Roger Waters Live Last Night in Glendale,AZ

Bravo,  tomcy6.  You  cut through all the crap,and said what had to be said in five sentences.

I saw the Dark Side of The Moon at the LA Sports Arena in 1975 full 5-point surround sound, next to the Wall of Sound created by Owsley and Meyers or the Discrete Stereo Ultra Sound system the Dead used in the late 70's and early 80's it is the absolute best live sound ever!!!

Saw Roger in 2006 do the Dark Side plus lots of other Pink Floyd and Amused to Death at the Shoreline Amphitheater in the SF Bay Area, again in 5-point surround sound, again the best live sound ever (The English Know Sound).

When you add the absolutely ground breaking light show that everyone has stolen over and over from the Dark Side tour, and his genius with the video media presentations he is definitely one of the best performers ever, no question.

As for his later tours, once he lost the great sound system the media and lights were still very, very well done.

As for the message "You missed the starting gun" fellas

When one of these new 'artists' puts out an album half as well conceived of and engineered as 'Wish You Were Here' let us all know :^)

I think old David G. is touring if your up for the shows 

+1 @tomcy6   "It always puzzles me why people like Roger always live in the countries they despise and are happy to take the money of the people of those countries. You’d think they wouldn’t want to dirty their hands with that filthy lucre. People like Roger never move to Russia or Cuba or Venezuela or China. There always seems to be a disconnect between their mouths and their actions."

A lot of teachers and college profs are the same way, especially college profs... If the U.S. is so damned evil, put your money where your mouth is and move to a more enlightened economic system, a more advanced civilization, a more promising future.... elsewhere.  But, at least here in America, people have the right to spout nonsense - although the "woke" hate "hate speech," lol, unless it's against the U.S. and those who support it.

Myself, if I'm going to a concert, I'd rather not hear Waters' rants nor Nugent's rants for that matter, lol.  I rather be Free For All rockin out or Comfortably Numb, lol, or a little bit o' both.

I have pictures and vids from the concert which show the images

but they are files not URLs so I cant share them.

These political views are Waters’ brand just like Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney have the beach party brand. 
 

No different. 

I’ll never go see him in concert! There’s a few others I won’t see either. I’m paying to hear music and not anything else. Well maybe some dancing girls.😁

@hilde45

I agree with the idea of a warning at the time of ticket sales. It’s a good idea. I do agree with the other poster who thought that it should only apply to excessive political commentary. For instance, last year I saw a solo Rick Wakeman show in which he performed songs interspersed with amusing stories, which is what it was supposed to be, and it was great. No polarizing political commentary.

I will be seeing Graham Nash later this month, and that is supposed to be the same thing.

Saw the show in Altanta and I loved it. It was so well put together; the stage, the sound, video & FX.  To me it was like a music documentary performed live to picture, which is a keen idea. I may not agree with all of Waters’ opinions, but it doesn’t matter a bit to me that he has them, or that he wants to express them artistically. That kind of stuff never bothered me.

I also found Roger, in his banter with the audience at times during during the show, to be congenial and warm. Meanwhile, I saw Porcupine Tree a month later, and while that band is immeasurably rehearsed and tight, Steven Wilson just came off as an insecure, condescending, pretentious douche. 
 

No matter. I got what I wanted out of both shows. Life is about taking the bad with the good. 

Roger lacks the subtlety of Sid

@tomcy6 

What people object to is being subjected to stupid and hypocritical political rants. People should be informed in ads that the rants will be a prominent feature of the show.

Oh, no! I agree! People should really get a warning about the things they might experience at the show. Otherwise, those who want just music might find themselves surprised and cheated by the event, which isn't cheap. If one pays $100 bucks or more for something, they should know specifically what they're paying for, and the provider should stick to the specifics of the agreement.

I’m in the Rog camp for the most part but I’ll say this: If Roger can’t express the opinion in his music anymore-something he has done magnificently-and has to rely on preaching, he’s failed a little as an artist.

When people start spitting, using derogatory language, being angry, etc (ie, in this thread), it many times means (not always) they don't have a logic, reality, or fact leg to stand on.

I saw the Alarm open for U2 decades ago. If you went to that or e.g. Crosby, Still Nash and young back in the day you expected politics. Then again the left was "live and let live" then.

Roger’s politics are vile and like someone said, I’ll support Gilmour but I won’t support Roger today.

A significant amount of  great art, be it music, comedy, painting etc. has alway been designed to provoke.

Waters, Bruce, Pryor, Goya, Carlin, Picasso, Wagner, Leadbelly,  Da Vinci, Guthrie, Baez, The Staple Singers to name just a few..   Like it or not, message and provocation are at the  heart of much of the great works of art,

I’ve seen Roger Waters many times. Love his music, but he has to be in the running for All-time Greatest Hypocrite. Face value of tickets for his shows have been north of $250 for at least the last dozen years or so. He has become fabulously wealthy as result of the very capitalist system he so despises. I believe he was the heart and soul of Pink Floyd and I respect him as an artist. His politics, however, are a completely different story. 

I like his music and dislike him as a person.

Roger Waters managed to unite both political sides recently, pissing off Republicans (his criticism of Trump and everything right-wing) and Democrats (his support of Putin for example.) He criticizes the U.S. frequently, while living here full time (let me guess - for paying less taxes than living in the UK.)

We hear his opinions on peace in the Middle East while he can't even be in the same room with his former band members. 

I voted with my money by not going to see him. I'm ok with a little politics in my music (everyone is entitled to share their opinions) but in his case, I think he's just an ultra rich and aging rock star who hasn't been in touch with reality for a while.

I sure hope Gilmore tours soon.

@jpsreno + 1

@waytoomuchstuff 

"The Exodus of Authenticity."

Nice expression. It does seem as if everyone's got an angle these days, but someone delivering a pizza is not the same as someone  recording a rock album or playing a concert.

Nor was it the same when certain multinational companies seemed to be condoning the illegal actions of the likes of BLM not so long ago.

Anyway, it would appear as if even art is not exempt from the vagaries of politics manoeuvering.

Perhaps it never was, and that's why satire became popular.

Thankfully under capitalism the poor beleaguered, continuously targeted consumers still have the final choice where to spend their money.

If you don't like what Waters is saying then don't give him your money.

On the other nor should you be telling him what he can or cannot say at his own concerts.

Anyone who goes to a Bob Dylan concert knows that Bob is going to deliver the concert HE wants to and not what YOU might want to him to.

It's been that way since 1965.

+1 for stereo5.  Although I detest the Waters personally, I still enjoy "Amused to Death" during those peaceful nights with my favorite stimulant.  So he made a little money from my purchase of the CD but I wouldn't waste a penny to go to one of his concerts. And if he hates America so much, what was he doing in Glendale AZ?

@baylinor 

"In fact Hendrix dying before he was fully engrossed in the political direction he was following ends up being a good thing for my love of his music. Politics are all about material matters, music and art in general are just the opposite."

So Jimi's dying is a "good thing" for you?

So you want your musicians to be merely vapid, apolitical automatons. Heaven forbid they have actual beliefs and a political view.

Maybe you should look in the mirror, bud.

Nor was it the same when certain multinational companies seemed to be condoning the illegal actions of the likes of BLM not so long ago.

What a load of alt right BS. 

@nonoise 

I understand your viewpoint, but it isn't BS that a couple of those in charge at BLM have defrauded their well-intentioned supporters out of millions of dollars funneled through shell companies.

I won’t see Roger again after his last show was overshadowed with his political views. Took away from the music in a significant way. Poor showmanship IMO but it is his right to be a buffoon and others can decide whether to support him by buying his music and attending his shows. My view is that his ego is to blame for breaking up Floyd and that it’s somewhat sad that he hasn’t found a degree of contentment at his age. David Gilmour is a better artist anyway. 

The kind of discussion that gets deeper into the weeds as it goes and ends up lacking any kind of civility. Not to mention any value.

The kind of discussion that gets deeper into the weeds as it goes and ends up lacking any kind of civility. Not to mention any value.

I guess that was worth the double post lol

Isn't it strange how the offending posts stay up but the rebuttal gets taken down? Back to the old days. 

Read about Roger's early upbringing and you get a glimpse into what formed his anti war and political positions. His deep feelings about war and loss underlie his best music. The Wall and The Final Cut are strong statements that look deep into his wounds. 

Roger uses his performances to provoke and reinforce the senselessness of war and the lifelong damage it has caused to millions. At the core of his statement is the fact that war is waged by political leaders and it is there that the senseless killing needs to stop. Agree with him or not, if you sign up for a live performance you will have his opinion delivered. If you put his music on your Hifi, he'll deliver it there too if you listen.

@slbjbb +1  ^^^ very astute. 
 

One of the posts that was removed above asked if anyone would like to comment on something Trump related. 
 

I would not.
 

But I’d like to make a statement about how apparently easy it’s been for the various negative forces at play in the world to disrupt whatever sense of unity we used to have in the good ol US of A. And more specifically, how subversive it is, as evidenced by some of the politically charged nonsense that’s spouted off on this forum by various members. 
 

The folks who’re doing that ^^^ are more a part of the problem than they are the solution. 
 

My two cents.

One more thing …
Why don’t you play nicely or go home, you b#%$ho%#s. 

That’s plural.

Roger did have a disclaimer before every gig if you don't care for his rants then f*** off to the bar. For years you know what you're getting from a Waters concert. Great music and political whine. FZappa was the same way. Still love the talent.

So you had no problem with the off handed and overblown BLM comments? They had nothing to do with the Waters controversy. Why, oh why is it that those who protest the critiques of the right take umbrage but when it comes to the center and left feel perfectly fine with it, and ride their high horses off into the sunset?

Those are the folks who are the problem and not part of the solution.

All the best,
Nonoise

tunefuldude:  

I should come as no surprise that a forum based on at home reproduction of artists expression would deteriorate into people insulting artists and other forum posters while hiding behind a keyboard. 

The original point to this thread was about an artist whose work became part of modern culture. The work itself is a strong anti war and strong political statement. 

No surprise that his message was missed.

I am all about Anti-War protests. Not what the performance I attended was about.

What I saw was all about

"Sh-t on the USA".

We (US) are Mass Murderers.

@jeffseight     I think your point is very valid. And the discussion also positive.

I would, personally, like to see more, especially more of the key players around here calling out the negative bee ess!

I’m sure some of the other members who enjoy this forum for what it is would appreciate it also.

Shining light on weak stuff like that, especially in a format like this where some folks tend to hide behind their keyboards, as you say, has a tendency to work as a disinfectant.

When they get called out for being the p#$$#@s they are.

@jeffseight I see where you’re coming from.

And I tend to agree.

Here in America, we tend to vote with our feet to a certain extent in situations such as these.

Still side stepping the matter and getting your trolling on.

Excellent comments as above. America, Love it or Leave It.

Used to be a pass time for people with an interest in music and the search for ever improving reproduction. 

Now the forums deteriorate like any other form of public facing media. A downward spiral of poor taste and ignorance. 

Looks like this topic is yet another race to the bottom.

Depends on how you look at it.

We need to work this stuff out, to have any kind of order.

Going to a Roger Waters concert it entertainment. He is an actor on a stage. Nothing more. He is not going to change the course of history or effect the world order in any way. His music gives you the first hint as to what his show is all about. Anyone showing up and finding him surprising is little sheltered. But, regardless of what his performance portrays, it is just entertainment. 

And, as a performing artist, he can use his platform however he pleases.

I find the suggestion that his early childhood experiences have played out in his perceptive very interesting. We’re all very heavily influenced in that way, which is kind of scary when you look at the breakdown of the family structure.

My heart goes out to all the families that’ve been so affected by the war machine.

Read about his childhood.

His father was killed in World War II when Roger was 5 months old. As you research Roger you begin to understand why a man would grow to have the beliefs he did. Roger has resented the fact that he never knew his father and blamed what each of us would. 

Each of us has our own feelings about Roger's politics but knowing why allows a lot of understanding and certainly forgiveness in what we disagree with. 

I don’t agree with Waters’ positions and viewpoints on many things. However, he can call out American Imperialism and "war crimes" (perhaps an overstatement if you are American but not if you were an Indian when we came in and slaughtered them to take their land or an Iraqi when we bombed them, knocked out their government and let Iran move in under false pretenses). Is he wrong? Perhaps not as we understand the term, but perhaps in a broader sense.

I love my country and I think Waters does too. I live with our country’s past, present and future and, based upon all of it, believe we are the greatest, most well intentioned and beneficent country in the world. That doesn’t mean Waters cannot speak of undeniable facts that are part of our history and provide an artist’s viewpoint as disagreeable or overstated or even wrong as it may be. He has a viewpoint that is unorthodox on certain issues. But he is very insightful on other issues. Most importantly, he is an artist who makes great music (sometimes) that comes from his heart and mind and I go to his concerts to listen and watch.

Van Morrison has turned into a bit of an old cranky, nutty boy.  I disagree with him on many things. But I like him as a singer. So I continue to buy his albums and go to his shows.

If someone doesn’t like Waters--do you think he cares? If someone doesn’t like Springsteen because of his politics, do you think he cares? If someone doesn’t like Lee Greenwood, Kid Rock or Ted Nugent because of their viewpoints, do you think they care?

Well they know what they are doing and they are prepared to lose a part of their audience for it-- and if you don’t like it ---then I’m sure as far as they are all concerned, you can go to the bar and do whatever..

Tons of people had horrible life experiences but not all of them turned into a**holes. Plain and simple truth. What matters is the allegiance we ascribe to them to back up our own moral deficiencies and use them as a shield for our lack of understanding and inability to convey it.

All the best,
Nonoise

Waters is as political as they come. If the OP wasn’t aware of that going in then he/she should stick to Sia.

I too was there. Excellent show and everything I’d want it to be.