2012/12/30
2012/12/28
Waters vows to make new album - Classic Rock Magazine
Roger Waters has vowed he’ll make another album after starting to write during lunch breaks on his The Wall world tour.
The former Pink Floyd man has been toying with the idea of retirement ever since he announced the ambitious global trek, which included an emotional onstage reunion with former bandmates David Gilmour and Nick Mason.
Waters plans to call the album Heartland and the work will explore concepts of religious extremism.
He tells Rolling Stone: “The Heartland idea came from a song I wrote 15 years ago, or longer even, which was a song I wrote for a movie. A really, really bad movie called Michael that was about an angel.”
He’s been working on a track which he hasn’t titled yet. “I’m not sure what it would be called but I’ll tell you what the first line is: ‘If I had been God…’”
Waters continues: “I’m absolutely determined to make another album. I think this new song may give me the chance to do that.
“It provides a cornerstone and a core idea for me to write about. I’m sort of obsessed with the idea that religious extremism is a maligned factor in most of our lives.”
He’s said Gilmour and Mason won’t appear on the album, with whom he last worked on 1983 anti-war record The Final Cut.
He believes many of its messages are still valid, explaining: “We’re determined to continue to fight against the onslaught, if you like, of a society driven mad by the headlong rush to maximise the bottom line.”
Water’s The Wall tour was the biggest-grossing travelling show of 2012, taking $131.4million in the six months up to the end of May. When he launched the project in 2010 he said it would be his last, but later explained: “I haven’t made up my mind – I’ve become very enamoured of the outdoor show. It’s such fun to do that I think I’ve got some more in me.”
From www.classicrockmagazine.com
Roger Waters extends 'The wall' tour into 2013, works on new album - rckol.com
Waters has also revelead he's working on a new album, to be titled "Heartland": it would be his first set of new song since 19920s "Amused to death"
From www.rockol.com
2012/12/23
12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief will be released on January 21, 2013 on CD.
This is a double CD of music from the “12-12-12” benefit concert, presented by Chase, including Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Eddie Vedder, Roger Waters, The Who and Paul McCartney.
Tracklist:
1. Land Of Hope and Dreams (Live) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
2. Wrecking Ball (Live) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
3. Another Brick In The Atlantic Wall (Live) Roger Waters
4. Us And Them (Live) Roger Waters
5. Comfortably Numb (Live) Roger Waters feat. Eddie Vedder
6. Hallelujah (Sandy Relief Version) (Live) Adam Sandler and Paul Shaffer
7. It's My Life (Live) Bon Jovi8. Wanted Dead Or Alive (Live) Bon Jovi
9. Got To Be Better In A Little While (Live) Eric Clapton
10. Crossroads (Live) Eric Clapton
11. You Got Me Rocking (Live) The Rolling Stones
12. Jumpin Jack Flash (Live) The Rolling Stones
13. No One (Live) Alicia Keys
14. Who Are You (Live) The Who
15. Baba O'Riley (Live) The Who
16. Love Reign O'er Me (Live) The Who
17. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (Live) Billy Joel
18. Moving Out (Anthony's Song) (Live) Billy Joel
19. You May Be Right (Live) Billy Joel
20. Viva La Vida (Live) Chris Martin
21. Losing My Religion (Live) Chris Martin feat. Michael Stipe
22. Us Against The World (Live) Chris Martin
23. Helter Skelter (Live) Paul Mccartney
24. Empire State Of Mind (Live) Alicia Keys
Pre-order:
Amazon UK
Amazon.com
Amazon.de
Amazon.fr
Amazon.es
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
It is that time of the year again, when you are thankful for everything merry and bright. May this Christmas be a delight! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Wesolych Swiat i szczesliwego Nowego Roku ...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ...
Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo
Joyeux Noël et nouvelle année heureuse...
Glad jul och lyckligt nytt ar ...
Frohe Weihnachten und glückliches Neues Jahr...
2012/12/17
Pink Floyd Roger Waters Interview Hard Talk Extra (BBC 2006)
2006-01-13 (Date of Broadcast) 23 min interview with Roger Waters, mostly dealing with Ça Ira and Live 8 in BBC World.
2012/12/13
Rock legends Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen and more perform at the Sandy benefit show - NBC NEWS.com
By Anna Chan, 12.13.2012
Rock legends ranging from Roger Waters to The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney with Nirvana joined together Wednesday night for a massive six-hour concert to raise money for the Robin Hood Relief Fund benefiting victims of superstorm Sandy.
The musicians set a serious tone, wearing mostly black and gray onstage as they encouraged people to call and donate money to help those affected by the devastating storm that killed at least 140 people and destroyed or damaged homes and properties in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other areas.
Alicia Keys, who grew up in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen, closed the show with her New York anthem "Empire State of Mind," as doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers and others joined the piano-playing singer onstage. They ended the night chanting "U.S.A."
Keys was one of two women who performed at "The Concert for Sandy Relief." Diana Krall backed McCartney, who sang his solo songs, Beatles songs and played the role of Kurt Cobain with Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band kicked off the concert with "Land of Hope and Dreams," and followed it up with "Wrecking Ball."
"Tonight, this is a prayer for all of our struggling brothers and sisters," Springsteen said. After performing a third song, the rocker brought out Jon Bon Jovi, and the pair sang "Born to Run" together.
"I can't believe that Bruce Springsteen is my opening act," Billy Crystal joked after the set. "You can feel the electricity in the building, which means Long Island Power isn't involved." He also reminded viewers about the devastation the storm left behind. "More than 100 people died ... entire neighborhoods wiped out. ... Tonight with your help, we are going to emerge stronger than before."
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, who recently toured with his show "Roger Waters The Wall Live," performed "In the Flesh" and "Another Brick in the Wall" from the band's classic album. He then launched into "Money" and "Us and Them" from "Dark Side of the Moon."
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder then joined the group for "Comfortably Numb," taking turns on the lyrics with Waters.
Adam Sandler then took the stage with Paul Shaffer on piano for a little fun, with the comedian tweaking the lyrics to "Hallelujah" to suit the evening. "Hallelujah, Sandy screw ya! We'll get through you, 'cause we're New Yorkers!" the duo sang.
During the show, celebrities -- including Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller and Jake Gyllenhaal -- manned the phone bank to handle call-in donations. There were so many stars there to help, "You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a celebrity," Brian Williams joked during the concert.
"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart also made an appearance to urge viewers to donate. She reminded the audience of the massive amount of damage that the storm left behind. "Now is your chance to be Jersey Strong with us," she said before introducing Bon Jovi's performance. The Jersey native kicked off his set with "It's My Life."
"When this storm hit, we all knew that the healing process would be beginning, but that it was going to take a long time," the rocker said. "(The performers) knew the people we were doing it for wouldn't be able to hear us, to see us. ... This recovery is not going to be quick. ... But we are strong. We are New York. We are New Jersey."
Eric Clapton also delivered an energetic set of his own that included "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" and "Crossroad Blues."
He was followed by The Rolling Stones, who were introduced by Jimmy Fallon. Frontman Mick Jagger encouraged the crowd to dance and cheer as the band launched into "You Got Me Rocking" and the singer showed off his own slinky moves.
"This has got to be the largest collection of old English musicians ever assembled in Madison Square Garden," Jagger later joked of the night's lineup.
Comedian Stephen Colbert also added to the humor. He said that when Sir Paul McCartney asked him for advice on being cool, he told the musician to lose the hair cut and the accent. Colbert then pointed out that helping is also cool. So cool, in fact, that it's like "doing a line of uncut goodwill" and that donating "is the new skinny jeans."
New Yorker Alicia Keys later delivered an emotion-packed performance, first with new tune "Brand New Me" then "No One." After the two-song set, she said, "My city, New York City, is the most resilient city."
After the slower set, The Who kicked things back into high gear with an energetic performance of "Who Are You?" during which singer Roger Daltrey seemingly dropped an F-bomb. While performing "Bell Boy," the band showed video of drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978. Images and videos switched to those of the storm's destruction during "See Me, Feel Me." They ended their long set with "Tea and Theater" and a loud expletive for beer instead.
Like Colbert earlier, comedian Chris Rock used his humor to urge viewers to donate what they could. "We have raised so much money tonight, the shift's over! We fixed everything! Jersey's fixed, Staten Island, it's all like Beverly Hills right now!" he joked. "Now please go online and donate! One hundred percent of the money raised tonight will go to me! No, to the Robin Hood Relief Fund."
He then introduced the "always humble" Kanye West, who performed "Mercy," "Jesus Walks," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Gold Digger" (a seemingly odd song choice, considering the purpose of the concert) and more.
Kanye was followed by Billy Joel, who started his set with "Miami 2017." The Piano Man had also performed the tune at a benefit concert for the Sept. 11 attacks and an earlier Hurricane Sandy show. His performance also included "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "New York State of Mind," "River of Dreams," "You May Be Right" and closed with "Only the Good Die Young."
Chris Martin of Coldplay was then introduced by actress Blake Lively. The rocker appeared on stage alone with just a guitar in his hands to perform the hit song "When I Ruled the World."
"I'm so grateful to be here. ... I know you really wanted One Direction, but it's way past their bedtime, so you get one quarter of Coldplay," Martin joked. "I tried to get the guy from 'Gangnam Style,' he wasn't available." Instead, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe appeared and the pair did a duet of the hit "Losing My Religion." According to Brian Williams, Stipe was a surprise performer, even to those who planned the show.
Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz introduced Sir Paul McCartney.
"I love New York!" the former Beatle declared before kicking off the band's rocking tune "Helter Skelter," followed by "Let Me Roll It," "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five," "My Valentine" and "Blackbird."
"So recently some guys asked me to go jam with them," McCartney said. "So I showed up, ready to jam, and in the middle of it, these guys said, 'Well, we haven't played together in years, you know?' ... I finally understood I was in the middle of the Nirvana reunion!"
The Beatle then jammed with Nirvana's Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear to a new rock tune. Afterward, he took on the Fab Four's "I've Got a Feeling" and followed up with a firework-infused performance of Wings' "Live and Let Die."
McCartney ended his set by asking "the heroes of Hurricane Sandy" on stage and shaking their hands. He then brought Keys back to wrap up the show with her anthem to the city, "Empire State of Mind."
"Dedicated to all the heroes in New York and beyond," the songstress said in closing.
The show, which started at 7:30 p.m. ET at New York's Madison Square Garden, was broadcast live on 37 television stations in the United States and more than 200 others worldwide. It was to be streamed on 30 websites.
To make a donation, call 1-855-465-4357, or donate online at 121212concert.org
Roger Waters in "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon". December 11, 2012
Jimmy talks to Roger about how he became involved in the 12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy Benefit concert at Madison Square Garden.
2012/12/08
"Solidarność jest przykładem dla reszty świata" - Roger Waters dla Interia.pl, 26.05.2006
Z okazji ustalania szczegółów wystawienia opery, Roger Waters na początku maja 2006 roku odwiedził Warszawę. Z muzykiem spotkał się wówczas Robert Kalinowski z radia RMF FM, a tematem rozmowy była nie tylko "Ca Ira" i muzyka, ale także... piłka nożna.
Opowiedz o swoich wrażeniach z Polski. To chyba nie jest twoja pierwsza wizyta?
To prawda, byłem tu dwa lata, zaraz - cztery lata temu, w 2002 roku. Pamiętam, że to był bardzo wietrzny i deszczowy dzień. Na szczęście nie padało podczas samego występu. Z kolegami z zespołu poszedłem do jakiegoś baru w Warszawie, żeby oglądnąć mecz Anglików w Mistrzostwach Świata w piłce nożnej. Nie pamiętam wyniku, ani co się wtedy działo na boisku, ale za to pamiętam wielu wspaniałych i przyjacielskich ludzi. Panowała tam bardzo miła atmosfera.
Jesteś fanem futbolu? To pewnie przygotowujesz się już na kolejny Mundial?
Tak, jestem fanem piłki. Ale teraz przygotowuję się na finał Ligi Mistrzów na Stade de France [w Paryżu], bo jestem kibicem Arsenalu. To będzie wielki dzień [rozmowa odbyła się przed meczem, który Arsenal przegrał z Barceloną 1:2 - przyp. red.], a dopiero później zacznę myśleć o mistrzostwach.
Przechodząc do Francji, to w operze "Ca Ira" opowiadasz o Rewolucji Francuskiej. Czy uważasz, że czasami społeczeństwo potrzebuje rewolucji?
Oczywiście, bez wątpienia. Czasem jest tak, że społeczeństwo musi powstać. Każda jednostka codziennie stoi przed wyzwaniem, czy poprzeć ciemność czy jasną stronę.
Wiele osób w naszym kraju ma niezbyt dobre skojarzenia z rewolucją, myśląc głównie o radzieckiej rewolucji.
Jak wiemy, nie każda rewolucja przebiega dobrze, ale uczymy się o tych rzeczach z historii. Trzeba zrozumieć, że często jedyną alternatywą jest akceptowanie ancient regime'u [starego porządku - przyp. red.], gdzie w ogólne takie kwestie, jak prawa jednostki, nie są brane pod uwagę, albo życie w systemie, gdzie heretycy byli paleni na stosach za inne poglądy na różne sprawy.
Czasem krwawe rewolucje są konieczne, żeby wprowadzić zmiany w strukturze społecznej. Oczywiście, byłoby miło, gdyby każdy był jak Ghandi i wszystko było by w porządku, ale niestety tak nie jest.
W Polsce, jak wiesz, mieliśmy pokojową rewolucję.
Tak. Ruch "Solidarności" jest przykładem dla reszty Europy, reszty świata.
Słyszałem, że lubisz filmy polskiego reżysera Andrzeja Wajdy i podobno "Popiół i diament" jego autorstwa miał na ciebie wpływ przy płycie "Final Cut". To prawda?
Tak. Te dwa filmy - "Kanał" i "Popiół i diament" - miały na mnie ogromny wpływ, kiedy byłem bardzo młody.
A co ci się podobało w tym filmie?
Akurat tak się składa, że ktoś wczoraj dał mi kopię tego filmu, więc będę go mógł sobie odświeżyć. W "Popiele i diamencie" jest przejmujący klimat i atmosfera. Nie potrafię powiedzieć za wiele o samej historii, ale wciąż - po 40 latach - mam w pamięci pojedyncze sceny, pewne ujęcia. Jak choćby scenę z baru, gdy jeden z bohaterów podpala wódkę w kieliszkach, albo finałową, kiedy bohater ginie zastrzelony, a wiatr porusza białym ubraniem. Doskonale pamiętam też twarz tego aktora, przypomina mi Jamesa Deana.
Z kolei w "Kanale" jest bardzo przejmująca historia ruchu oporu w getcie, powstania w Warszawie. Szczególnie mocno ten film oddziaływał na młodych ludzi.
Wróćmy do muzyki. Kim jako muzyk czujesz się bardziej - rockmanem z gitarą czy kompozytorem, cenionym za swoje osiągnięcia w muzyce klasycznej?
Tak naprawdę to nie robię tego typu rozróżnień. Po prostu lubię pisać muzykę, wyrażać siebie, swoje uczucia. Muzyka jest dla mnie bardzo ważna, myślę zresztą, że dla każdego taka jest, ponieważ wyraża matematykę stworzenia. Nie chodzi mi tu o stworzenie świata, bo jestem zwolennikiem darwinizmu, wierzę w ewolucję. Ale to Pitagoras stwierdził, że odczytaliśmy matematykę muzyki.
Rozumiem to tak, że muzyka jest drogą, którą możemy się połączyć z pięknem naturalnej historii. To daje nam bezpośredni dostęp do tego, co możemy nazwać duszą. Dla mnie to bardzo duchowa sprawa.
Pytałem o to rozróżnienie, bo dla mnie zawsze byłeś muzykiem, który zawsze próbował odejść od hałaśliwej muzyki rockowej w stronę muzyki bardziej skomplikowanej, progresywnej. Nie jesteś kimś takim jak Keith Richards czy Mick Jagger, którzy zawsze grają to samo.
To nie jest wybór. Zawsze używam porównania do malarza, który stając przed sztalugami, nie wybiera kim jest. Jest się tym, kim się jest. Obrazy, które malujesz, a w moim przypadku muzyka, jest wyrazem tego, kim jesteś.
Ale to nie są intelektualne rozważania, w stylu "Teraz zrobię to, albo tamto". Keith Richards nie może pewnego dnia wstać i stwierdzić: "Dzisiaj napiszę sonatę" (śmiech). Ja jestem po prostu inną osobą.
Skąd czerpiesz inspiracje - dziś i wcześniej? Czy coś się zmieniło?
Nie wydaje mi się, żeby się coś zmieniło. Całe moje życie muzyka, cała moja kariera, polega na szukaniu połączeń pomiędzy ludźmi. W utworze "Echoes" z płyty "Meddle" są takie słowa: "Strangers passing in the street / By chance two separate glances meet / And I am you and what I see is me / And do I take you by the hand" ["Nieznajomi podążają ulicą / Przypadkowo spotykają się ich spojrzenia / Jestem tobą, ale widzę samego siebie / Więc biorę cię za rękę" - tłum. red.] - i tak dalej, gdzie jest właśnie to podkreślone.
Jeśli się z tobą połączę, to wtedy połączę się też ze sobą. Jeśli zrozumiem to połączenie z tobą, to także zrozumiem połączenie ze mną. Również zabijanie ciebie, to również zabijanie samego siebie. Myślę, że to chodzi o moją wiarę w tę fundamentalną prawdę.
Moja wewnętrzna rewolucja polega na tym, żeby bardziej wczuwać się uczucia innych. Moim zadaniem w życiu jest zwalczenie we mnie tego lęku, który uniemożliwia mi bycie z tobą. Myślę, że cała moja twórczość jest właśnie o tym. O mnie i o moim lęku, a także o innych ludziach, którzy są w takiej samej sytuacji co ja.
Moim zdaniem ludzie z twojego pokolenia, także muzycy rockowi, są bardziej poważni niż obecni muzycy. Jesteś osobą, która starała się mówić o ważnych rzeczach o świecie, zadawać pytania. Czy nie uważasz, że celem obecnej kultury nie jest tylko zabawa?
Nie komentuję takich rzeczy, bo nie mam swojego zdania na ten temat. Ale tak bym nie powiedział, bo nigdy nie można generalizować.
Kiedy zaczynałem karierę, też były takie rzeczy jak teraz. Ale wiem, że są ludzie, którzy mają podobne inspiracje, nadzieje, obawy i ambicje, które ja miałem, gdy byłem w wieku 20 lat. Wiem, że oni istnieją, bo przysyłają mi często swoje prace. Mogą wypłynąć na powierzchnię, mogą nawiązać kontakty z podobnymi im ludźmi, ale mogę też tego nie dokonać. Jednak wiem, że są i że próbują. Chylę przed nimi czoła.
Nie można usunąć całego pokolenia młodych ludzi, twierdząc, że się niczym nie interesują, a obchodzi ich tylko zabawa. To nie prawda, że tak jest. Być może w ostatnich latach jest im trudniej się przebić do wytwórni muzycznych, do przemysłu. MTV także jest za to odpowiedzialna, bo jest tam sporo muzyki, którą można łatwo sprzedać.
Moim zdaniem dorasta nowe pokolenie, które chce chodzić do klubów i słuchać muzyki granej na żywo. Są zespoły grające po prostu swoją muzykę na żywo, a nie dbające o to, by znaleźć się w telewizji. Ich publiczność cały czas rośnie, powoli, z miesiąca na miesiąc, z roku na rok. Tak samo robiliśmy, gdy byliśmy młodzi.
Chodzi o to, by ich odnaleźć.
Dokładnie - żeby publiczność i zespoły odnalazły się wzajemnie i razem wzrastały. A kiedy artysta ma naprawdę coś do powiedzenia, to wtedy pokolenie znajduje swój głos. Przecież w ten sposób odkryliśmy Johna Lennona, Neila Younga, Boba Dylana. Bo oni mieli coś ważnego do powiedzenia, my to zrozumieliśmy i poruszyło nas to.
Kiedy oglądałem z żoną wasz występ na Live 8, zwróciła mi uwagę na to, że w przeciwieństwie do innych wykonawców, wy faktycznie gracie na żywo. A przy innych można mieć wątpliwości, czy to nie playback.
Przy "Comfortably Numb" partia orkiestry napisana przez Michaela Kamena była odtwarzana z twardego dysku, ale inne utwory, jak "Breathe", "Money", "Wish You Were Here", graliśmy normalnie na żywo. Na Live 8 też miałem takie wrażenie, że nasze piosenki są po prostu lepsze od pozostałych (śmiech).
Występ The Who był niezwykle widowiskowy, choć zawsze jest mi smutno, gdy wspominam Keitha [Moona, perkusistę The Who, który zmarł tragicznie w 1978 roku, na skutek przedawkowania środków odurzających i alkoholu - przyp. red.] i Johna Entwistle'a [basistę The Who, którego w 2002 roku znaleziono martwego w pokoju hotelowym. Przyczyną śmierci był atak serca spowodowany przedawkowaniem kokainy - przyp. red.]. Jednak ten koncert był niezapomniany.
To wspaniałe, że mogliśmy się tam spotkać i pozwolić muzyce zapomnieć o tych przykrych chwilach z przeszłości.
Czy w takim razie historia Pink Floyd z Rogerem Watersem w składzie jest zamknięta?
Nie, nie może być zamknięta, bo przecież będę grał z niektórymi muzykami. Na tej trasie na czterech koncertach - w Monako, Londynie, Nowym Jorku i Los Angeles - będzie ze mną grał Nick [Mason, perkusista Pink Floyd - przyp. red.]. Jak wiesz, będę grał "Dark Side Of The Moon" i to właśnie w tych nagraniach pojawi się Nick.
Zapraszałem Ricka [Wrighta, klawiszowa Pink Floyd - przyp. red.] i Dave'a [Gilmoura, wokalisty i gitarzysty, lidera późniejszego składu Pink Floyd po odejściu Watersa - przyp. red.], ale odmówili, bo w tej chwili grają razem, są bardzo zajęci, ale to też jest w porządku.
Dziękuję za rozmowę.
muzyka.interia.p
English translation
Written by Marek Grzesiak
Translation of an interview with Roger for web portal www.interia.pl, May 26th 2006, done byMarek Grzesiak
Q: Tell us about your impressions from Poland. This is probably not your first visit here?
A: That's right, I was here two, hang on - four years ago, in 2002. I remember that it was a very windy and rainy day. Fortunately it wasn't raining during the concert. I went with my band mates to a bar to see the England football team playing a World Cup match. I don't remember the score nor what was going on, on the pitch, but I remember all the wonderful, friendly people.
Q: Are you a football fan? So are you preparing for the next World Cup?
A: Yes, I am a football fan. But now I am preparing for the Champions League match at the Stade de France, because I am an Arsenal fan - it will be a great day. [The interview took place before the final]
Q: When we make mention of France - you are talking about the French Revolution in Ca Ira. Do you think that society needs a revolution from time to time?
A: Certainly, without a doubt. Sometimes the society must rise up. Every human being every day faces the challenge of choosing the dark or the bright side.
Q: Many people in our country have got unpleasant associations with "revolution", thinking mainly about the October Revolution.
A: As we all know, not every single revolution proceeded smoothly. It's necessary to understand that sometimes the only way is to accept the "ancient regime", but then human rights are not taken into consideration, or you can live in the system, where heretics went to the stake for different views.
Sometime bloody revolutions are necessary to change social structures. Not every man can be like Ghandi, I'm afraid.
Q: As you know, in Poland we've got bloodless revolution.
A: Yes. The "Solidarity" movement is an example to the rest of the Europe, to the rest of the World.
Q: I heard that you like Andrzej Wajda's movies and reportedly "Popiol i diament" ("Ash and diamond") inspired you on The Final Cut album? Is it true?
A: Yes. These two movies - "Kanal" ("Sewer") and "Popiol i diament" - had a significant impact on me when I was very young.
Q: And what did you like in those movies?
A: Someone gave me a copy of that movie yesterday, so I would be able to refresh my memory. There's a thrilling aura in "Popiol i diament". I don't remember much of the plot, but still - after 40 years - I can recall single scenes and takes. For example the bar scene, when one of the main characters sets shot glasses on fire, or the final scene, when our hero is shot down and wind moves his white clothes. I perfectly remember the face of that actor who reminds me of James Dean [Zbigniew Cybulski - M.G.].
And the "Kanal" - that is a moving/touching story about the resistance movement in Ghetto, the Warsaw Uprising. [A common mistake - the Ghetto Uprising was in 1943 - 7000 Jews were killed. The Warsaw Uprising was in 1944 and nearly 200 000 Poles were killed, the "Kanal" is about the last one - M.G.]
The movie had an enormous influence especially on young people.
Q: Let's go back to the music. Who do you feel you are - a rockman with a guitar, or a highly regarded classic music composer?
A: I don't distinguish it like that. Simply I like to write music, to express myself, my feelings. The music is very important to me, as a matter of fact it is important to everybody, because it expresses mathematics of the Creation. I don't think about the Creation because I'm a supporter of Darwin theory, I believe in evolution.
But it was Pythagoras who said, that we had read mathematics of music. As I understand it, music is the way which lead us to the beauty of natural history. It gives us an access to the thing we could call the soul. It's a very spiritual matter for me.
Q: I asked this question because for me you always were a kind of musician, who tried to depart from noisy rock music to more complicated, progressive music. You are not a kind of Keith Richards or Mick Jagger, who always plays the same.
A: It's not a choice. I always use a comparison with the painter at the easel who doesn't choose who he is. You are who you are. The pictures you are painting - in my case this is music - are the expression of who you are. But it's not an intellectual deliberation in a way of "now I'll do this or that". Keith Richards cannot wake up some days saying "I'll write a sonata today" (laughs). He's not a person like that, he's different.
Q: What's your inspiration - now and yesterday? Has something changed?
A: I don't think that anything has changed. All my life as an musican, all my career is a search for connections between people. In the "Echoes" song there are the words:
"Strangers passing in the street /
By chance two separate glances meet /
And I am you and what I see is me /
And do I take you by the hand"
and so on, where it is emphasized. When I make a connection with you, I make a connection with myself. When I understand the connection with you, I understand the connection with me. When I am killing you, I am killing myself too.
I think it's all about my belief in this truth. My inner revolution consists in being more empathic with someone else's feelings. My task in life is to try to eliminate my inner fear, which prevents me from being myself. I think all my work is about it. About me and my fear, and about other people who are in the same situation as me.
Q: In my opinion people from your generation, including rock musicians, are more serious than today's. You are the person, who tries to talk about important matters, asking questions. Don't you think that the main goal for contemporary art is fun?
A: I won't comment because I haven't got an opinion on that matter. But I wouldn't say that, because you cannot generalize. At the starting point of my own career they were saying the same. But I know that there are people with similar inspirations, hopes, fears and ambitions which I had when I was 20. I know that they exist because they often send me their work. They can hit the big time, they can establish contact with similar people, but they may not achieve it as well. But I know they exist and they try. I take my hat off to them.
You cannot say that the whole generation is taking care only of fun. That's not true. Maybe in the last few years it has become harder for them to make it the top, to showbusiness. MTV is to blame too, because there is quite a lot of music which is easy to sell. In my opinion the new generation is growing up, a generation who wants to go to the clubs to listen to live music. There are many bands playing their own music live and not giving a damn about being on TV. Their audience is still growing, slowly but surely, month by month, year by year. We did it the same way when we were young.
Q: So the point is to find them.
A: Exactly - so that audiences and bands could find each other and grow together. And when the artist really has something important to say, then the generation finds his voice. It's the way we discovered John Lennon, Neil Young, Bob Dylan. Because they had something important to say, we understood that and it moved us.
Q: When I was watching your Live 8 show my wife said that, unlike other performers, you were really playing live.
A: Except for the orchestral part in "Comfortably Numb", all the songs we played live. On Live 8 I've got the feeling that our songs were better than others (laughs). The Who show was spectacular, but I'm really sad about Keith [Moon] and John Entwistle. But it was an unforgettable concert. It's really wonderful that we could meet and forget about those unpleasant things from the past.
Q: So the story of Pink Floyd with Roger Waters is closed?
A: No, it cannot be closed because I will play with some of them. In Magny-Cours, New York, London and Los Angeles I will play with Nick [Mason] the songs from "Dark Side Of The Moon". I didn't invite Rick and Dave because they are now busy with their tour, but it's alright.
2012/12/06
Roger talks about his career in upcoming New York event
"For those in or near New York City, an upcoming event at the Theresa L Kaufmann Concert Hall at the 92nd Street Y in Lexington Avenue is well worth snapping up tickets for.
At 8pm on April 30th, 2013, Roger Waters will be taking the stage to look back over his long career, first with Pink Floyd, then as a solo artist. His various side projects and interests will no doubt also feature in what should be a fascinating evening.
Tickets are priced from $29 and are on sale now.
The 92nd Street Y is a world-class nonprofit community and cultural center that connects people at every stage of life to the worlds of education, the arts, health and wellness, and Jewish life. More information on the venue, the event, and how to buy tickets can be found at 92y.org "
Written by Matt brain-damage.co.uk
2012/12/03
Roger Waters The Wall - Gelredome Arnhem 08-04-2011
"This fantastic multi cam mix was made by Stef (Pascal). The video was first shared on yeeshkul by Dorenberg, who also provided one of the audio sources. I'm merely passing this on, all credits should go to Stef and Dorenberg! And if you want to download this video in the original definition, look for it on www.yeeshkul.com.
Roger Waters
The Wall Live at Arnhem
April 8th 2011
Venue: Gelredome
-----------------------
Capacity: approx 32.000
-----------------------
Setlist:
Hey You
Is There Anybody Out There?
Nobody Home
Vera
Bring The Boys Back Home
Comfortably Numb
The Show Must Go On
In The Flesh
Run Like Hell
Waiting For The Worms
Stop
The Trial
Outside The Wall
BONUS: LOCAL TV newsreport De Gelderlander about the 3 concerts of Roger in Arnhem (8,9 en april 11th)" youtube.com/Floydiandolf
2012/12/01
Roger Waters UN Address - Nov 29, 2012
"Roger Waters, speaking on behalf of the Russell Tribunal, delivers a very nicely put speech in front of delegates on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This day also marks an important development in the Palestinians' bid to statehood as they are now recognized as a non-member observer state. Hopefully the world sees both sides of the story and that both conflicting parties go into negotiations towards a two-state peaceful solution and put an end this long and dragged out conflict. Enough is enough!"
youtube.com/xXxmoesalfitixXx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)