Roger Waters’ Son Joins Pink Floyd Tribute Group After Being Fired from His Touring Band
via Lanny Cordola / YouTube
Roger Waters’ son, Harry, recently opened up about his career shift following his departure from his father’s touring band. After playing keyboards with the group for an impressive 14 years, Harry found himself without a spot in the lineup ahead of the Us + Them tour in 2016.
Despite the challenging experience, he is now set to continue playing his father’s iconic music as a part of Brit Floyd, a renowned Pink Floyd tribute act.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Harry shared his feelings about the unexpected career change, expressing the hurt he felt after being fired from his father’s touring band. He remarked,
“I was fired; it was pretty miserable. I think he just wanted a change of blood, something new, something fresh. I’m not sure of his exact reasoning, but everyone except two people got fired. But the other guys that got the sack weren’t his son, so it was doubly hurtful for me.”
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Since departing from Roger Waters’ touring party, Harry has continued his musical journey by playing Floyd material with Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade.
Looking ahead to his collaboration with Brit Floyd, Harry confidently stated,
“I’ve never met any of them, but I’ll just turn up and play. I’ve been playing this music for 30 years or so. I think we’ll be OK without rehearsal. I think we all know the material pretty well.”
In addition to discussing his musical endeavors, Harry addressed the political controversy surrounding his father, particularly the accusations of anti-Semitism. Roger Waters has faced such allegations, notably being accused of using tasteless symbolism in his performances. Harry defended his father, stating,
“It’s just not true at all that he’s an antisemite. People say, ‘Oh, he dresses up in an SS uniform, and he has a Star of David on the [inflatable] pig. And I just want to say, ‘You fuckin’ idiots. He’s been doing that for 40 years. It’s satire.’ There’s also a Mercedes sign, a hammer and sickle, and a dollar sign on the pig…He’s bringing to light all the evils of the world. But people confuse that and think he’s an antisemite, which is really stupid.”
Harry also referenced the documentary, “The Dark Side Of Roger Waters,” which explored the allegations of anti-Semitic behavior.
In response to the program, Roger Waters dismissed it as “a flimsy, unapologetic piece of propaganda,” emphasizing his lifelong commitment to using his platform for positive change and supporting universal human rights.
Despite the controversies, Harry stands by his father’s intentions,
“I passionately believe in Universal Human Rights. I have always worked to make the world a better, more just and more equitable place for all my brothers and sisters, all over the world, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or nationality, from indigenous peoples threatened by the US oil industry to Iranian women protesting for their rights.”
