Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters, in an interview with the Russian News-Wire RIA Novosti, said that Ukraine was no longer a democracy, following the coup, which western countries refer to as Euromaiden of 2013-14, when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown without completing the impeachment process. He called out the Hollywood stars, particularly Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and former band partner David Gilmour, as "clueless" and "ignorant" for donating money to the “Bandera Nazi” Kyiv Regime.&nbsp;“Angelina Jolie doesn’t know this. She’s never heard of James Baker. They’re ignorant,” said Waters, “And Sean Penn. They’re ignorant. And (U2 front man) Bono, and (Pink Floyd’s lead guitarist) David Gilmour, they’re all completely ignorant.”&nbsp;Angelina Jolie visited the war-torn Kherson, Ukraine, in November after Russians bombed a maternity ward. &nbsp;“I am sure that Angelina Jolie is absolutely clueless on this issue,” Waters said. He added that Jolie didn't understand the history and essence of the conflict.<h2>Western assurances on NATO expansion</h2>Waters recalls that in 1990, US Secretary of State James Baker assured Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not move an inch from East Germany. However, NATO aggressively expanded following the fall of the Soviet Union. Hence Moscow's invasion, eventhough illegal, is not unprovoked.&nbsp;It is indeed true that there were assurances of Western leaders in 1990 to Gorbachev about no expansion eastward, but it was neither a verbal agreement nor legally binding. “The topic of NATO expansion was not discussed at all… It was not brought up in those years,” Gorbachev said in an interview. He did say the “spirit” of partnership was violated later, but acknowledged no formal promise was made.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters says Ukraine lost its democracy long ago, accusing the Kiev regime of “Bandera Nazi policies” and an illegal coup. <a href="https://t.co/IEQdESIyJJ">pic.twitter.com/IEQdESIyJJ</a>&mdash; Sputnik (@SputnikInt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/1989627012718420266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Ukraine is running out of soldiers — soon &quot;there won&#39;t be any left,&quot; Pink Floyd’s co-founder Roger Waters warns. <a href="https://t.co/iCpRgwTYhr">pic.twitter.com/iCpRgwTYhr</a>&mdash; Sputnik (@SputnikInt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/1989658638886052287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Ukraine is facing double trouble</h2>Waters also added that soon there will be nothing left for Ukraine to fight; they are “dragging middle-aged men and babies putting them in trenches” to battle the Russian army. Russia has intensified its operations, targeting the energy sectors of Ukraine. Ukraine is being barraged by missiles and bombs every night. People in Kyiv are living without electricity for 11 hours each day. If that was not enough, Zelensky's accomplice and their energy corruption scandal have rocked the country. Investigators said about $100 million had been siphoned off 10-15 per cent from alleged kickbacks from contractors, including those working to protect critical energy infrastructure. Two of President Volodymyr Zelensky's ministers and a former business partner have been embroiled in this. The two ministers have resigned. The man mastermind of this scandal, Timur Mindich, appeared to suggest he had influence over the president, Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Roger Waters calls Ukraine undemocratic after the 2013–14 overthrow, criticises Hollywood stars of being oblivious to the essence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and cites NATO's betrayal of the expansion assurances of James Baker to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.

Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters, in an interview with the Russian News-Wire RIA Novosti, said that Ukraine was no longer a democracy, following the coup, which western countries refer to as Euromaiden of 2013-14, when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown without completing the impeachment process. He called out the Hollywood stars, particularly Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and former band partner David Gilmour, as "clueless" and "ignorant" for donating money to the “Bandera Nazi” Kyiv Regime. “Angelina Jolie doesn’t know this. She’s never heard of James Baker. They’re ignorant,” said Waters, “And Sean Penn. They’re ignorant. And (U2 front man) Bono, and (Pink Floyd’s lead guitarist) David Gilmour, they’re all completely ignorant.” Angelina Jolie visited the war-torn Kherson, Ukraine, in November after Russians bombed a maternity ward. “I am sure that Angelina Jolie is absolutely clueless on this issue,” Waters said. He added that Jolie didn't understand the history and essence of the conflict. Western assurances on NATO expansion Waters recalls that in 1990, US Secretary of State James Baker assured Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not move an inch from East Germany. However, NATO aggressively expanded following the fall of the Soviet Union. Hence Moscow's invasion, eventhough illegal, is not unprovoked. It is indeed true that there were assurances of Western leaders in 1990 to Gorbachev about no expansion eastward, but it was neither a verbal agreement nor legally binding. “The topic of NATO expansion was not discussed at all… It was not brought up in those years,” Gorbachev said in an interview. He did say the “spirit” of partnership was violated later, but acknowledged no formal promise was made.

Roger Waters calls Ukraine undemocratic after the 2013–14 overthrow, criticises Hollywood stars for being oblivious to the essence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and cites NATO's betrayal of the expansion assurances of James Baker to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.

Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters says Ukraine lost its democracy long ago, slams 'ignorant' celebs for knowing nothing about the conflict

Roger Waters is ready to face the heat after making controversial statements on the Israeli Defence Forces over the ongoing&nbsp;war against Hamas that has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives so far. The Pink Floyd rocker who co-founded the iconic band made a stand against the offensive claims about Hamas.&nbsp;

As a starting point, Roger Waters said that there was no proof that victims of the October 7 attack against Israel by Hamas had sexual implications. He also stated that Hamas are “morally bound to resist occupation” by Israel.&nbsp;

<h2>Some controversial things that Roger Waters said</h2>

The rocker made these statements as he spoke to Piers Morgan. On Piers’ talk show, Roger Waters said, “I'm not saying a part of the Palestinian resistance movement didn't cross that wire fence. I am not saying that didn't happen at all. What I am saying is there is all this talk about does Israel have a right to defend itself why didn't Israel defend itself that morning?”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-wait-what-bridgerton-casting-director-flooded-with-sex-tapes-737625">Wait, what? Bridgerton casting director is flooded with sex tapes as audition</a>

He further asked, “Why did they wait seven hours before they started machine-gunning everyone?”&nbsp;

When things became a bit uneasy on the talk show, the rockstar proposed that there should be a thorough investigation into the events of October 7.&nbsp;

When Piers asserted that women were raped on that day, Roger Waters said, “No they weren't. There was no evidence. You can say anything that you want but there is no evidence.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-justin-timberlakes-police-mugshot-is-now-a-limited-edition-art-piece-737666">Justin Timberlake's police mugshot is now a "limited edition" art piece</a>

The musician added that Israel had targeted its own civilians. “All those piles of cars they were destroyed by Apache missiles from helicopters Hamas didn't have helicopters,” he said.

He even supported the Palestinian cause and said, “The people fighting on behalf of Palestine liberation have a legal and moral have a right to fight back against the oppressor. If someone invades your country, kicks all the people out of their home, steals everything and is stealing all your land and occupies all your land for 75 years you have an absolute right to armed resistance.”

&nbsp;

Roger Waters is ready to face the heat after making controversial statements on the Israeli Defence Forces over the ongoing war against Hamas that has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives so far.

Roger Waters is ready to face the heat after making controversial statements on the Israeli Defence Forces over the ongoing war against Hamas that has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives so far. The Pink Floyd rocker who co-founded the iconic band made a stand against the offensive claims about Hamas. As a starting point, Roger Waters said that there was no proof that victims of the October 7 attack against Israel by Hamas had sexual implications. He also stated that Hamas are “morally bound to resist occupation” by Israel. Some controversial things that Roger Waters said The rocker made these statements as he spoke to Piers Morgan. On Piers’ talk show, Roger Waters said, “I'm not saying a part of the Palestinian resistance movement didn't cross that wire fence. I am not saying that didn't happen at all. What I am saying is there is all this talk about does Israel have a right to defend itself why didn't Israel defend itself that morning?” Also read: Wait, what? Bridgerton casting director is flooded with sex tapes as audition He further asked, “Why did they wait seven hours before they started machine-gunning everyone?” When things became a bit uneasy on the talk show, the rockstar proposed that there should be a thorough investigation into the events of October 7. When Piers asserted that women were raped on that day, Roger Waters said, “No they weren't. There was no evidence. You can say anything that you want but there is no evidence.” Also read: Justin Timberlake's police mugshot is now a "limited edition" art piece The musician added that Israel had targeted its own civilians. “All those piles of cars they were destroyed by Apache missiles from helicopters Hamas didn't have helicopters,” he said. He even supported the Palestinian cause and said, “The people fighting on behalf of Palestine liberation have a legal and moral have a right to fight back against the oppressor. If someone invades your country, kicks all the people out of their home, steals everything and is stealing all your land and occupies all your land for 75 years you have an absolute right to armed resistance.”

Pink Floyd rocker Roger Waters says no evidence that Hamas raped Israeli victims of October 7 attack

Pink Floyd co-founder&nbsp;Roger&nbsp;Waters&nbsp;said he was opposing fascism and bigotry when he wore a Nazi-style uniform on stage at a concert in Berlin that led German police to launch an investigation into the British musician.

The 79-year-old said aspects of his performance at Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena that have been questioned were "quite clearly" a statement against fascism, injustice and bigotry.

"Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated," he tweeted.

Images from a May 17 concert showed the famed singer and bass player in a long black trench coat with bright red armbands, aiming an imitation machine gun into the audience.

The outfit included a swastika-like emblem made of two crossed hammers - iconography that also appeared on costumes in a film based on Pink Floyd's hit 1979 album "The Wall", a critique of fascism.

Waters&nbsp;said the depiction of "an unhinged fascist demagogue" had been a feature of his shows since "The Wall".

Social media users defended&nbsp;Waters, saying the performance was a recreation of satirical scenes from the film starring rock star turned campaigner Bob Geldof and that&nbsp;Waters&nbsp;had worn the same costume in past concerts.

Nazi symbols, flags and uniforms are prohibited in Germany.&nbsp;Waters&nbsp;is being investigated under a separate law on suspicion of "incitement of the people", police said.

The costume worn by&nbsp;Waters&nbsp;"is deemed capable of violating the dignity of the victims, as well as approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a way that disrupts public peace," a police spokesperson said.

Other German cities including Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne tried to cancel&nbsp;Waters' concerts after Jewish groups including the Central Council of Jews accused him of anti-Semitism.

Waters&nbsp;is a member of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement that targets Israel over its occupation of territories where Palestinians seek statehood.

He denied the accusations and the efforts to stop the concerts were unsuccessful. The final German tour date at Frankfurt's Festhalle venue on Sunday is still listed on&nbsp;Waters' website.

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters said he was opposing fascism and bigotry when he wore a Nazi-style uniform on stage at a concert in Berlin that led German police to launch an investigation into the British musician.

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters said he was opposing fascism and bigotry when he wore a Nazi-style uniform on stage at a concert in Berlin that led German police to launch an investigation into the British musician. The 79-year-old said aspects of his performance at Berlin's Mercedes-Benz Arena that have been questioned were "quite clearly" a statement against fascism, injustice and bigotry. "Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated," he tweeted. Images from a May 17 concert showed the famed singer and bass player in a long black trench coat with bright red armbands, aiming an imitation machine gun into the audience. The outfit included a swastika-like emblem made of two crossed hammers - iconography that also appeared on costumes in a film based on Pink Floyd's hit 1979 album "The Wall", a critique of fascism. Waters said the depiction of "an unhinged fascist demagogue" had been a feature of his shows since "The Wall". Social media users defended Waters, saying the performance was a recreation of satirical scenes from the film starring rock star turned campaigner Bob Geldof and that Waters had worn the same costume in past concerts. Nazi symbols, flags and uniforms are prohibited in Germany. Waters is being investigated under a separate law on suspicion of "incitement of the people", police said. The costume worn by Waters "is deemed capable of violating the dignity of the victims, as well as approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a way that disrupts public peace," a police spokesperson said. Other German cities including Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne tried to cancel Waters' concerts after Jewish groups including the Central Council of Jews accused him of anti-Semitism. Waters is a member of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement that targets Israel over its occupation of territories where Palestinians seek statehood. He denied the accusations and the efforts to stop the concerts were unsuccessful. The final German tour date at Frankfurt's Festhalle venue on Sunday is still listed on Waters' website.

Roger Waters says Nazi outfit at Berlin concert was anti-fascist

Last week, Roger Waters, the co-founder and former lyricist of the rock band Pink Floyd, drew flak for donning a 'Nazi-style uniform' at a concert in Berlin.

As per the local media reports, Waters performed at Germany's Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 17, where the words, "The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite, just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly," were projected on a screen.

On Friday (26 May), Berlin police released a statement saying that they were investigating Waters for incitement to hatred.

As per the images circulated on social media, Waters could be seen wearing a long, black coat with red armbands on stage at the Mercedes-Benz arena last week.

"We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing worn on stage could be used to used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace," police spokesman Martin Halweg told AFP, confirming an earlier report by Jewish News.

"The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer," Halweg added.

Waters is known to be a pro-Palestinian activist and has also been condemned for holding anti-Jewish views.&nbsp;

In recent weeks, the singer has performed in several German cities as part of his "This Is Not A Drill" tour.

The crooner has denied the anti-Semitism condemnations arguing that he was demonstrating against Israeli policies and not the Jewish people.

As per AFP reports, at the controversial Berlin concert, Waters flashed the names of several deceased people on a large screen, including that of Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp.

<h2>Israeli Foreign Ministry condemns Roger Waters</h2>

What drew particular outrage from social media users in Israel and the Israeli Foreign Ministry was Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh being listed immediately before Holocaust victim Anne Frank.

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Good morning to every one but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. <a href="https://t.co/4tcrV6f8mt">pic.twitter.com/4tcrV6f8mt</a>
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1661272469238435840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Good morning to everyone but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust," Israel's foreign ministry tweeted earlier this week.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre also took to Twitter and criticised the event further calling for the German authorities to officially charge Waters for invoking and distorting Holocaust images.

"Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin — a place from where Jews were deported by the Nazis — for providing anti-Semite #RogerWaters this venue for his concert with no concern/care for the Jewish community," the centre tweeted.

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Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin — a place from where Jews were deported by the Nazis — for providing anti-Semite <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RogerWaters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RogerWaters</a> this venue for his concert with no concern/care for the Jewish community. <a href="https://t.co/XYAS4bFi7h">https://t.co/XYAS4bFi7h</a>
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/simonwiesenthal/status/1661144197578248193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Will Germany prosecute #RogerWaters for Holocaust distortion or will promoters rush to book the anti-Semite for more lurid 3-D anti-Israel + #Antisemitic hatefests masquerading as concerts?" it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

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Last week, Roger Waters, the co-founder and former lyricist of the rock band Pink Floyd, drew flak for donning a 'Nazi-style uniform' at a concert in Berlin. As per the local media reports, Waters performed at Germany's Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 17, where the words, "The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite, just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly," were projected on a screen.

Last week, Roger Waters, the co-founder and former lyricist of the rock band Pink Floyd, drew flak for donning a 'Nazi-style uniform' at a concert in Berlin. As per the local media reports, Waters performed at Germany's Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 17, where the words, "The show will start in 10 minutes and a court in Frankfurt has ruled that I am not an antisemite, just to be clear, I condemn antisemitism unreservedly," were projected on a screen. On Friday (26 May), Berlin police released a statement saying that they were investigating Waters for incitement to hatred. As per the images circulated on social media, Waters could be seen wearing a long, black coat with red armbands on stage at the Mercedes-Benz arena last week. "We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing worn on stage could be used to used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace," police spokesman Martin Halweg told AFP, confirming an earlier report by Jewish News. "The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer," Halweg added. Waters is known to be a pro-Palestinian activist and has also been condemned for holding anti-Jewish views. In recent weeks, the singer has performed in several German cities as part of his "This Is Not A Drill" tour. The crooner has denied the anti-Semitism condemnations arguing that he was demonstrating against Israeli policies and not the Jewish people. As per AFP reports, at the controversial Berlin concert, Waters flashed the names of several deceased people on a large screen, including that of Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager who died in a Nazi concentration camp. Israeli Foreign Ministry condemns Roger Waters What drew particular outrage from social media users in Israel and the Israeli Foreign Ministry was Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh being listed immediately before Holocaust victim Anne Frank. Good morning to every one but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. pic.twitter.com/4tcrV6f8mt — Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) May 24, 2023 × "Good morning to everyone but Roger Waters who spent the evening in Berlin (Yes Berlin) desecrating the memory of Anne Frank and the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust," Israel's foreign ministry tweeted earlier this week. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre also took to Twitter and criticised the event further calling for the German authorities to officially charge Waters for invoking and distorting Holocaust images. "Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin — a place from where Jews were deported by the Nazis — for providing anti-Semite #RogerWaters this venue for his concert with no concern/care for the Jewish community," the centre tweeted. Shame on Frankfurt authorities and Mercedes Benz arena in Berlin — a place from where Jews were deported by the Nazis — for providing anti-Semite #RogerWaters this venue for his concert with no concern/care for the Jewish community. https://t.co/XYAS4bFi7h — SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) May 23, 2023 × "Will Germany prosecute #RogerWaters for Holocaust distortion or will promoters rush to book the anti-Semite for more lurid 3-D anti-Israel + #Antisemitic hatefests masquerading as concerts?" it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Berlin police to investigate Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters for inciting hatred by donning ‘Nazi-style’ uniform

Police in Germany have launched an investigation into Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters after he fired an imitation machine gun while wearing a Nazi-inspired uniform at a concert in Berlin.

Roger Water dresses up as Nazi officer at Berlin concert

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters was denounced by Ukraine Wednesday after he told the United Nations Security Council that Russia's invasion of its neighbour was "not unprovoked."

The 79-year-old, who has sparked controversy before this with his stance on the war, was invited by Moscow to address the 15-member Council.

"The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was illegal. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," the British musician said via video.

But Waters then implied that Kyiv was to blame as well.

"Also the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not unprovoked. So I also condemn the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms," he said, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Ukraine's UN ambassador hit back, playing on the title of one of Pink Floyd's most famous songs.

"How sad for his former fans to see him accepting the role of just a brick in the wall, a wall of Russian disinformation and propaganda," said Sergiy Kyslytsya.&nbsp;Kyiv's representative even referenced the giant inflatable pink pig that featured in many of the progressive rock band's shows.

He said he was surprised the bassist had not arranged to have it floating in the Security Council chamber.

"What could it have been this time Mr Waters? Pigs with swastikas and the hammer and sickle?" Kyslytsya asked during the surreal discussion.

The Council has held numerous debates on the war but has failed to take any action due to Russia's veto.

"If this is a toothless chamber, I can open my big mouth on behalf of the voices without fear of getting my head bitten off," Waters said.

Russia requested the meeting to discuss arms supplied to Ukraine by the West.

US deputy ambassador Richard Mills said of Waters: "While I certainly acknowledge his impressive credentials as a recording artist, his qualifications to speak to us as an expert briefer on arms control or European security issues, are less evident to me." 
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia welcomed the participation of a man he called "one of the most prominent activists of the contemporary anti-war movement."

Last September, Waters was declared persona non grata by the Polish city of Krakow after his concerts were scrapped there over his war stance.

Waters had written an open letter that month saying the West should stop providing arms to Kyiv, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of allowing "extreme nationalism" in Ukraine and urging him to "put an end to this deadly war."

This week, Pink Floyd songwriter Polly Samson, wife of band member David Gilmour, called Waters "anti-Semitic" and "a Putin apologist" in a tweet.

Waters responded by posting a statement on Twitter that said he "refutes entirely" Samson's accusation. 
&nbsp;

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters was denounced by Ukraine Wednesday after he told the United Nations Security Council that Russia's invasion of its neighbour was "not unprovoked.

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters was denounced by Ukraine Wednesday after he told the United Nations Security Council that Russia's invasion of its neighbour was "not unprovoked." The 79-year-old, who has sparked controversy before this with his stance on the war, was invited by Moscow to address the 15-member Council. "The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation was illegal. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," the British musician said via video. But Waters then implied that Kyiv was to blame as well. "Also the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not unprovoked. So I also condemn the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms," he said, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Ukraine's UN ambassador hit back, playing on the title of one of Pink Floyd's most famous songs. "How sad for his former fans to see him accepting the role of just a brick in the wall, a wall of Russian disinformation and propaganda," said Sergiy Kyslytsya. Kyiv's representative even referenced the giant inflatable pink pig that featured in many of the progressive rock band's shows. He said he was surprised the bassist had not arranged to have it floating in the Security Council chamber. "What could it have been this time Mr Waters? Pigs with swastikas and the hammer and sickle?" Kyslytsya asked during the surreal discussion. The Council has held numerous debates on the war but has failed to take any action due to Russia's veto. "If this is a toothless chamber, I can open my big mouth on behalf of the voices without fear of getting my head bitten off," Waters said. Russia requested the meeting to discuss arms supplied to Ukraine by the West. US deputy ambassador Richard Mills said of Waters: "While I certainly acknowledge his impressive credentials as a recording artist, his qualifications to speak to us as an expert briefer on arms control or European security issues, are less evident to me." Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia welcomed the participation of a man he called "one of the most prominent activists of the contemporary anti-war movement." Last September, Waters was declared persona non grata by the Polish city of Krakow after his concerts were scrapped there over his war stance. Waters had written an open letter that month saying the West should stop providing arms to Kyiv, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of allowing "extreme nationalism" in Ukraine and urging him to "put an end to this deadly war." This week, Pink Floyd songwriter Polly Samson, wife of band member David Gilmour, called Waters "anti-Semitic" and "a Putin apologist" in a tweet. Waters responded by posting a statement on Twitter that said he "refutes entirely" Samson's accusation.

Wish You Were (not) Here: Pink Floyd's Waters slammed for UN speech on Ukraine

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters lashed out on Sunday after two upcoming concerts in Krakow in Poland were scrapped following criticism from city councillors over his stance on the war in Ukraine.

The city council is scheduled to debate a motion this week that would declare Waters a "persona non grata" and one councillor, Lukasz Wantuch, had urged city residents to boycott the Waters concerts.

Waters wrote an open letter earlier this month saying the West should stop providing arms to Ukraine, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of allowing "extreme nationalism" in Ukraine and urging him to "put an end to this deadly war".

Live Nation Polska said on Twitter on Saturday that the concerts, which had been scheduled for April next year at the city's Tauron Arena, had been "cancelled" but did not give any more details.

Waters on Facebook denied Polish media reports that his team had pulled out but criticised Wantuch, accusing him of "draconian censoring of my work".

"Lukasz Wantuch seems to know nothing of my history of working, all my life, at some personal cost, in the service of human rights," Waters said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/heart-of-stone-alia-bhatt-gal-gadot-performs-high-octane-stunts-in-the-first-teaser-watch-519428" hreflang="en">Heart of Stone: Alia Bhatt and Gal Gadot perform high-octane stunts in the first teaser - watch</a>

Paraphrasing the words of his hit single "Another Brick in the Wall", Waters also wrote: "Hey! Lukasz Wantuch! 'Leave them Kids Alone!'".

He said he had only wanted to urge the countries involved "to work towards a negotiated peace rather than escalate matters towards a bitter end".

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters lashed out on Sunday after two upcoming concerts in Krakow in Poland were scrapped following criticism from city councillors over his stance on the war in Ukraine.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters lashed out on Sunday after two upcoming concerts in Krakow in Poland were scrapped following criticism from city councillors over his stance on the war in Ukraine. The city council is scheduled to debate a motion this week that would declare Waters a "persona non grata" and one councillor, Lukasz Wantuch, had urged city residents to boycott the Waters concerts. Waters wrote an open letter earlier this month saying the West should stop providing arms to Ukraine, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of allowing "extreme nationalism" in Ukraine and urging him to "put an end to this deadly war". Live Nation Polska said on Twitter on Saturday that the concerts, which had been scheduled for April next year at the city's Tauron Arena, had been "cancelled" but did not give any more details. Waters on Facebook denied Polish media reports that his team had pulled out but criticised Wantuch, accusing him of "draconian censoring of my work". "Lukasz Wantuch seems to know nothing of my history of working, all my life, at some personal cost, in the service of human rights," Waters said. Also read: Heart of Stone: Alia Bhatt and Gal Gadot perform high-octane stunts in the first teaser - watch Paraphrasing the words of his hit single "Another Brick in the Wall", Waters also wrote: "Hey! Lukasz Wantuch! 'Leave them Kids Alone!'". He said he had only wanted to urge the countries involved "to work towards a negotiated peace rather than escalate matters towards a bitter end".

Roger Waters concerts scrapped in Poland over Ukraine war remarks row

English singer, songwriter, composer and Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has faced some flak online for calling Joe Biden a 'war criminal' of Ukraine and saying Taiwan is part of China.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters draws flak for his comments over China & Russia's military aggression

English musician Roger Waters, who co-founded the iconic progressive rock band Pink Floyd, has landed himself in hot water after he called US President Joe Biden a "war criminal". During the shows in his ongoing US tour “This is Not a Drill”, Waters blames Biden for his Ukraine and China policy. He shows a screen at the back of the stage and there is a picture of Biden and the words "War criminal — just getting started.”

When questioned by CNN about his comments, Waters responded, “President Biden? Well, he’s fueling the fire in Ukraine, for a start – that is a huge crime.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-aamir-khan-bhuvan-in-lagaan-shouldnt-have-been-clean-shaven-there-was-no-water-there-505250">Aamir Khan: 'Bhuvan in 'Lagaan' shouldn't have been clean-shaven, there was no water there'</a>

He then added that Biden and the US government under him does not encourage Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate with Vladimir Putin which would obviate "the need for this horrific, horrendous war that’s killing we don’t know how many Russians.”

When the&nbsp;CNN interviewer said Waters is putting the blame of the violence and destruction on "the party that got invaded”, the singer-songwriter said “Well, any war, when did it start? You could say it started in 2008 – 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 [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev negotiated the withdrawal of the USSR from the whole of Eastern Europe."&nbsp;

Waters has often at the receiving end of backlash due to his political views that end up being contrary to popular opinion in the west. He has openly supported the Palestine cause against Israel. He has also been accused of antisemitism.&nbsp;

In the same CNN interview, Waters was asked about his thoughts on China and how the country is "encircling" Taiwan. He said, "They’re not encircling Taiwan – Taiwan is part of China. And that’s been absolutely accepted by the whole of the international community since 1948."

English musician Roger Waters, who co-founded the iconic progressive rock band Pink Floyd, has landed himself in hot water after he called US President Joe Biden a "war criminal".

English musician Roger Waters, who co-founded the iconic progressive rock band Pink Floyd, has landed himself in hot water after he called US President Joe Biden a "war criminal". During the shows in his ongoing US tour “This is Not a Drill”, Waters blames Biden for his Ukraine and China policy. He shows a screen at the back of the stage and there is a picture of Biden and the words "War criminal — just getting started.” When questioned by CNN about his comments, Waters responded, “President Biden? Well, he’s fueling the fire in Ukraine, for a start – that is a huge crime.” Also Read: Aamir Khan: 'Bhuvan in 'Lagaan' shouldn't have been clean-shaven, there was no water there' He then added that Biden and the US government under him does not encourage Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate with Vladimir Putin which would obviate "the need for this horrific, horrendous war that’s killing we don’t know how many Russians.” When the CNN interviewer said Waters is putting the blame of the violence and destruction on "the party that got invaded”, the singer-songwriter said “Well, any war, when did it start? You could say it started in 2008 – 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 [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev negotiated the withdrawal of the USSR from the whole of Eastern Europe." Waters has often at the receiving end of backlash due to his political views that end up being contrary to popular opinion in the west. He has openly supported the Palestine cause against Israel. He has also been accused of antisemitism. In the same CNN interview, Waters was asked about his thoughts on China and how the country is "encircling" Taiwan. He said, "They’re not encircling Taiwan – Taiwan is part of China. And that’s been absolutely accepted by the whole of the international community since 1948."

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters calls Joe Biden 'war criminal', says 'he’s fueling the fire in Ukraine'

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, in a recent interview with Toronto's The Globe and Mail, questioned the interviewer on why his recent shows in the city were not reviewed.&nbsp;Upon being informed that The Weekend was to open his ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ tour in Toronto on the same night but couldn't due to a nationwide power outage, Waters responded: "I have no idea what or who The Weeknd is, because I don’t listen to much music. People have told me he’s a big act. Well, good luck to him. I’ve got nothing against him. Would it not have been possible to review his show one night and my show another night?"

He added, "I’m not trying to make a personal attack. I’m just saying it seemed odd. And, by the way, with all due respect to the Weeknd or Drake or any of them, I am far, far, far more important than any of them will ever be, however many billions of streams they’ve got. There is stuff going on here that is fundamentally important to all of our lives."

After The Weeknd's show was postponed, footage of a young fan dressed as the star of the 'Blinding Lights' went viral on Twitter. The fan can be seen crying and being consoled at the venue.

The Weeknd&nbsp;then asked the internet to help them identify the fan, who turned out to be six-year-old Phoenix Prince.

Prince’s father, Blake, said: "Phoenix was getting attention with his suit. We had a breakdown moment. He got upset over the fact the show was postponed, and somebody captured a picture."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/grammy-award-winner-cindy-laupers-son-declyn-arrested-for-being-found-in-a-stolen-car-498151">Grammy Award winner Cindy Lauper's son Declyn arrested for being found in a stolen car</a>

After the kid was identified, The Weekend flew the kid and his father to his next show in Philadelphia on July 14. Price and his father attended the event as guests and posed with the singer and got his 'Blinding Lights' suit signed.

Blake shared the photos on Instagram and said, "I wouldn’t be able to put this last week into words if I tried. We are forever grateful for this moment. We are beyond thankful to Abel and his beautiful crew for their friendship, hospitality, generosity and for spending day with Phoenix and I. He will cherish this experience forever. Thank you a million times over."

The Weeknd&nbsp;will next perform in New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-tom-cruise-meets-salma-hayek-and-her-husband-for-dinner-in-london-498153">Tom Cruise meets Salma Hayek and her husband for dinner in London</a>

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, in a recent interview with Toronto's The Globe and Mail, questioned the interviewer on why his recent shows in the city were not reviewed.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, in a recent interview with Toronto's The Globe and Mail, questioned the interviewer on why his recent shows in the city were not reviewed. Upon being informed that The Weekend was to open his ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ tour in Toronto on the same night but couldn't due to a nationwide power outage, Waters responded: "I have no idea what or who The Weeknd is, because I don’t listen to much music. People have told me he’s a big act. Well, good luck to him. I’ve got nothing against him. Would it not have been possible to review his show one night and my show another night?" He added, "I’m not trying to make a personal attack. I’m just saying it seemed odd. And, by the way, with all due respect to the Weeknd or Drake or any of them, I am far, far, far more important than any of them will ever be, however many billions of streams they’ve got. There is stuff going on here that is fundamentally important to all of our lives." After The Weeknd's show was postponed, footage of a young fan dressed as the star of the 'Blinding Lights' went viral on Twitter. The fan can be seen crying and being consoled at the venue. The Weeknd then asked the internet to help them identify the fan, who turned out to be six-year-old Phoenix Prince. Prince’s father, Blake, said: "Phoenix was getting attention with his suit. We had a breakdown moment. He got upset over the fact the show was postponed, and somebody captured a picture." Also Read: Grammy Award winner Cindy Lauper's son Declyn arrested for being found in a stolen car After the kid was identified, The Weekend flew the kid and his father to his next show in Philadelphia on July 14. Price and his father attended the event as guests and posed with the singer and got his 'Blinding Lights' suit signed. Blake shared the photos on Instagram and said, "I wouldn’t be able to put this last week into words if I tried. We are forever grateful for this moment. We are beyond thankful to Abel and his beautiful crew for their friendship, hospitality, generosity and for spending day with Phoenix and I. He will cherish this experience forever. Thank you a million times over." The Weeknd will next perform in New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more. Also Read: Tom Cruise meets Salma Hayek and her husband for dinner in London

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters calls himself ‘far more important’ than The Weekend and Drake 

Musician Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is not impressed by Facebook CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg as he slammed the latter at a forum in support of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.&nbsp;

Roger read out a letter from Mark Zuckerberg which he recently received by email. He read: "It's a request for the rights to use my song, 'Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2' in the making of a film to promote Instagram. So it's a missive from Mark Zuckerberg to me - arrived this morning, with an offer of a huge, huge amount of money, and the answer is - f**k you! No f***ing way!"

Watch him speak here:

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Roger Waters thoughts on Mark Zuckerberg buying his music. <a href="https://t.co/qAB3enscH7">pic.twitter.com/qAB3enscH7</a>
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The rock legend emphasised that he was reading the letter to show to the world how Facebook wants to “take over absolutely everything” and said that he would not “be a party&nbsp;to the bullshit”.&nbsp;

The song in question is Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ which was written by Roger Waters. It was first released in 1979 on Pink Floyd's rock opera ‘The Wall’. Apart from being a protest song against abusive schooling, the piece is often regarded as a countercultural manifesto against the depersonalization of an individual in society.

The legend of rock music also called the founder and CEO of Facebook Zuckerberg "one of the most powerful idiots in the world." He added, "You think, 'How did this little prick, who started off by saying, 'She is pretty, we'll give her a 4 out of 5,' 'She's ugly, we'll give her a 1,' how the f**k did he get any power in anything?" Waters wondered. "And yet here he is, one of the most powerful idiots in the world." 
&nbsp;

Musician Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is not impressed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as he slammed the latter at a forum in support of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Musician Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is not impressed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg as he slammed the latter at a forum in support of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Roger read out a letter from Mark Zuckerberg which he recently received by email. He read: "It's a request for the rights to use my song, 'Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2' in the making of a film to promote Instagram. So it's a missive from Mark Zuckerberg to me - arrived this morning, with an offer of a huge, huge amount of money, and the answer is - f**k you! No f***ing way!" Watch him speak here: Roger Waters thoughts on Mark Zuckerberg buying his music. pic.twitter.com/qAB3enscH7 — RealEyes1776 (@RE_1776) June 12, 2021 × The rock legend emphasised that he was reading the letter to show to the world how Facebook wants to “take over absolutely everything” and said that he would not “be a party to the bullshit”. The song in question is Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ which was written by Roger Waters. It was first released in 1979 on Pink Floyd's rock opera ‘The Wall’. Apart from being a protest song against abusive schooling, the piece is often regarded as a countercultural manifesto against the depersonalization of an individual in society. The legend of rock music also called the founder and CEO of Facebook Zuckerberg "one of the most powerful idiots in the world." He added, "You think, 'How did this little prick, who started off by saying, 'She is pretty, we'll give her a 4 out of 5,' 'She's ugly, we'll give her a 1,' how the f**k did he get any power in anything?" Waters wondered. "And yet here he is, one of the most powerful idiots in the world."

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters will not let Facebook CEO 'idiot' Mark Zuckerberg use their songs

Veteran musician Roger Waters, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, joined hundred&nbsp;others in a protest march on Saturday, February 22 to demand the release of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.&nbsp; 
 
While addressing the crowd, Waters attempted to put Assange's persecution in a global context, making references to India's protest against CAA as well as mentioning unrest in countries like Chile, Lebanon, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and France.&nbsp; 
 
“Julian is why we are here today, but this is no parochial protest. We are today part of a global movement, a global movement that might be the beginning of the global enlightenment that this fragile planet so desperately needs,” the musician said.&nbsp; 
 
Waters then recited the English translation of Aamir Aziz's ‘Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega’, introducing him as “a young poet and activist in Delhi'.&nbsp;

He recited:

“Kill us, we will become ghosts and write 
of your killings, with all the evidence. 
You write jokes in court; 
We will write ‘justice’ on the walls. 
We will speak so loudly that even the deaf will hear. 
We will write so clearly that even the blind will read. 
You write ‘injustice’ on the earth; 
We will write ‘revolution’ in the sky. 
Everything will be remembered; 
Everything recorded.”

A writer, actor and musician, Aamir Aziz is best known for his song ‘Achhe Din Blues’. The song has over 200,000 views on YouTube since its release in March last year.

Veteran musician Roger Waters, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, joined hundred others in a protest march on Saturday, February 22 to demand the release of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Veteran musician Roger Waters, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, joined hundred others in a protest march on Saturday, February 22 to demand the release of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. While addressing the crowd, Waters attempted to put Assange's persecution in a global context, making references to India's protest against CAA as well as mentioning unrest in countries like Chile, Lebanon, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and France. “Julian is why we are here today, but this is no parochial protest. We are today part of a global movement, a global movement that might be the beginning of the global enlightenment that this fragile planet so desperately needs,” the musician said. Waters then recited the English translation of Aamir Aziz's ‘Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega’, introducing him as “a young poet and activist in Delhi'. He recited: “Kill us, we will become ghosts and write of your killings, with all the evidence. You write jokes in court; We will write ‘justice’ on the walls. We will speak so loudly that even the deaf will hear. We will write so clearly that even the blind will read. You write ‘injustice’ on the earth; We will write ‘revolution’ in the sky. Everything will be remembered; Everything recorded.” A writer, actor and musician, Aamir Aziz is best known for his song ‘Achhe Din Blues’. The song has over 200,000 views on YouTube since its release in March last year.

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters recites Delhi poet Aamir Aziz's ‘Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega’ at a protest march in London

Since the dawn of rock &#39;n&#39; roll, promoters have strived to create the ultimate festival, delivering the perfect lineup and atmosphere that will live on in fan lore.&nbsp;

This weekend will mark what will likely become the highest-grossing music festival of all time as six acts who form rock&#39;s canon &mdash;&nbsp;the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, The Who, Bob Dylan and Neil Young &mdash;&nbsp;play in the desert of southern California.

Called Desert Trip, the three-day concert starting&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;to be repeated with an identical schedule the following weekend &mdash;&nbsp;is driven by an unstated question: When will fans have the chance to see the acts again?

While the rock greats showcased at Desert Trip are active and appear in good health, all of them are septuagenarians with the sole exception of Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who is a youthful 69.

The Who, who in 1965 spoke for baby boomers with the anthem &quot;My Generation&quot;, may be the first to bow out as the group has said its ongoing tour will be its last.

For wonkish music fans, Desert Trip will be a deep historic experience, bringing together both the Rolling Stones and McCartney of The Beatles &mdash;&nbsp;&nbsp;the two British mega-bands who defined rock in the 1960s with their rival visions.

Desert Trip will also mark the first time that McCartney and Dylan have shared a bill after years of off-stage encounters,&nbsp;most famously in 1964 at a New York hotel, where the folk icon was said to have introduced The Fab Four to marijuana, the effects of which were soon musically evident.

Paying a premium&nbsp;

Set to draw 150,000 people over the two weekends, Desert Trip is the fruit of the masterful booking skills of the promoters behind Coachella, the lucrative festival that takes place each April at the same venue, a polo ground in the city of Indio.

While young revelers have driven a boom in festivals, Desert Trip has tapped into a more senior audience, so much that online detractors have dubbed it &quot;Oldchella&quot;.

Desert Trip sold tickets for up to $1,599 for three-day reserved seats with access to a premium lounge. The festival is also offering special dining packages with food and drink from leading California restaurants and bars.

&quot;It&#39;s kind of setting a new boundary for how much an audience will absorb in terms of the ticket price and what people are willing to pay for the finer things in life,&quot; said Gary Bongiovanni, president and editor-in-chief of the live-music industry site Pollstar.

&quot;Everybody ate the same $5 hot dog, and that&#39;s not the case anymore,&quot; he said.

Bongiovanni said that Desert Trip has proven to be an extraordinary success, with tickets quickly snapped up.

Less successful have been brokers or individual gamblers who bought tickets in hopes of reselling them at a profit.

The cheapest three-day tickets &mdash;&nbsp;$399 face value for standing in the back &mdash;&nbsp;were going for half that on resale sites amid an apparent glut.

Who&#39;s missing?&nbsp;

Few would contest that Desert Trip&#39;s six acts are among the most influential in rock. Taken together they have grossed more than $3.1 billion in ticket sales since 2000, according to Pollstar&#39;s data.

The Rolling Stones, McCartney and Waters &mdash;&nbsp;who has had wildly successful tours based on &quot;The Wall&quot; of his former band Pink Floyd &mdash;&nbsp;lead the pack and will be Desert Trip&#39;s late-evening performers, putting the other three in the rare position of opening acts.

But Desert Trip has raised inevitable questions of who from the rock pantheon is missing.

One absence is hard-rock pioneers Led Zeppelin whose key members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have not played together since a 2007 benefit in London that set a record for ticket demand.

Also not involved in Desert Trip are California&#39;s own Beach Boys, who still tour but without key songwriter Brian Wilson who has a strained relationship with the group&#39;s singer, his cousin Mike Love.

Desert Trip promoters have hinted that the festival will not be a one-off, raising a guessing game on who could be such major draws in future years &mdash;&nbsp;&nbsp;perhaps giant acts a generation younger such as U2, Bruce Springsteen or Aerosmith.

For John Covach, a music professor at the University of Rochester, the enduring pull of the bands is extraordinary.

&quot;If you chronicle the history of rock music, it tends to move in three- or four-year style phases and most groups don&#39;t continue in the limelight much beyond the moment where the style they practiced was at its commercial height,&quot; he said.

&quot;It&#39;s amazing that the rock &#39;n&#39; rollers who are playing youth music &mdash;&nbsp;that&#39;s how it started out, youth music &mdash;&nbsp;are septuagenarians who are playing to gigantic crowds of people over the age of 40.

&quot;It isn&#39;t what anyone expected to happen.&quot;

(AFP)

The Stones, McCartney, Roger Waters, The Who, Dylan and Neil Young will play for 3 days in the desert of southern California

Since the dawn of rock 'n' roll, promoters have strived to create the ultimate festival, delivering the perfect lineup and atmosphere that will live on in fan lore. This weekend will mark what will likely become the highest-grossing music festival of all time as six acts who form rock's canon — the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, The Who, Bob Dylan and Neil Young — play in the desert of southern California. Called Desert Trip, the three-day concert starting Friday — to be repeated with an identical schedule the following weekend — is driven by an unstated question: When will fans have the chance to see the acts again? While the rock greats showcased at Desert Trip are active and appear in good health, all of them are septuagenarians with the sole exception of Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who is a youthful 69. The Who, who in 1965 spoke for baby boomers with the anthem "My Generation", may be the first to bow out as the group has said its ongoing tour will be its last. For wonkish music fans, Desert Trip will be a deep historic experience, bringing together both the Rolling Stones and McCartney of The Beatles — the two British mega-bands who defined rock in the 1960s with their rival visions. Desert Trip will also mark the first time that McCartney and Dylan have shared a bill after years of off-stage encounters, most famously in 1964 at a New York hotel, where the folk icon was said to have introduced The Fab Four to marijuana, the effects of which were soon musically evident. Paying a premium Set to draw 150,000 people over the two weekends, Desert Trip is the fruit of the masterful booking skills of the promoters behind Coachella, the lucrative festival that takes place each April at the same venue, a polo ground in the city of Indio. While young revelers have driven a boom in festivals, Desert Trip has tapped into a more senior audience, so much that online detractors have dubbed it "Oldchella". Desert Trip sold tickets for up to $1,599 for three-day reserved seats with access to a premium lounge. The festival is also offering special dining packages with food and drink from leading California restaurants and bars. "It's kind of setting a new boundary for how much an audience will absorb in terms of the ticket price and what people are willing to pay for the finer things in life," said Gary Bongiovanni, president and editor-in-chief of the live-music industry site Pollstar. "Everybody ate the same $5 hot dog, and that's not the case anymore," he said. Bongiovanni said that Desert Trip has proven to be an extraordinary success, with tickets quickly snapped up. Less successful have been brokers or individual gamblers who bought tickets in hopes of reselling them at a profit. The cheapest three-day tickets — $399 face value for standing in the back — were going for half that on resale sites amid an apparent glut. Who's missing? Few would contest that Desert Trip's six acts are among the most influential in rock. Taken together they have grossed more than $3.1 billion in ticket sales since 2000, according to Pollstar's data. The Rolling Stones, McCartney and Waters — who has had wildly successful tours based on "The Wall" of his former band Pink Floyd — lead the pack and will be Desert Trip's late-evening performers, putting the other three in the rare position of opening acts. But Desert Trip has raised inevitable questions of who from the rock pantheon is missing. One absence is hard-rock pioneers Led Zeppelin whose key members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page have not played together since a 2007 benefit in London that set a record for ticket demand. Also not involved in Desert Trip are California's own Beach Boys, who still tour but without key songwriter Brian Wilson who has a strained relationship with the group's singer, his cousin Mike Love. Desert Trip promoters have hinted that the festival will not be a one-off, raising a guessing game on who could be such major draws in future years — perhaps giant acts a generation younger such as U2, Bruce Springsteen or Aerosmith. For John Covach, a music professor at the University of Rochester, the enduring pull of the bands is extraordinary. "If you chronicle the history of rock music, it tends to move in three- or four-year style phases and most groups don't continue in the limelight much beyond the moment where the style they practiced was at its commercial height," he said. "It's amazing that the rock 'n' rollers who are playing youth music — that's how it started out, youth music — are septuagenarians who are playing to gigantic crowds of people over the age of 40. "It isn't what anyone expected to happen." (AFP)

From tomorrow, the ultimate rock festival

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