Pink Floyd star Roger Waters sang that his agent was ‘a f***ing Jew’, top producer says in new documentary that accuses the singer of using anti-semitic remarks
Pink Floyd star Roger Waters reportedly sang in an improvised song that his agent was a “f***ing Jew,” according to an account by the rocker’s ex-producer in an explosive new documentary exploring claims that he was anti-Semitic made comments.
Bob Ezrin, a Jewish man who produced successful Floyd albums such as The Wall and A Momentary Lapse of Reason, told investigative journalist John Ware that in his eyes the 80-year-old was a “bully.”
He claimed that while in the studio, Waters made up an offensive song about Bryan Morrison, the band’s then-agent, saying, “I can’t remember the exact circumstance, but something like… the last line of the verse was: ‘Because Mori is a damn Jew.’
Ezrin appears in The Dark Side of Roger Waters, a new documentary produced by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) – months after Waters appeared on stage in a Nazi-esque trench coat with a red armband as part of his most recent tour.
Ware has previously reported on claims of anti-Semitism in the Labor Party for the BBC’s Panorama programme.
Waters courted controversy this year after dressing in a Nazi-style trench coat and holding a fake machine gun during a concert at London’s O2 Arena in June this year
Bob Ezrin claimed that Roger Waters once sang an improvised song in which he called former Pink Floyd cop Bryan Morrison a “f***ing Jew.”
Music mogul Bryan Morrison, who was allegedly targeted for an anti-Semitic tune sung by Roger Waters while he was in the recording studio. He died in 2008
Campaign Against Antisemitism’s documentary, The Dark Side of Roger Waters, is presented by TV journalist John Ware, who previously investigated claims of antisemitism within the Labor Party.
Mr Ezrin, who has also worked with big names including Lou Reed, U2, Taylor Swift and Aerosmith, said he was “embarrassed” when he admitted in shock that he had not challenged the bassist on his alleged tune.
He added: “It was my first inclination that there might be some anti-Semitism lurking beneath the surface.
“Now Roger knew I was Jewish, so I didn’t know if this was another one of those things he did just to see if I would respond, or if he just didn’t even realize how offensive that was to a Jewish person could be.’
He is confident that despite the nature of his alleged comments, Waters really does not consider himself anti-Semitic.
Mr. Ezrin concluded: “I don’t believe Roger sees himself as an anti-Semite, just as most people don’t see themselves as racist.
“But he walks like a, he quacks like a, he swims like a – so you know, from my point of view, he’s functionally a duck.”
Bryan Morrison, the alleged subject of Waters’ improvised song according to Erzin, died in 2008 at the age of 66 after being in a coma for two years following a fall from a horse.
He had a tainted history with the band and made some of the most unfortunate decisions in music history.
As manager of Pink Floyd, he secured them a hugely successful show at London’s Royal Albert Hall, but was fired by Waters immediately afterwards.
Years later, he agreed to be bought out of a publishing deal he had with Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour, because the band wanted to release a new album.
Pictured: An inflatable pig decorated with insults aimed at Donald Trump at a 2016 Roger Waters concert in California. Claims have been made that Waters wanted a similar pig to be defaced with anti-Semitic language
The Pink Floyd bassist is said to have suggested painting the words ‘dirty k***’ and ‘follow the money’ on an inflatable pig in a 2010 email.
Pictured: Roger Waters wearing a long black leather jacket with a Nazi-style armband during a concert at London’s O2 Arena in June this year
He offered what he felt was too high a price to be bought out of the band’s future work – only because that word would become the band’s seminal album Dark Side of the Moon, the fourth most successful album of all time. He probably lost millions by giving up the rights.
He turned down opportunities with the likes of Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart and Elton John – and even hooked up with infamous London gangster twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray.
The CAA documentary, released Wednesday, includes detailed stories from Mr. Ezrin and Norbert Stachel, a Jewish saxophonist who toured with Waters around the world.
Mr Stachel claimed that when plates of vegetarian food were placed down in a restaurant, Waters exclaimed: ‘Where’s the meat? What’s with this? This is Jewish food! What about the Jewish food! Take away the Jewish food!’
The saxophonist added, “I’m just sitting there, kind of panicking. I don’t know what to do.’
When asked if he considers Waters anti-Semitic, he replied: “Personally, yes.”
The documentary also airs claims that Waters wanted a giant floating pig decorated with the Star of David and slogans containing derogatory language about Jewish people during his concerts.
In an email, reportedly sent by Waters in 2010, he appears to suggest to his backstage team that the pig should be made with ‘dirty k***’, ‘follow the money’ and ‘scum’ on the sides.
The word “k***” is a notoriously insulting word used to denigrate Jews, while the reference to money is a classic anti-Jewish trope, according to the new film.
The pig was eventually created without these conditions, but with the Star of David and dollar signs, and was a part of Waters’ concerts.
Waters will play the London Palladium next month. The CAA says it has written to venue owner Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and promoter Live Nation, urging them to cancel the show.
Members of the Jewish community demonstrated outside the O2 Arena in June before a performance by Roger Waters
Roger Waters previously said claims he is an anti-Semite are ‘bull***’ and ‘vicious lies’ after he was convicted of wearing a ‘Nazi-style’ trench coat on stage – including in Germany
Gideon Falter, CEO of the CAA, said: “Roger Waters has repeatedly used his vast platform to lure Jews, but he always claims he is not anti-Semitic.
‘We believed there was further evidence to the contrary, and the release of Roger Waters’ The Dark Side now places the evidence obtained in the hands of the public.
“It’s hard to imagine a rock star flaunting the N-word above his concerts, but Mr. Waters demanded his crew do just that with the K-word. Not only that, but he also appears to have spent time humiliating and harassing his Jewish staff.
‘You can’t help but watch this film and wonder what kind of person uses his power for this purpose. Is Roger Waters an anti-Semite? Now people can make their own decision.’
Waters himself has repeatedly denied that he is anti-Semitic, saying the accusation stems from past comments about the Israeli government, which he says sees him as an “existential threat to their settler-colonialist, racist apartheid regime.”
After appearing in a Nazi-style jacket in Berlin in May, he released a statement denying that he harbored anti-Semitic beliefs.
“My recent actions in Berlin have provoked bad faith attacks from people who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles,” he said.
“The elements of my actions that have been questioned are clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice and bigotry in all its forms.
“Attempts to portray those elements as something else are dishonest and politically motivated.
‘The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a hallmark of my shows since Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ in 1980.
“All my life I have spoken out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I encountered it.
‘When I was a child after the war, the name Anne Frank was often spoken in our home, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked.
‘My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, and my father paid the ultimate price.
“Regardless of the consequences of the attacks on me, I will continue to condemn the injustice and all those who commit it.”
The CAA says it contacted Waters for comment on the documentary but has not heard back from him or his representatives. MailOnline has contacted Waters’ representatives for comment.