concept album.[37]

With lyrics entirely by Waters, The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most successful rock albums ever. It spent 736 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 chart—until July 1988—and sold over 40 million copies worldwide. As of 2005, it continued to sell over 8,000 copies a week.[38] According to the Pink Floyd biographer Glenn Povey, Dark Side of the Moon is the world's second-bestselling album and the United States' 21st-bestselling album.[39] In 2006, asked if he felt his goals for Dark Side had been accomplished, Waters said his wife wept the first time he played it for her: "You then hear it with fresh ears when you play it for somebody else. And at that point I thought to myself, 'Wow, this is a pretty complete piece of work,' and I had every confidence that people would respond to it.[40]

Waters's thematic ideas became the impetus for the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979) — written largely by Waters — and The Final Cut (1983), written entirely by him.[41] The cost of war and the loss of his father became a recurring theme, from "Corporal Clegg" (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968) and "Free Four" (Obscured by Clouds, 1972) to "Us and Them" from The Dark Side of the Moon, "When the Tigers Broke Free", first used in the feature film The Wall (1982), later included with "The Fletcher Memorial Home" on The Final Cut, an album dedicated to his father.[42] The theme and composition of The Wall was influenced by his upbringing in an English society depleted of men after the World War II.[43]

The Wall, written almost entirely by Waters, is largely based on his life story.[44] Having sold over 23 million RIAA certified units in the US as of 2013, is tied for sixth-most certified album of all time in America.[45] Pink Floyd hired Bob Ezrin to co-produce the album and cartoonist Gerald Scarfe to illustrate the sleeve art.[46] They embarked on The Wall Tour of Los Angeles, New York, London, and Dortmund, Germany. The last Pink Floyd performance of The Wall was on 17 June 1981, at Earls Court London, and this was Pink Floyd's last appearance with Waters until the band's brief reunion at 2 July 2005 Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park, 24 years later.[47]

In March 1983, the last Pink Floyd album with Waters, The Final Cut, was released. It was subtitled, "A requiem for the post-war dream by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd".[48] Waters wrote all the album's lyrics and music. His lyrics were critical of the Conservative Party government of the day and mention Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher by name.[49] At the time Gilmour did not have any new material, so he asked Waters to delay the recording until he could write some songs, but Waters refused.[50] According to Mason, after power struggles within the band and creative arguments about the album, Gilmour's name "disappeared" from the production credits, though he retained his pay.[51] Rolling Stone gave the album five stars, with Kurt Loder describing it as "a superlative achievement" and "art rock's crowning masterpiece".[52] Loder viewed the work as "essentially a Roger Waters solo album".[53]

Amidst creative differences, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and began a legal battle with the band regarding their continued use of the name and material.[54] In December 1985, Waters issued a statement to EMI and CBS invoking the "Leaving Member" clause in his contract. In October 1986, he initiated High Court proceedings to formally dissolve the Pink Floyd partnership. In his submission to the High Court he called Pink Floyd a "spent force creatively."[55] Gilmour and Mason opposed the application and announced their intention to continue as Pink Floyd. Waters said he had been forced to resign like Barrett had been years earlier, and decided to leave the band based on legal considerations, saying: "If I hadn't, the financial repercussions would have wiped me out completely."[56]

Waters did not want the band to use the name Pink Floyd without him. He said later: "I would be distressed if Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr made records and went on the road calling themselves the Beatles. If John Lennon's not in it, it's sacrilegious ... To continue with Gilmour and Mason, getting in a whole bunch of other people to write the material, seems to me an insult to the work that came before."[57] In December 1987, Waters and Pink Floyd reached an agreement.[54] Waters was released from his contractual obligation with O'Rourke, and he retained the copyrights to the Wall concept and the inflatable Animals pig.[58] Pink Floyd released three studio albums without him: A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987), The Division Bell (1994) and The Endless River (2014).[59] According to a 1999 interview with Gilmour, Waters declined an invitation to perform The Dark Side of the Moon with Pink Floyd at Earls Court, London.[57]

In 2005, Waters said the period of his departure had been a "bad, negative time", and that he regretted his part in the negativity: "Why should I have imposed my feeling about the work and what it was worth on the others if they didn't feel the same? I was wrong in attempting to do that."[60] In 2013, Waters said he regretted the lawsuit and had failed to appreciate that the Pink Floyd name had commercial value independent of the band members.[61]

1984–present: solo career

1984–1989: The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking and Radio K.A.O.S.

A concert stage in front of a wall with 2 levels. Five men stand on a balcony, including Roger Waters, who is saluting with his arm and is lit by a spotlight. On the lower level is a drum kit and a man playing guitar.
Waters (top) performing The Wall – Live in Berlin on 21 July 1990

In 1984, Waters released his first solo album, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, which dealt with Waters's feelings about monogamy and family life versus "the call of the wild."[62] The protagonist, Reg, finally chooses love and matrimony over promiscuity. The album features the guitarist Eric Clapton, the jazz saxophonist David Sanborn, and artwork by Gerald Scarfe.[62] Kurt Loder described The Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking as a "strangely static, faintly hideous record".[63] Rolling Stone rated the album a "rock bottom one star".[62] Years later, Mike DeGagne of AllMusic praised its "ingenious symbolism" and "brilliant use of stream of consciousness within a subconscious realm", rating it four out of five.[64]

Waters toured the album with Clapton, a new band, and new material; the shows included a selection of Pink Floyd songs. Waters débuted his tour in Stockholm on 16 June 1984. The tour drew poor ticket sales and some performances at larger venues were cancelled;[65] Waters estimated that he lost £400,000 on the tour.[66] In March 1985, played a tour of smaller venues in North America in 1985.[citation needed] The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking was certified gold in the US.[67]

In 1986, Waters contributed songs and a score to the soundtrack of the animated film When the Wind Blows, based on the book by Raymond Briggs. His band featuring, Paul Carrack, was credited as the Bleeding Heart Band.[68] In 1987, Waters released Radio K.A.O.S., a concept album based on a mute man named Billy from an impoverished Welsh mining town who has the ability to tune into radio waves in his head. Billy learns to communicate with a radio DJ, and eventually to control the world's computers. Angry at the state of the world in which he lives, he simulates a nuclear attack. Waters followed the release with a tour.[69]

1989–1999: The Wall – Live in Berlin and Amused to Death

In November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and in July 1990 Waters staged one of the largest and most elaborate rock concerts in history,[70] The Wall – Live in Berlin, on the vacant terrain between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate. The show reported an attendance of 200,000, though some estimates are as much as twice that, with approximately one billion television viewers.[71] Leonard Cheshire asked Waters to perform the concert to raise funds for charity. Waters's musicians included Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Scorpions, and Sinéad O'Connor. Waters also used an East German symphony orchestra and choir, a Soviet marching band, and a pair of helicopters from the US 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron. Designed by Mark Fisher, the wall was 25 metres tall and 170 metres long and was built across the set, and Scarfe's inflatable puppets were recreated on an enlarged scale. Many rock icons received invitations to the show, though Gilmour, Mason, and Wright did not.[72] Waters released a double album of the performance, which has been certified platinum by the RIAA.[73]

In 1990, Waters hired manager Mark Fenwick and left EMI for a worldwide deal with Columbia. He released his third studio album, Amused to Death, in 1992. The record was influenced heavily by the events of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the Gulf War, and a critique of the notion of war becoming the subject of entertainment, particularly on television. The title was derived from the book Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. Patrick Leonard, who worked on A Momentary Lapse of Reason, co-produced the album. Jeff Beck played lead guitar on many of the album's tracks, which were recorded with a cast of musicians at ten different recording studios.[74] It is Waters's most critically acclaimed solo recording, garnering comparison to his work with Pink Floyd.[75] Waters described the record as a "stunning piece of work", ranking it alongside Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall as one of the best of his career.[76] The song "What God Wants, Pt. 1" reached number 35 in the UK in September 1992 and number 5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the US.[77] Amused to Death was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.[78] Sales of Amused to Death topped out at around one million and there was no tour in support of the album. Waters would first perform material from it seven years later during his In the Flesh tour.[79] In 1996, Waters was inducted into the US and UK Rock and Roll Halls of Fame as a member of Pink Floyd.[80]

1999–2004: In the Flesh tour and Wall Broadway production

In 1999, after a 12-year hiatus from touring and a seven-year absence from the music industry, Waters embarked on the In the Flesh tour, performing both solo and Pink Floyd material. The tour was a financial success in the US; though Waters had booked mostly smaller venues, tickets sold so well that many of the concerts were upgraded to larger ones.[81] The tour eventually stretched across the world and spanned three years. A concert film was released on CD and DVD, In the Flesh – Live. During the tour, Waters played two new songs "Flickering Flame" and "Each Small Candle" as the final encore to many of the shows. In June 2002, he completed the tour with a performance in front of 70,000 people at the Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts, playing 15 Pink Floyd songs and five songs from his solo catalogue.[81]

Miramax announced in 2004 that a production of The Wall was to appear on Broadway with Waters playing a prominent role in the creative direction. Reports stated that the musical contained not only the original tracks from The Wall, but also songs from Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and other Pink Floyd albums, as well as new material.[82] On the night of 1 May 2004, recorded extracts from the opera, including its overture, were played on the occasion of the Welcome Europe celebrations in the accession country of Malta. Gert Hof mixed recorded excerpts from the opera into a continuous piece of music which was played as an accompaniment to a large light and fireworks display over Grand Harbour in Valletta.[83] In July 2004, Waters released two new tracks online: "To Kill the Child", inspired by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and "Leaving Beirut", an anti-war song inspired by his travels in the Middle East as a teenager.[84]

2005: Pink Floyd reunion and Ça Ira

A concert stage lit by purple lighting. Four men are performing on the stage as a crowd stands in front of it. Behind the men are video screens displaying images of vinyl records.
Waters (far right) performing with Pink Floyd at Live 8, 2 July 2005
Roger Waters, dressed in black, playing a bass guitar and speaking into a microphone. Behind him are several red vertical video panels.
Waters playing "In the Flesh" on his Dark Side of the Moon Tour at Viking Stadion, Stavanger, 26 June 2006

In July 2005, Waters reunited with Mason, Wright, and Gilmour for their final performance together at the 2005 Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park, Pink Floyd's only appearance with Waters since their final performance of The Wall at Earls Court London 24 years earlier.[85] They played a 23-minute set consisting of "Speak to Me/Breathe"/"Breathe (Reprise)", "Money", "Wish You Were Here", and "Comfortably Numb". Waters told the Associated Press that while the experience of playing with Pink Floyd again was positive, the chances of a bona fide reunion would be "slight" considering his and Gilmour's continuing musical and ideological differences.[86] Though Waters had differing ideas about which songs they should play, he "agreed to roll over for one night only".[87] In November 2005, Pink Floyd were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by Pete Townshend of the Who.[88]

In September 2005, Waters released Ça Ira (pronounced [sa iˈʁa], French for "it will be fine"; Waters added the subtitle, "There is Hope"), an opera in three acts translated from the late Étienne Roda-Gil's French libretto based on the historical subject of the French Revolution.[89] Ça Ira was released as a double CD album, featuring baritone Bryn Terfel, soprano Ying Huang and tenor Paul Groves.[90] Set during the early French Revolution, the original libretto was co-written in French by Roda-Gil and his wife Nadine Delahaye. Waters had begun rewriting the libretto in English in 1989,[91] and said about the composition: "I've always been a big fan of Beethoven's choral music, Berlioz and Borodin ... This is unashamedly romantic and resides in that early 19th-century tradition, because that's where my tastes lie in classical and choral music."[92] Waters appeared on television to discuss the opera, but the interviews often focused on his relationship with Pink Floyd, something Waters would "take in stride", a sign Pink Floyd biographer Mark Blake believes is "a testament to his mellower old age or twenty years of dedicated psychotherapy".[92] Ça Ira reached number 5 on the Billboard Classical Music Chart in the United States.[93]

2006–2009: The Dark Side of the Moon Live

In June 2006, Waters began the two-year Dark Side of the Moon Live world tour. The first half of the show featured both Pink Floyd songs and Waters's solo material; the second included a complete performance of The Dark Side of the Moon, the first time in more than three decades that Waters had performed it. The shows ended with an encore from the third side of The Wall. The elaborate staging, by the concert lighting designer Marc Brickman, included laser lights, fog machines, pyrotechnics, psychedelic projections, and inflatable floating puppets (Spaceman and Pig) controlled by a "handler" dressed as a butcher, and a full 360-degree quadraphonic sound system. Mason joined Waters for the Dark Side of the Moon set and the encores on some 2006 performances.[94]

In March 2007, the Waters song "Hello (I Love You)" featured in the science fiction film The Last Mimzy. Waters released it as a single, on CD and via download, and described it as "a song that captures the themes of the movie, the clash between humanity's best and worst instincts, and how a child's innocence can win the day".[95] He performed at California's Coachella Festival in April 2008 and was to be among the headlining artists at Live Earth 2008 in Mumbai, India, in December 2008,[96] but the concert was cancelled following the 26 November terrorist attacks in Mumbai.[97] In April 2008, Waters discussed a possible new album with the tentative name Heartland.[98]

2010s: The Wall Live and Is This the Life We Really Want?

Waters on stage wearing sunglasses and a black leather coat. He is holding a microphone up to his mouth.
Waters in Barcelona during The Wall Live in 2011

In June 2010, Waters released a cover of "We Shall Overcome", a protest song rewritten and arranged by Guy Carawan and Pete Seeger. He performed with Gilmour at the Hoping Foundation Benefit Evening in July 2010.[99] The set comprised a cover of the Phil Spector song "To Know Him Is to Love Him", which was played in early Pink Floyd soundchecks, followed by "Wish You Were Here", "Comfortably Numb", and "Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)".[100]

In September 2010, Waters began the Wall Live tour, an updated version of the original Pink Floyd tour, featuring a complete performance of The Wall.[101] At the O2 Arena in London on 12 May 2011, Gilmour and Mason again performed with Waters on "Comfortably Numb", and "Outside the Wall".[102] For the first half of 2012, the tour topped worldwide concert ticket sales, having sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally.[103] By 2013, the Wall Live had become the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist.[104] Waters performed at the Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden on 12 December 2012.[105] On 24 July 2015, he headlined the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, accompanied by the band My Morning Jacket and two singers from the group Lucius.[106] Waters performed at the Desert Trip festival in October 2016.[107]

Waters performed a series of concerts in Mexico City in October 2016

Waters released his first solo album in nearly 25 years, Is This the Life We Really Want?, on 2 June 2017.[108] It was produced by the Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. Godrich was a fan of Waters's work with Pink Floyd, but was critical of his solo work and encouraged him to make a concise album showcasing his lyrics.[109][110] Waters returned to North America in 2017 with the Us + Them Tour, performing Pink Floyd and solo material.[111]

On 26 October 2018, Sony Classical Masterworks released an adaptation of Igor Stravinsky's theatrical work The Soldier's Tale narrated by Waters.[112] On 18 April 2019, Waters joined Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets on stage at the Beacon Theatre to sing "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".[113] Waters was one of the ten highest-grossing concert acts of the decade.[114]

2020s: This is Not a Drill, Pink Floyd disputes and The Dark Side of the Moon Redux

In January 2020, Waters announced a new arena tour, This Is Not a Drill, that would tour North America and finish one month before the 2020 presidential election.[115] The tour was rescheduled to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[116][117] The concerts were held from July to October 2022,[118] and expanded with dates in Europe from March to June 2023.[119] In 2021, Waters said he had begun writing a memoir during the pandemic.[120] In December 2022, he released an EP, The Lockdown Sessions, comprising six new versions of songs from his solo career and Pink Floyd.[121]

Waters continued to quarrel with Gilmour.[122] In 2021, Waters wrote publicly of their disputes over Pink Floyd reissues and credits, accusing Gilmour of distorting the truth, and complained that Gilmour would not allow him to use Pink Floyd's website and social media channels.[120] Rolling Stone noted that Waters and Gilmour had "hit yet another low point in their relationship".[120]

Early in 2023, Waters gave an interview in which he criticised Pink Floyd's 2022 track "Hey, Hey, Rise Up!", which was released in support of Ukraine.[123] Shortly afterwards, Polly Samson, the wife of Gilmour and a lyricist for Pink Floyd, wrote on Twitter that Waters was antisemitic and "a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy megalomaniac". Gilmour responded to the tweet on Twitter: "Every word demonstrably true."[124] Waters released a statement on Twitter saying he was aware of the "incendiary and wildly inaccurate" comments and was "taking advice as to his position".[124] Asked by Piers Morgan to respond to the comments, Waters said: "No comment. Oh, shut up ... They're public, and I'm private."[125]

For the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, Waters recorded a new version, The Dark Side of the Moon Redux, released on 6 October 2023.[126] It features spoken-word sections and no guitar solos, to "bring out the heart and soul of the album musically and spiritually".[127][128] In a press release, Waters wrote: "Dave, Rick, Nick, and I were so young when we made [the original], and when you look at the world around us, clearly the message hasn't stuck. That's why I started to consider what the wisdom of an 80 year old could bring to a reimagined version."[129] In October, Waters held two concerts at the London Palladium, where he performed The Dark Side of the Moon Redux, spoke on topics such as Julian Assange and read from his unpublished memoir.[130]

Politics

Israeli–Palestinian conflict and accusations of antisemitism

Waters is a vocal supporter of Palestine in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[131] He is a member[132] of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), a campaign for an international boycott of Israel.[133] Waters first saw the Israeli West Bank barrier in 2006, at the request of Palestinian supporters, when he was scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv. He subsequently moved a Tel Aviv concert to Neve Shalom and called for the barrier's removal: "The wall is an appalling edifice to behold. It is policed by young Israeli soldiers who treated me, a casual observer from another world, with disdainful aggression."[134][135] He has repeatedly described Israel's treatment of Palestinians as apartheid.[136] In 2023, he was one of the principal signers of an open letter called Artists Against Apartheid.[137][138]

Waters has criticised numerous other artists who have performed in Israel. In 2015, Waters published an open letter in Salon criticising the rock band Bon Jovi for performing in Tel Aviv.[139] In 2017, he urged Radiohead to cancel a concert there, signing a letter with 50 others,[133] and was co-signatory on an open letter asking Nick Cave to cancel his.[140][141] Neither Radiohead nor Cave cancelled their concerts.[142][143][144] Waters narrated the 2016 documentary The Occupation of the American Mind: Israel's Public Relations War in the United States about the methods used by Israel to shape American public opinion.[145][146]

In 2013, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the associate dean of the Jewish human rights organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Center, accused Waters of antisemitism for including a giant pig balloon bearing a Star of David in his concerts.[147][148] Waters responded that it was one of several religious and political symbols in the show and not an attempt to single out Judaism as an evil force.[131]

The same year, in an interview in CounterPunch, Waters compared the Israeli treatment of Palestinians to Nazi Germany, saying: "The parallels with what went on in the 1930s in Germany are so crushingly obvious."[131] He said the reason why few celebrities had joined the BDS movement in the United States was because "the Jewish lobby is extraordinary powerful here and particularly in the industry that I work in, the music industry".[149][150] Following the remarks, the Anti-Defamation League charged that Waters's remarks were antisemitic.[150] The American rabbi Shmuley Boteach responded to Waters in the New York Observer: "That you would have the audacity to compare Jews to monsters who murdered them shows you have no decency, you have no heart, you have no soul."[131] Speaking in New York afterwards, Waters said supporters of Israel often attack critics as antisemitic as a "diversionary tactic" by conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism.[131]

In a 2017 interview with Omar Barghouti, Waters again likened Israel's public diplomacy to Nazi Germany: "The thing about propaganda – again, it's not hard to go back to Goebbels or the 1930s. You understand the tactic is to tell the big lie as often as possible over and over and over and over again. And people believe it."[151][152] In 2017, the writer Ian Halperin produced a documentary, Wish You Weren't Here, accusing Waters of antisemitism and "erecting the very walls that hinder peace in the region and fuel hatred".[153]

In 2020, Major League Baseball stopped advertising Waters's This Is Not a Drill concerts after receiving criticism from Jewish advocacy groups.[154] Later that year, Waters said the American Jewish businessman and Republican Party donor Sheldon Adelson was a "puppet master" controlling American politics. He said that Adelson believed that "only Jewish people are completely human ... I'm not saying Jewish people believe this. I am saying that he does, and he is pulling the strings."[155] In the same interview, Waters said that the murder of George Floyd was carried out with a technique developed by the Israeli Defence Forces. He said the Americans had studied the technique to learn "how to murder the blacks because they have seen how efficient the Israelis have been at murdering Palestinians in the occupied territories by using those techniques ... The Israelis are proud of it."[155] In January 2024, the BMG music company cancelled a publishing agreement with Waters over his comments on Israel, Ukraine and the United States.[156]

In a February 2024 interview with Al Jazeera, Waters criticised the U2 singer Bono for dedicating a live performance of "Pride (In the Name of Love)" to those killed in the 2023 Nova music festival massacre. Bono changed the lyrics of the song, which was written about Martin Luther King, from "Free at last/They took your life" to "Stars of David/They took your life". Waters said it was "so disgusting and degrading when you stand up for the Zionist entity. What he did a couple of weeks ago in the Sphere in Las Vegas, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in my life."[157]

In July 2024, Waters engaged in heated debate with Piers Morgan on Piers Morgan Uncensored, arguing that there was no evidence of sexual assault by the Palestinian organisation Hamas, that Israel targeted its own citizens in false flag operations, and that Palestinians had a right to "fight back against the oppressor".[125] During the UK general election that month, Waters criticised the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, for his stance on the Israel–Hamas war and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and performed a pro-Palestine concert in London with Cat Stevens and Lowkey.[158]

Fascist imagery and German police investigation

On 25 February 2023, the German city of Frankfurt cancelled one of Waters's scheduled shows, calling him one of the "most widely known antisemites" and citing his support for BDS, the imagery at his shows and his talks with Hamas. The move was supported by the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Frankfurt Jewish Community.[159][136] Waters hired a German law firm to challenge the concert cancellation, and released a statement denying the accusations and stating that the cancellation could have "serious, far-reaching consequences for artists and activists all over the world".[136] A German court overturned the cancellation, saying the concert should be viewed as a work of art and that it "did not glorify or relativise the crimes of the Nazis or identify with Nazi racist ideology".[160]

That May, German police opened a criminal investigation into Waters and the Nazi-style uniform he wore during his Berlin performance for possible incitement.[161] Nazi symbolism is banned in Germany, with exemptions for educational and artistic purposes.[162] Waters has long used similar uniforms for performances of The Wall, in which the protagonist hallucinates himself as a fascist dictator.[162] Israel's Foreign Ministry criticised Waters for his performance.[163] The US Department of State called it "deeply offensive to Jewish people" and accused Waters of having a record of using antisemitic tropes.[164] In the UK, Starmer and the secretary of state, Michael Gove, issued statements condemning him.[165]

Waters said the use of fascist imagery was a statement in "opposition to fascism, injustice and bigotry".[166] He pointed out that he had been using Nazi-inspired uniforms in performances since 1980, but they had only recently attracted controversy.[167] Waters felt the criticism was disingenuous and politically motivated,[166] and that he had been attacked at the behest of the "Israeli lobby" in Germany.[168] In an interview with Double Down News, Waters said the accusations of antisemitism were a "vicious lie" and "deeply insulting", and that he was a victim of cancel culture. He said that the Israeli government was attempting to discredit him as they saw him as an "existential threat to their settler-colonialist, racist, apartheid regime".[167]

In May 2023, the Labour MP Christian Wakeford criticised Waters's shows in UK parliament. Waters responded at a concert in London the following month, calling Wakeford a "fucking moron" and a "cripple", which Variety said "drew a sharp intake of breath" from some in attendance. Waters also said he was "pissed off with this Israeli lobby bullshit" and accused critics of "making up stuff because you've been told to by your masters from the Foreign Office in Tel Aviv".[169]

2023 documentary alleging antisemitism

In September 2023, a documentary alleging antisemitism by Waters, The Dark Side of Roger Waters, was released by the British group Campaign Against Antisemitism.[170] It includes accounts from Waters's past collaborators, including the Wall producer Bob Ezrin, who say Waters made offensive remarks about Jewish people.[170] In a separate statement, Ezrin said he did not object to Waters's challenging Israeli policy, but that "if your language directly or by implication promotes the eradication of the world's only Jewish state, then that is absolutely antisemitism in my book".[170] Waters responded in a statement that he was "frequently mouthy and prone to irreverence" but not antisemitic, and that the film misrepresented his views.[170]

According to the documentary, in a 2010 email to his crew, Waters described his idea for the inflatable pig to be floated above his gigs, which would have the words "dirty kyke", "follow the money" and "Scum" written on it.[171] In response, Waters said that the "offensive words I referenced... were my brainstorming ideas on how to make the evils and horrors of fascism and extremism apparent", and "not the manifestation of any underlying bigotry as the film suggests".[171]

Hotel cancellations

Waters said in an interview with Glenn Greenwald that the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel may have been a false flag operation and that "resistance to the Israeli occupation" is legally and morally justifiable.[172] In November 2023, after the interview with Greenwald, the Faena Hotel and the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires cancelled Waters reservations without giving a reason.[173] Several Argentine deputies repudiated Waters's visit to their country.[174][175]

The Hyatt Centric and the Regency Hotels in Montevideo denied Waters accommodation based on the right of admission.[176] Felipe Schipani [es], a Colorado Party National Representative, asked the Municipality of Montevideo to withdraw the "illustrious visitor to Montevideo" title given to Waters in 2018.[177]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

A week before the 2022 full Russian invasion of Ukraine, Waters told an RT interviewer that rumours of Russia launching an invasion were "bullshit" and anti-Russian propaganda.[178] After the invasion, Waters said that US President Joe Biden was "fuelling the fire in the Ukraine... that is a huge crime", and questioned why the United States was not encouraging Ukraine "to negotiate, obviating the need for this horrific, horrendous war". Responding to accusations that he was placing the responsibility to negotiate on the country that was invaded, Waters said that Russia was responding to provocations from NATO: "This war is basically about the action and reaction of NATO pushing right up to the Russian border – which they promised they wouldn't do when Gorbachev negotiated the withdrawal of the U.S.S.R. from the whole of Eastern Europe."[179][180] In another interview, Waters said the invasion of Ukraine was "probably the most provoked invasion ever" and that he refused to "see Russia from the current Russo-phobic perspective".[181]

On 5 September 2022, the day after Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, appeared on the BBC, Waters published an open letter to her. He accused Ukrainian "extreme nationalists" of starting the war and made no mention of Russia's responsibility for the invasion.[182] He argued that the West should not provide Ukraine with weapons, and that Western governments were prolonging the war with their support. Waters urged her husband to end the war based on the Minsk agreements.[183] Waters's concerts in Poland were cancelled following local outrage over his comments.[182] In February 2023, at the Russian government's request, Waters gave a speech to the United Nations Security Council. He condemned the invasion of Ukraine as illegal, but said it was "not unprovoked" and that he also "condemned the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms. ... The only sensible course of action today is to call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine".[181][184] The speech drew criticism from American, Ukrainian and Albanian diplomats, and praise from Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy.[181]

Other views

In this scene, Waters punches the wall, while the projections simulate the wall crumbling as a result, revealing a bright sunset behind
Waters performing "Comfortably Numb" during The Wall Live in Kansas City, 30 October 2010

After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami disaster, Waters performed "Wish You Were Here" with Eric Clapton during a benefit concert on the American network NBC.[185]

He criticised the Hunting Act of 2004 and supported the Countryside Alliance, but explained he was defending the right to hunt rather than supporting the activity himself. Waters explained that whether he supported hunting or not, it was important to defend it as a right.[84][186]

In 2007, Waters became a spokesman for Millennium Promise, a non-profit organisation fighting poverty and malaria.[187] That July, he participated in the American leg of the Live Earth concert, aimed at raising awareness about global climate change.[188] In 2015, Waters said that socialism was "a good thing", and called for socialised healthcare in the United States.[189]

Waters is supportive of veterans, which he partly attributes to the death of his father in World War II. He allocates a block of tickets for veterans at his shows. For a few years he performed with a group of wounded veterans that was arranged through the United States National Military Medical Center.[190] In 2012, he led a benefit for United States military veterans, Stand Up for Heroes, and invited a group of combat-wounded veterans, MusiCorps, to perform with him.[191]

Waters performing in Gdańsk in August 2018 during the Us + Them Tour, criticising the Polish government's treatment of the courts and media.

Waters opposed Brexit (the UK leaving the European Union). Following the June 2016 referendum, which resulted in leaving the EU, he said: "I thought we were better than that. I was wrong."[192] He criticised US President Donald Trump and his policies.[193] In 2017, Waters condemned Trump's plan to build a wall separating the US and Mexico, drawing parallels to The Wall.[194]

After the April 2018 Douma chemical attack carried out by the Syrian government, Waters called civil defence volunteers, the White Helmets, "a fake organisation that exists only to create propaganda for the jihadists and terrorists" trying to incite the West to "start dropping bombs on people in Syria".[195][196][197][198]

In 2018, Waters included the Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in a list of "neo-fascists" displayed on a screen at his concert in São Paulo, which drew mixed responses from the crowd.[199] In a concert in Rio de Janeiro that October, he acknowledged the murdered Brazilian councilwoman Marielle Franco and brought her daughter, sister and widow on stage.[200] In an interview with the online music magazine BrooklynVegan, he said he tried to visit the progressive politician Lula da Silva, who was imprisoned on corruption charges; Waters said "the only reason Lula is in prison is because he would have won the election".[201]

In 2019, Waters spoke at a rally outside the Home Office calling for the release of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and dedicated a performance of "Wish You Were Here" to him.[202] The following year, he spoke at a rally in support of Assange outside parliament in London.[203] He showed his support for the 2019–2022 Chilean protests through a video from POUSTA.com.[204] In an interview with the communist deputy Camila Vallejo, he condemned the president Sebastian Piñera, calling him a "rat", and said the 2022 Chilean national plebiscite was "extraordinarily revolutionary".[205]

Waters supports Steven Donziger, an American lawyer embroiled in environmental litigation against Chevron corporation, and has funded some of Donziger's legal fees.[206] He endorsed the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election, describing him as a "beacon of hope".[207]

During his 2022 This Is Not a Drill shows, every US president from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump was labelled a war criminal and a message was displayed that Joe Biden was "just getting started".[208] In an interview with Michael Smerconish, Waters said that Taiwan was part of China and that this had been "absolutely accepted by the whole of the international community since 1948".[179] Waters endorsed the Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro for the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, saying the main Venezuelan opposition candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, is a "sockpuppet" of the U.S. government.[209]

Artistry

Roger Waters playing bass and singing
Waters in Barcelona during The Wall Live, 5 April 2011

Waters's primary instrument in Pink Floyd was the bass guitar. However, he said in 1992 that he was "never a bass player" and was "not interested in playing instruments and I never have been".[210] Gilmour said that Waters used a limited, simple style and had not been interested in improving, and that Gilmour had played many of the bass parts on Pink Floyd records.[210] According to Mason in 2018, Waters feels that "everything should be judged on the writing rather than the playing".[122]

Author Mike Cormack claims that Waters is "surely the greatest lyricist in all of rock music",[211] for example pointing to Waters's use of trochaic tetrameter in the refrain of the song "Time",[212] calling the lyrics to "Comfortably Numb" "the greatest ever in rock music"[213] and highlighting the "exquisite phrasing"[214] of "Your Possible Pasts".

Waters briefly played a Höfner bass, but replaced it with a Rickenbacker RM-1999/4001S. In 1970, it was stolen along with the rest of Pink Floyd's equipment in New Orleans.[23] He began using Fender Precision Basses in 1968, originally alongside the Rickenbacker 4001, and then exclusively after the Rickenbacker was lost in 1970. First seen at a concert in Hyde Park, London, in July 1970, the black P-Bass was rarely used until April 1972, when it became his main stage guitar. On 2 October 2010, it became the basis for a Fender Artist Signature model.[215] Waters endorses Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 flat-wound strings.[216] He has used Selmer, WEM, Hiwatt, and Ashdown amplifiers but used Ampeg for later tours. He has employed delay, tremolo, chorus, stereo panning and phaser effects in his bass playing.[217]

Waters experimented with the EMS Synthi A and VCS 3 synthesisers on Pink Floyd pieces such as "On the Run",[218] "Welcome to the Machine",[219] and "In the Flesh?"[220] He played electric and acoustic guitar on Pink Floyd tracks using Fender, Martin, Ovation and Washburn guitars.[217] He played electric guitar on the Pink Floyd song "Sheep", from Animals,[221] and acoustic guitar on several Pink Floyd recordings, such as "Pigs on the Wing 1 & 2", also from Animals,[222] "Southampton Dock" from The Final Cut,[223] and on "Mother" from The Wall.[224] A Binson Echorec 2 delay effect was used on his bass lead track "One of These Days".[225] Waters plays trumpet during concert performances of "Outside the Wall".[226]

Personal life

In 1969, Waters married his childhood sweetheart Judith Trim, a school teacher and potter. She was featured on the gatefold sleeve of the original release of the Pink Floyd album Ummagumma, but excised from CD reissues.[227] They had no children and divorced in 1975.[228] Trim died in 2001.[229]

In 1976, Waters married Carolyne Christie, the niece of the third Marquess of Zetland.[228] They had a son, Harry Waters, who has played keyboards with Waters's touring band since 2002, and a daughter, India Waters, who has worked as a model.[230] Christie and Waters divorced in 1992.[228] In 1993, Waters married Priscilla Phillips. They had a son, Jack Fletcher. Their marriage ended in 2001.[231]

In 2004, Waters became engaged to the actress and filmmaker Laurie Durning.[232] They married on 14 January 2012[233] and filed for divorce in September 2015.[234] Waters married his fifth wife, Kamilah Chavis, in October 2021.[235] Waters has homes in Long Island and Hampshire.[236] He is an atheist.[237][238]

Discography

Solo albums
Other work

Tours

Live band members

Current members

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General and cited sources

Further reading

  • Hiatt, Brian (September 2010). "Back to The Wall". Rolling Stone. Vol. 1114. pp. 50–57.
  • Rose, Phil (2015). Roger Waters and Pink Floyd: The Concept Albums. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-61147-761-0.
  • Scarfe, Gerald (2010). The Making of Pink Floyd: The Wall (1st US paperback ed.). Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81997-1.
  • Simmons, Sylvie (December 1999). "Pink Floyd: The Making of The Wall". Mojo. Vol. 73. pp. 76–95.