In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Roger Waters openly criticized U2’s Bono, urging him to rethink his actions and words.
As an outspoken critic of Israel, former member of Pink Floyd has taken issue with Bono’s salute to the victims of the October 7 attack on the Supernova music festival by Hamas. The remarks that sparked Waters’ outrage were made by Bono before U2 performed ‘Pride (In the Name of Love).’ The singer addressed the audience, saying:
“In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence. But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us… and those beautiful kids at that music festival.”
Waters’ Lingering Discontent
The performance included an altered lyric of their 1984 hit, referencing the October 7 attack. Months after the event, the bassist remains incensed by Bono’s actions, as he disclosed:
“Anybody who knows Bono should go and pick him up by his ankles and shake him… until he stops being an enormous sh*t. We have to start saying to these people; your opinion is so disgusting and so degrading… Sticking up for the Zionist entity. What he did a couple of weeks ago in the Sphere in Las Vegas, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Roger also implied that Bono, among others, has not sufficiently researched the conflict. He recounted advice from his mother:
“My mother told me when faced with difficult problems, the first thing to do is to read — read, read, read. Then, the next part is easy: Do the right thing.”
Not The First Clash Between Waters And Bono
This is not the first time Waters has publicly criticized Bono. In February 2024, amid comments on the Eurovision 2024 contestant list, the musician included Bono in his critique, writing on X:
“If Eurovision doesn’t ban Israel from Malmo, and Eden Golan doesn’t withdraw, her name will live in infamy forever alongside Bono and the rest of the Genocide-deniers. Love R.”
Additionally, in March 2022, Waters criticized a poem Bono sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which was read at a St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon. The poem, which drew parallels between Irish mythology and the crisis in Ukraine, was ridiculed by Waters, who called both Bono and Pelosi’ eejit’ on his social media account.
