On Friday, March 17, 2023, Roger Waters kicks off his mutual accusations and political turmoil on a European tour entitled “This Is Not A Drill”. The complex large-scale production is booked for multifunctional arenas – the sales of tickets alone are likely to reach well over two million euros per evening with 15,000 to 20,000 fans. Gastronomy and merchandising are still on top. Big deal. The final date is June 10th in Manchester.
The route plan now only has four appointments in Germany. As is well known, the concert in the Frankfurt Festhalle has been cancelled. Because of Waters’ repeated statements, considered by many to be anti-Semitic, who opened a new keg in this case with every further interview.
The newspaper “Jerusalem Post” now reports that before the start of the Waters tour, the waves have also boiled up in Lisbon. Porto’s Jewish community has criticized the anti-Israel rock star, pointing out that the main sponsor of the 20,000-seat arena in Lisbon is the Altice company, owned by Franco-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi. The paper quotes Drahi’s rep as saying, “He deeply regrets it,” but says he has no legal capacity to cancel the concert even if he tries.
Elsewhere, a member of Lisbon’s Jewish community says: “We were shocked to hear that Waters will be performing in our country and even more surprised to find out that he will be performing in an arena run by an Israeli Jews is sponsored.” A spokesman for Drahi told the Post that “Altice would like to point out that it is the naming sponsor of the largest concert hall in Portugal; however, has no control over the program and the artists who perform there.” The Internet technology company Altice contacted the owner of the arena as soon as the program became known in order to explore options for canceling the concert. The hall operators pointed out that it was too late and they could not cancel the concert. The tickets were already sold out.”
The US industry journal “Billboard” is meanwhile reporting on the cancellation in Frankfurt and asked the Waters warehouse for a statement, which has so far remained unanswered. It was also reported that after the Aus am Main there was a message of support from a writer and editor of the Palestine Chronicle who denied that Waters was an anti-Semite. An editor from Delhi-based Marxist publishing house Leftword Books, who defends Waters’ position on Israel, is quoted as saying. “Love you my brother,” Waters, who will celebrate his 80th birthday in September 2023, tweeted to Vijay Prashad, according to Billboard, adding: “Shoulder to shoulder. fk em’!
The Rhein/Main local press is now dealing with the financial consequences of Waters’ cancellation. The “Frankfurter Neue Presse” (FNP) reports on a debate in the Main and Finance Committee on claims for damages and the consequences.
Michael Müller (Die Linke) wanted to know from city treasurer Bastian Bergerhoff (Die Grünen) what costs Frankfurt could face. The city and state of Hesse are the operators of the trade fair company and are therefore also responsible for the festival hall located on the exhibition grounds.
Treasurer Bergerhoff has not been able to make any statements about this so far. According to “FNP” he said: “It is not foreseeable how the decision will be made in the end.” One variant would be that there would be claims for damages. But there are several possibilities. It could also be that a court “follows the position of the shareholders”. However, it would also be possible “that instructions are given to fulfill the contract”.