Germany: Roger Waters under police investigation

German police announced today that they have launched an investigation against Roger Waters, after the co-founder of Pink Floyd wore a Nazi-style outfit on stage at the Mercedes-Benz Arena where he performed his concert in Berlin.

The 79-year-old Briton was not immediately available for comment. Social media users defended him, saying that the show was a parody of scenes from the film of the band’s famous album “The Wall”, which is a criticism of fascism.

Photos from the May 17 concert show the legendary singer and bassist wearing a long trench coat and holding a replica gun aimed at the audience.

The dress featured a swastika-like logo of two crossed hammers – an image that was also featured on the dress in the 1982 film starring rock star and activist Bob Geldof.

Nazi symbols, flags and uniforms are banned in Germany. Waters is being investigated under separate laws on suspicion of “public incitement”, police said.

The uniform worn by Waters “could be judged as violating the dignity of the victims, as well as supporting, glorifying or justifying the violent and arbitrary yoke of the Nazi regime in a way that disturbs public peace,” a police spokesman said.

Other German cities, including Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne, attempted to cancel Waters’ concerts as Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Council, accused him of anti-Semitism.

Waters is a member of the Palestinian-led “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” movement, which opposes Israel over its occupation of land where Palestinians seek statehood.

He denied the accusations against him and attempts to cancel his concerts were unsuccessful. The last stop of Waters’ German tour, Frankfurt’s Festhalle, on May 28 is still listed on the artist’s website.

Fans and other social media users said Waters was wearing the same outfit as previous concerts.

“Obviously it represents Pink from The Wall (1982), which stars Bob Geldof as he enters a drug-addled fascist fantasy in a film that BLAMES fascism. Bullshit,” tweeted Joseph Attard, the podcast’s host. .