Roger Waters: ‘I have nothing to do with’ new Pink Floyd album

Roger Waters is one of the most outspoken artists regarding the Middle East peace process, but now he’s weighing in on another subject -- one he wants nothing to do with.

Waters has posted a note about the new Pink Floyd album “Endless River,” the mostly instrumental LP featuring contributions from David Gilmour, Nick Mason and the late Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright. It’s the band’s first release in 20 years.

Waters, who has extensively toured and performed entire Pink Floyd albums under his own name, did not perform on the album, and in fact has not been an official member of Pink Floyd since 1985. As his old band prepares for its new release, Waters would like to emphasize that he had no part in it.

“Dear Friends,” he wrote, “Some people have been asking Laurie, my wife, about a new album I have coming out in November. Errhh? I don’t have an album coming out. They are probably confused. David Gilmour and Nick Mason have an album coming out. It’s called ‘Endless River.’ David and Nick constitute the group Pink Floyd. I on the other hand, am not part of Pink Floyd. I left Pink Floyd in 1985, that’s 29 years ago. I had nothing to do with either of the Pink Floyd studio albums, ‘Momentary Lapse of Reason’ and ‘The Division Bell,’ nor the Pink Floyd tours of 1987 and 1994, and I have nothing to do with ‘Endless River.’ Phew! This is not rocket science people, get a grip.”

Waters also took the occasion to comment about Israel and Gaza:

“On another subject, my recent trip to Bruxelles was very moving. To listen to the testimony of some of those present in Gaza during the euphemistically named Operation Protective Edge, July and August 2014, was deeply disturbing. I am still nonplussed by the acquiescence of the governments of the U.S.A., U.K. and EU to the policies of the current Israeli administration. Should we encourage our leaders to sue for a peaceful solution or not? ... Whatever you decide, let us all agree that, ‘To stand by silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.”

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