The reason I spoke up is because Roger’s attacks on Israel have too often employed timeworn antisemitic tropes and we are living in a time where there has been an increase in antisemitism worldwide.

When he says the State of Israel views him as an “existential threat” there is an implication that he is advocating for its destruction. Too often he refers to Tel Aviv as an evil entity; some sort of phantom puppet master that rules Washington and the west and controls the world’s media etc etc. His rhetoric is too close to that of right wing extremists past and present.

Are we Jews sensitive to this kind of language? Absolutely. And I think we have very good reason to be.

Too many people think Jews should just “get over” the Holocaust. But it’s not that long ago that a major power was intent on wiping us off the face of the earth – and succeeded in exterminating well over half of us. For Jews, the land of Israel represents safety. It is the one place on earth where we were never again going to be victims of antisemitism.

In this way, Zionism has become an essential part of the modern Jewish identity. For Roger to say that he is anti-zionist but not antisemitic is naive. It denies how we Jews view ourselves. Anti-Zionist means anti Israel as a country.

By now, we have learned that it is minorities themselves who are best qualified to identify the bigotry against them. And it is time that the Jewish community was heard on this. In my opinion, Roger needs to show some humility and listen to us. You can challenge Israeli policy, and nowhere does that happen more vociferously than in Israel itself and amongst the Jews of the diaspora, but if your language directly or by implication promotes the eradication of the world’s only Jewish state, then that is absolutely antisemitism in my book.

Bob Ezrin

__________________________________

 

Thank you for sending this…I had not seen it.  Disturbing, for sure.

I used to think that Roger Water’s antisemitism was a complicated thing to assess.  Was he simply a progressive that believes that the Palestinian people have been mistreated by the government of Israel or did it go beyond that.  I personally think that it goes way beyond that – I do think he’s an antisemite.  Why?  Because he says a lot of overtly antisemitic things and routinely uses so many antisemitic tropes in the way he articulates his views to the outside world (both in interviews and his concerts).  It completely disqualifies and discredits him when he says “I’m not an antisemite”.  (This is my view, not an official ADL view.)

I grew up loving Pink Floyd’s albums (Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall) and, quite frankly, still do, transformational music.  But I’ll never support him by buying any of his music or go to a Roger Water’s concert.  It’s similar to never playing golf at a course with Trump’s name on it – just a personal choice not to support people like this.

Jonathan Greenblatt talks about counsel culture vs. cancel culture as a way to describe what the ADL believe is the right way to deal with people who do and say antisemitic and hateful things.  Can we bring them in and educate them so that they alter their behavior and beliefs?  If we can, it’s part of how we heal what has become a very divisive world.

Best,

Ben Sax

Chair of ADL Board of Directors

__________________________________

 

About fifteen years ago, I witnessed Roger Waters get thrown out of Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, Long Island. The owner put him into a car, said he wasn’t welcome there and to go home (Bridgehampton).

What caused Peter Honerkamp (the owner) to throw him out? Simply this: he was in the cups, got loud and started to rant about the Jews. He certainly upset the whole place. But he didn’t stop there, he was spouting QAnon-type nonsense. Fortunately, Peter (who happens to be Jewish) had quite enough and Roger got rogered and was sent home.

I heard later that Roger Waters was hardly welcome in any establishment in the Hamptons, which has a considerable Jewish population. I heard it from his mouth. He’s a f*cking pig, absolutely trayf.

Rich Arfin

__________________________________

 

Although I’m sympathetic to Palestinians as a people and not a fan of the behavior of governments in general, I’m not sure that ol’ Roger is making his alleged point by example.

When I was young, in a nearly 100% caucasian community, I heard a lot of “I’m not a racist” immediately preceded or followed by the N word and all the qualifications that came with it. It was confusing to me; it you weren’t of that mindset, what’s with expressing it epithetically? Turns out, of course, they were thinking in racist terms.

It’s probably not the best idea to ask bigots if that’s what they are. You ask the parties being targeted first, I’d think. Of course, not all people think alike, but Ezrin is eloquent and fair-minded which contextualizes this affair for people weary of being singled out pretty neatly.

And I rarely trust the judgement of musicians who have been overtly indulged as well as wealthy most of their lives…that stuff frequently breeds an unhealthy sense of self-importance that comes from an unnatural isolation.

It reminds me of our current political climate, which is abominable: perhaps it’s our own fault for paying attention (and electing) these awful people. We give people these platforms whether we understand that or not.

I can’t vote for Mr Waters on this one.

peas,

Paul Santo

__________________________________

 

F*ck him…..you know if the avowed anti semitites  think you’re an anti semite you just might be one….

Michael Rosenblatt

__________________________________

 

I was there in 2009 when it all went down as it was my client who was his lighting director (whom I believe you know).  Waters always was and will be an antisemite.  Truly, he hates the jews because our industry is predominantly jewish and that the “jews” control his income.  One more time, “stupid is as stupid does”…

Marty Tudor

__________________________________

 

The only opinions that should matter are the opinions of those who are offended.

Marty Winsch

__________________________________

 

Thanks for posting this and I certainly won’t be hearing Pink Floyd in the same way again!  What  a dangerous misguided man!

John Glatt

__________________________________

 

The music at the time was exceptional. I still spin the records now and then.

 

But I’m just not sure what happens to some when they just grow old and want to have a larger than normal voice that music concerts and the internet provide.

 

I know for me, now in my 71st spin around the sun, I’ve tried to understand all people and their beliefs. Sometimes though it’s just a farking struggle….

 

Will Eggleston

__________________________________

 

Wow. A narcissistic bully. Imbecile. He is the pig. Hate influencer. I can’t understand how he believes his bullsh*t. How can someone who is so brilliant be such an as*hole?

kestan

__________________________________

 

Disgusting Hit Piece

Taken purposely out of context.
And dumb. Rogers uses a thing called irony. Hello.
It’s common among artists also to use context to make a point.

Bob , You purport Back in the day, that the rock stars stood for something but Not today. That’s true.
Jimmy Hendricks , Neil Young were anti Vietnam war . Pink Floyd were also.

Is being anti war being anti American?
Actually yes. Today you are a ‘Putin puppet’ if you are anti-war.

And you are an antisemite if you oppose the occupation of Palestinians. By the way those last sentences contain irony. A la Roger Waters.

Propaganda rules today.
And we westerners can’t see it.
Rogers father fought the Nazis.
His principals haven’t changed.

Today we arm literal nazis in Ukraine. And applaud them in the Canadian parliament.

Yeah and Roger is the hypocrite.

Michael Brunnock

__________________________________

 

Wow….pretty damning. I wish they had interviewed more than two people though. Maybe people are afraid to speak out against him?

Carl Nelson

__________________________________

 

I think the world is a better place with Roger Waters in it and my belief will never change. I don’t believe that Roger Waters believes he is antisemite. I think that he believes he’s attacking everyone equally. But where there’s this much smoke, there’s fire. Do the right thing, Roger. Please.

I saw Roger Waters in Chicago last year (the same show heavily featured in the doc). I came out feeling entertained and had love of all people in general, with the exception of runaway capitalists, fascists and war-mongers. I never noticed anything antisemitic at the show but then again I’m not Jewish. I’m an atheist.

Dave Warner

__________________________________

 

Thanks for the link. It was out of character for you to provide this without comment but you picked your moment brilliantly.

My wife and my children are Jewish. Because my kids have an Irish last name, they heard lots of anti-semitic remarks in school. Then, with the dawn of the MAGA era, the slurs made below the radar in the past now seem to be shouted proudly like badges of honor. That is scary.

Personally, I agree with Roger Waters’ opinion of Benjamin Netanyahu and his political party. Too often, I have been accused of anti-semitism because of my opinion that the far right political faction in Israel is wrong. The existential threat to Israel right now would appear to come from within. Just like the USA. I do not like being told that I need to shut up about Israeli politics because I am not Jewish.

However, any sensible adult should easily navigate the gap between criticizing Israeli politics and attacking Jews as a people. Roger Waters is so far out of line that there can be no debate. His insensitivity is over-the-top and indefensible.

As far as I am concerned, Roger Waters is now in a box with rock star as*holes like Ted Nugent and Morrissey.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Mark McLaughlin

__________________________________

 

Thanks for this.

“Functionally, he’s a duck.”

Ezrin lays it all out. Makes the perfect case. Its ironic that Waters goes to such lengths to promote anti-fascism…only to fall back on fascist tactics and tropes.

He simply doesnt realize who he’s empowering.

Its pure freudian projection on Water’s part.

Bill Seipel

__________________________________

 

Wow, the comments…a shanda.

Steve Tipp

__________________________________

 

Thanks for posting this Bob!  Why do we continue to give this pig a platform.

Robert D’Angelo

__________________________________

 

Bob Ezrin deserves some type of prize.  It’s no question in my mind that Waters is showing all the classic antisemitic tropes.  Kind of like, where is the Candid Camera?  I appreciate when Ezrin says:  “To say that you can challenge Zionism without challenging Jews as a people, that’s just naive.  It’s uninformed and it’s insensitive.”  We need more Jewish unity and togetherness, so when is there a better time of year than Sukkot which is happening right now!  The Sukkah is a like giant hug and welcomes all humans inside.  Chag Sameach, Bob!

Rachel Loonin Steiner

__________________________________

 

This documentary challenges the long-held assertion by the Left that only right wing people can be anti-semites. Seems there’s an entire institutional, scholarly, academic curriculum that has fundamentally decided that Left-wing anti-zionism has nothing to do whatsoever with anti-semitism.

The documentary is useful and relevant because it rigorously identifies the blatant jew-hatred of Roger Waters. Only someone who is seriously gluttonized by Leftist ideology would dare to defend Waters as being solely an anti-zionist. He’s a mean, sinister person, with an agenda. When he hung that pig on his stage with a Star of David many years ago, it was abundantly clear that this man was seriously disturbed.

Leon Mayeri

__________________________________

 

I have a hard time separating my appreciation for his artistry from his loathsome aspects.  Do my best to just listen to Gilmour.

Clayton DuBose

__________________________________

 

Nothing but a hit piece, and not a very good one at that.

Gary Ferenchak

__________________________________

 

Doesn’t Roger Waters have anything better to do? What is this guy’s problem? You can’t say the things he has said and then say you’re focus is supporting the cause of the Palestinians. That’s a dog whistle.

I have been a Bob Ezrin fan since “Love It To Death” and then “Solsbury Hill” This is the first time I have seen Bob Ezrin, or heard him speak. Bob Ezrin is a mensch. Bob Ezrin is the star of this documentary.  Viva Bob Ezrin!

Cheers,

Thomas Quinn

__________________________________

 

I’ve had this discussion with a lot of people who like Pink Floyd (to be utterly honest, I’ve always found them wildly overrated, a musical freshman year dorm room blacklight poster, with the exception of the occasionally gorgeous​ Gilmour solo), and I really think the veil came off when Waters started publicly supporting Putin.  There are a lot of people who in good conscience have real problems with the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, but if issues of sovereignty and self-determination are what you care about, then there is no version of that philosophy that jibes with support of what Putin is doing in the Ukraine.

I’m sure a lot of people might feel inclined to defend Waters to resist eliding criticism of Israel with antisemitism, but the problem is that sometimes criticism of Israel happens to be a convenient cover for antisemitism, and I think sometimes you have to look at the rest of someone’s political “portfolio” that way to get a sense of what’s driving what.  If you support the BDS movement but are mum about commerce with the relatively long list of other states committing notable abuses (Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, increasingly India, the many countries that criminalize homosexuality, sometimes capitally, etc.), the targeting starts to look questionable – when your moral outrage becomes very idiosyncratic and selective, it starts to suggest that it’s motivated by…something else.

Ezrin’s a thoughtful guy and actually knew the man, so he’s probably right that Waters doesn’t consciously consider himself antisemitic, but that’s also not the measure – he’s loudly and consistently put himself out there in a way where he certainly looks, feels, sounds and acts like someone who is, and it’s time to finally call it all out for what it seems to be.

Jeff Leven

__________________________________

 

The very best part of it is i watched on Twitter after David Gilmour shared it.

Alan Paul
Author –
Brothers and Sisters, Texas Flood, One Way Out, Big in China
Friends of the Brothers band

__________________________________

 

He’s gone off the deep end and he’s become someone to simply ignore – it’s a shame but it happens. He’s been sounding more like the wild-*ss Kennedy, not worthy paying attention to.

Jim Gilmore

__________________________________

 

F@ck Roger Waters

John O’Connell (Catholic)

__________________________________

 

Just about everyone in this video made me ill.   Making the pledge  “Never Again to Anyone” a reality requires having a backbone in real time.  Of those witnesses featured, there wasn’t a spine among the lot of them.  I know this, because Mr. Waters –like Mr. West– still has his teeth.  Sickening.

Charles J. Sanders, Esq.

__________________________________

 

Hi. As a Jew, I think Roger’s response seems reasonable. I don’t believe he is anti-Jewish.

“Roger Waters answers the Campaign Against Antisemitism”

Roger Waters answers the Campaign Against Antisemitism

David Arnold

Houston, Texas

(Note: If you click through and read Roger’s screed, be sure to click on the hot links and ask yourself if the resulting articles actually say what Roger says they are saying.)

“Dirty kyke”
“Jew food”
“Fucking Jew”

Is Roger Waters antisemitic?

Watch The Dark Side of Roger Waters now and decide for yourself.

Then add your voice at https://t.co/7F6c6M3nk1. pic.twitter.com/eh9n15DLsn

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) September 27, 2023

From: Phoebe Katis

Re: The Modern Music Business

Hi Bob

I really enjoyed this read. I am a new fan of your newsletter, and I love the direct & refreshingly ‘here’s what’s what kid’ nature of your words, especially with this article.

I manage two TikTok viral stars who have combined forces into a power group and are about to embark on their second US tour, playing 350-700 cap venues. They sold out 7/9 of their first tour shows, over 3000 tickets. They are the perfect example of what you advise below: artists who found a niche in the intensely saturated world of music making, found and & marketed themselves to their audience, and are now stepping out and jumping head first into the touring game. Transferring online viewers to bums on seats is no easy task, but they are out here doing it better than most. They created something unique and refreshing (as you said, their fans believe they are seeing something they cannot get anywhere else) while being two of the most down-to-earth, funny, engaging, and genuinely excited people I know. They are electric violinist Mia Asano and Ally The Piper (multi-instrumentalist and bagpipes). Their music combines rock, metal, pop, celtic, and so much more; their intense respect and love for their instruments and the history of their musical influences charm the pants off of millions worldwide.

Working with musicians who get it, as an artist and a manager, is so refreshing. No label is coming to sweep us off our feet. That just doesn’t happen anymore. We build our careers first, then labels step in when the time is right to open doors and provide finances we may not have been able to access. And if they don’t come knocking? We can do it ourselves! The internet is an incredibly powerful and scary place for creatives. Every day, a new swathe of artists & viral videos & trends come to light; & we either have to say ‘not for me’ or jump on the bandwagon. Admittedly, this is exhausting. But it is the world we live in as creatives, and we must keep up. This can be overwhelming. This can be demoralizing. But at the end of the day, if you truly believe in yourself as an artist and creative, if you truly believe you have something worth sharing, you’ll find your path amongst the madness. Understanding the new world order as a musician and artist is something I certainly wasn’t taught in school (I’m 31, and my BA in Music had zero business elements, ha!), but it is definitely something I’m constantly learning about now. I’m intensely proud of my girls Mia and Ally, not only for their own journey but also for what they are teaching me with my own artistry.

I think you’d like them… here’s them in action on their last tour; the music is their cover of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Thank you for reading!

Phoebe

www.phoebekatismusic.com

Trailer: https://tinyurl.com/mr233558

I’ve succumbed to the Netflix algorithm.

What I mean by that is I’m investigating the service’s suggestions, which I always pooh-poohed. I seem to have seen all the low-hanging fruit, the best rated TV series of all time. I’m always hoovering for more, and it isn’t an easy job, I need something that has great ratings, and therefor I started researching the international series that Netflix suggested and we ended up watching “Clark.”

Sounds like an American show, I know. Maybe Clark Rockefeller, if you remember that scandal. But “Clark” is a Swedish show. And in addition to having an 83/81 rating on RottenTomatoes, my research raved about the cinematography.

This is the best cinematography I’ve ever seen in a TV series. I’m not sure I can think of better images in a movie. What I mean here is not richness, I’m talking about innovativeness. It’s a feast for the eyes. Not hard to watch. If I tell you more… Hell, if you’re interested, dive in.

So what you’ve got to know is “Clark” is a true story. It won’t feel like one, it’ll seem ridiculous, but it’s very faithful to what actually happened in Sweden.

But we don’t know what happened in Sweden, because we are Americans.

Well, Clark Olofsson invented Stockholm Syndrome. Well, let’s just say the term resulted from his winning over hostages in a famous bank robbery.

Clark had a rough upbringing, and immediately turned to crime. Well, he turned to sex before that, but that’s his life, one of hedonism and criminality. He’s famous for robbing banks. There’s not a lot of planning, but when he needs money… And of course he gets caught, but he’s escaped jail numerous times (they say seventeen in the series, the internet is not quite sure of the number, but it’s in excess of ten). Jail is just a place for him to chill out.

Clark is played by Bill Skarsgärd, one of Stellan Skarsgärd’s eight children. He’s a tall, imposing, good-looking guy, and you believe he has luck with the ladies, and can beat up people when necessary.

As for the women…

If you’re a boomer, you’ll remember the movie “I Am Curious (Yellow).” It was a phenomenon, because of the nudity and the sex. Now this is hard to fathom if you’re a youngster with access to Google, never mind Pornhub, but that used to be a big deal, and “I Am Curious (Yellow)” was the breakthrough, because the nudity didn’t override the concept, as in the film wasn’t exploitive, it just didn’t censor itself like American flicks. All this to say that the Swedes are uninhibited. Therefore there’s nudity and sex and it’s got a very real feeling, as opposed to what we normally see in America. And you have full-frontal male nudity too. But the women are not all perfect, and there are scenes of sex that ring true, especially with Clark’s long time girlfriend Maria. So despite the hilarity, despite the broad strokes, there’s a resonance.

And there’s so much. Revolution, hippies, it is the sixties and seventies, even escape on a sailboat. And you’re watching, laughing, thinking it’s ridiculous, and then when it’s over you go online to find that it is all true.

Now I don’t want to ruin my credibility. If you’re a novice, a newbie, if you just watch what HBO serves up, I wouldn’t start your exploration with “Clark.” But if you’re a fan of international productions, if you realize that the best TV series come from overseas, and you can recommend a number of foreign productions off the top of your head, put “Clark” on your list. On some level, it’s indescribable. You can only watch and laugh and be amazed. But in terms of cinematic experiences… What you’ve got here is a linear story, but within this framework there’s a level of innovation in imagery that results in a great leap forward for TV series. If only there was this level of innovation in commercial music.

And one more thing… If you’re a cheapskate and watching Netflix with ads… I don’t understand it. Does your time mean that little to you? One movie in a theatre can cost more than Netflix’s $15.49 a month. But having said that… I resisted paying the extra five dollars a month for 4k. I mean LG OLED is so good to begin with. But all new Netflix productions are in 4k, and even though it improves the experience less than 10%, it does add to your viewing pleasure.

And I’d buy an OLED set. Think about how much time you spend in front of the flat screen. Think of it like buying a stereo in the seventies. Or a computer in the nineties. You want the best. And if you watch streaming television, if you’re even paying for Netflix, why not live large for so little money?

Now the standard for OLED is the LG C3. This model, with yearly updates, has reigned supreme for years, this is what everybody in Hollywood watches their productions on. There is finally a Samsung that challenges the LG…but if you know that, you probably don’t need my advice. I recommend buying at least a 65″ set. That size is large enough to allow you to blend with the picture. If you’ve got some bread, go larger. But once you go to 77″ there’s a big price jump, never mind 83.” The rule of TV is to buy the biggest screen you can afford. No one ever buys a TV and says there’s too much screen real estate, if anything they watch a new set for a while and wish they went bigger. Also, do not mount your TV high. The center of the screen should match the level of your eyes when you’re sitting down, in your viewing position. (Having said that, OLED technology makes it so the picture is still good at an angle.) TVs are introduced in January, hit the market in the beginning of February, and are constantly marked down as the year goes on. The list price of the 65″ LGC3 65″ set is $2500, but even LG itself is now selling the set for $1900. And on Amazon you can get it for $1800. And they even sell it at Costco! The price will drop at least once more this fall, but at some point they will run out of sets.

LG: https://tinyurl.com/5cz89uua

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/32b2bufk

P.S. I don’t want to hear from the holier-than-thou giving me crap for recommending a TV set at this price. If you’re proud you are poor, you’ve missed the message, the joke is on you. As for me…there was a time not that long ago when my eighties Sony was broken and I had to live without a TV at all. I like it better this way.