Police in Germany have launched a criminal investigation into Roger Waters, the co-founder of Pink Floyd, after he appeared dressed in a costume resembling a Nazi uniform during two concerts in Berlin last week.
Waters was wearing the costume while performing from Pink Floyd鈥檚 1979 concept album 鈥淭he Wall,鈥� in which the album鈥檚 protagonist hallucinates that he is a fascist dictator. The satirical routine has been a part of Waters鈥� solo shows for at least 30 years, including a famous live performance of the album in Berlin in 1990. This week appears to be the first time the German government has launched a criminal investigation following his performance, however.
Berlin police spokeswoman Jennifer Bähle confirmed to CNN Friday that Waters is being investigated for suspected incitement during two concerts in the city last week, on May 17 and 18. 鈥漌e have received information from the public including pictures and videos which according to the external appearance are suitable for fulfilling the offence of incitement to hatred,鈥� she said.
鈥漈he State Security Department at the Berlin State Criminal Police Office has initiated a criminal investigation procedure regarding the suspicion of incitement of the people (140 Paragraph 4 of the German criminal Code),鈥� a statement by Berlin police sent to CNN reads.
鈥漈he context of the clothing worn is deemed capable of approving, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary rule of the Nazi regime in a manner that violates the dignity of the victims and thereby disrupts public peace,鈥� the statement went on to say.
鈥滱fter the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Berlin Public Prosecutor鈥檚 Office for legal assessment,鈥� the police statement ended.
In a statement posted to Facebook dated May 20, Waters criticized the German Bundestag鈥檚 2019 vote to designate the pro-Palestinian 鈥淏oycott, Divestment, and Sanctions鈥� (BDS) movement as antisemitic. Waters has been a frequent proponent of the BDS movement, and a vocal critic of the Israeli state鈥檚 treatment of Palestinian people.
A video posted and shared on social media from Waters鈥� performance at the Mercedes-Benz Arena last week shows the musician in a costume with a red armband emblazoned with two crossed hammers 鈥� an image from Pink Floyd鈥檚 album 鈥淭he Wall鈥� that has been appropriated by racist skinhead groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The video shows Waters pretending to shoot into the crowd with a prop machine gun. According to the Berlin police, this depiction is likely to glorify the rule of the National Socialists.
The performances in Germany were the subject of profound controversy before Waters arrived. He has consistently denied that he is antisemitic. In his May 20 statement, the singer said he visited the graves of anti-Nazi activists Sophie and Hans Scholl while on tour in Munich last week.
Waters is scheduled to perform in Frankfurt on Sunday.
City authorities in Frankfurt demanded that the venue cancel his concert there, but according to a report in The Guardian, a German court ruled in April that while his performance uses 鈥渟ymbolism manifestly based on that of the National Socialist regime,鈥� the musician鈥檚 work 鈥渄id not glorify or relativize the crimes of the Nazis or identify with Nazi racist ideology.鈥�
Frankfurt鈥檚 Jewish community has organized a protest against his upcoming performance. 鈥漁n this day, the concert by the musician Roger Waters known for his anti-Semitic stage shows and statements, will take place. We do not want to stand by idly when a well-known anti-Semite and conspiracy theorist is given a stage in Frankfurt, 鈥� the Jewish community said in a statement on Instagram.
According to Waters鈥� show schedule, he is also expected to perform in a series of concerts in the UK next week, including in Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester.
In an interview with podcaster Katie Halper posted online on May 6, Waters said: 鈥淚 can be allowed to do a show because it鈥檚 theatre darling. The idea that no one can dress up in a f**king Nazi uniform ever, to do anything, in a theatre or a film, is ludicrous, obviously.鈥�
His comments came shortly after he won a legal battle to revoke Frankfurt city council鈥檚 ban on his upcoming concert.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 dress up like him, in a pro-Himmler or pro-Nazi way,鈥� said Halper. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a scathing critique, you are playing a villainous character.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a parody,鈥� Waters replied.
