2006 Europe
Tour Reviews

From: Concert promoter Shuki Weiss from NSWAS.org.

"My story with Roger Waters goes back 19 years - that was the time we first talked about doing a concert in Israel. And, for more than ten years we have been talking about Neve Shalom as the location. One of the dates we considered was Israel's 40th anniversary..."

Weiss was asked why NSWAS? "Waters' has always been interested in humanitarian causes, coexistence, and the like. So I had to find him something suitable. NSWAS is my one true example of coexistence, unfortunately, so I told him about it and he said that's where he wanted to appear. This was the original plan when we talked about the concert last year. But we thought it would be in 2007.

"Then, in January this year he decided to do a short tour this year instead, and said he could come to Israel in June. The problem was, the fields around Neve Shalom had already been planted, and it didn't seem practical to do it there at such short notice, so we decided on Hayarkon Park. Instead of doing the performance in Neve Shalom, he said he would just give his press conference there. Then he looked at the matter more deeply and decided to move the concert to Neve Shalom after all."

Shuki Weiss NSWASHe continued: "When we announced that the concert was moving to Neve Shalom, there were lots of angry voices and people telling us they would cancel their tickets. But apparantly many people were happy about it too, even if they were less vocal. Because on the day of the announcement we sold 2,000 tickets, while till today, only 117 people have cancelled.

"It was a significant step for Waters to move the concert to Neve Shalom, and it is going to leave a very positive message. It's good that there are artists like him. He knows very well that it would have been much cheaper to do the concert in Tel Aviv and that moving it to Neve Shalom is going to cut deeply into his earnings. Many artists talk a lot about human rights issues - but when it comes to their wallet, they aren't willing to give a penny. Waters isn't a talker - he's a doer - he doesn't even intend to do interviews while in Israel. The only place he will speak, if at all, is in Neve Shalom."

From: Lee Ein dor

It was just divine!!

Along with 54.000 people I was standing in the first row! You have to understand that it was a very hot day. People started showing up early in the morning and some even camped out the night before. It actually took me back to the sixties & seventies, feeling like being at Woodstock.

I personally arrived at 3:00 pm, and as the gates (12 in number) started to open up, people just started rushing in to get a good spot (I was one of them of course).

It took about four and a half hours of waiting until the show started, and due to a heavy traffic jam, Roger agreed to start the show 45 minutes later, which was very kind of him.

As the show began the audience was so thrilled, when I turned my head I could see this field of chickpeas covered with "Israeli Human Peas" all seeking Peas, "peaceful peace." I must say by all means that Roger had defiantly "reaped what he had sown." People were so anxious for the show to start, everyone came together as one, rapidly shouting the name " Roger Waters" and clapping our hands together up above our heads. It was a pretty site.

And of course the show was a genius performance as usual! I particularly liked the performance of "The Greatest Gig in the Sky" with Carol Kenyon doing the vocal honors, and of course the rest of the" Dark side of the Moon".

I hope that he will come again. Goodbye till next time.
Lee Ein Dor

From: Asher Landman

The show at the 22/6/06 was very good, best music ever, best sound, best everything...but out of 50,000 people only 10,000 could see the stage and the man himself. The show was supposed to be in Tel-aviv, at a perfect place for big concerts like this one, bur Mr. Waters changed the place at the last minute, he wanted to do it near Jerusalem, due to his political point of view. So the production found a place near the city, a big field with no infrastructure for such event, no parking, only one muddy road for 20,000 cars. It took us 3 hours to make a 30 min drive. But we were all happy to spend the time, the money (100 Eu including the drinks), we respect his political agenda, but we were amazed that the man didn't respect us! We saw him only by the big video screens. The man changed the place of the show as to his conviction, but didn't give a damm about respecting us, his fans, who have warshiped his music for 30 years. MR. Roger Waters , do you think it's right that finally we get to see you, and we don't??!!!

Just as CNN continues broadcasting special programs concerning the never-ending conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, Roger Waters decided to pay a visit to this troubled area. Growing up on his songs, I never believed in my wildest dreams I will have the chance to see him perform live in the so called holy land. I've always been aware of his opinions about the conflict, and with similar thoughts, I couldn't be more optimistic. Waters agreed to come, and even refused to surrender to the Palestinian pressure to boycott Israel, but decided to move the show from the centre of Tel Aviv to Newe Shalom (Oasis of Peace). This Village, which was established by Jews and Arabs, is a living proof that there can be a "different" Israel. The part which the international media is trying to hide, maybe out of boredom cause it's not news worthy (after all "It all makes perfect sense").

The decision of moving the concert to Newe Shalom caused a loss of production money, as well as ticket refunds, and one of the heaviest traffic jams in the history of Israel. But the idea was important to the artist, and basically contributed a lot to the spirit of the show. When you have been waiting for this gig since you were a little kid, a 4 hour traffic jam is really minor. Especially when you get to see the landscapes of the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem from the road through the window, on your way there.

Only a few of the 54,000 people who bought tickets, succeeded on arriving at the park by the time the warm-up acts came on stage. The unique atmosphere of the place was pervasive, as the Israeli artists sang in Hebrew and Arabic, with Arab artists as their guests. Together they tried to keep the crowd patient, just before the dream of seeing Roger Waters, is about to come true.

Roger's performance began after a 20 minute delay, waiting for the those who got stuck at the end of the heavy traffic jam. The choice of beginning the show with "In the Flesh," couldn't have been better. The crowd began to understand what was really happening, that this is the closest we would get to seeing "The Wall" played live. The cheers didn't stop, especially when Roger shouted "That one looks Jewish..." and pointed at us. These lyrics, which with irony speak about fascism, the history of which unfortunately we in Israel know too well, also connects to present day and current walls.

The four songs right after continued the mood. "Mother," made us forget the fact that this show, as well as the life in Israel, is breathing politics. "Set the controls..." as well as the songs from "Wish you were Here," made us realize another kind of history, the history of Pink Floyd. In hindsight it seemed as if Roger Waters knew he was saying his last goodbye to Syd Barrett. The Video clips in the screen behind the stage, were amazingly well made, and added a lot to the excitement of hearing these songs live for the first time in this region.

Politics reared it's head again in "The Final Cut," where Israel's former prime minister, Menahem Begin, was mentioned in the same breath as the worst of the worlds dictators. Of course the audience knew the words, as well as the ideas behind the songs, but still, you could see confusion in the reactions of some of the fans. As for the Israelis, Begin will always be remembered as the one who made peace with Egypt. Politics can be so complicated, and the media has a lot to do with it. Which may be why Waters wrote the song "Perfect Sense." What's happening these days in Israel is great example of the truth behind the line from this song which goes "...The Germans killed Jews, and the Jews killed the Arabs, and the Arabs killed the hostages, and that is the news". Roger describes the complicated political dilemma in one simple line.

The relatively new song "Leaving Beirut" was, as I see it, the centre of the show. The 12 minute song spoke to exactly what is happening in Lebanon while I'm writing t his review. You can't really ignore the fact, that this is more a story than a song. The comic book graphics which were shown on the projection screens, help you understand that. There was a clear message behind all of it, talking about those innocent people who suffer in wars. For me, it was one of the show's highlights, really exciting. Though I couldn't help noticing those in the audience who were quite angry thinking Roger was using the song and concert to try to tell us and show us things we already know.

After the song "Sheep" and a 15 minute break, Waters and his band, came back on stage again, and played the whole album "Dark Side of the Moon" in a brilliant way. All the musicians did a great job, making us believe this was the real thing (Pink Floyd), especially Dave Kilminster, who almost succeeded in filling Gilmour's shoes perfectly. And Carol Kenyon's solo during "The Great Gig in the Sky," sent shivers down our bodies. For a little bit more than 40 minutes, we could almost forget where we were, and what was happening in the world around us. The audience, Jews and Arabs together, did nothing except listen or sing along, watching the colorful graphics and video's on the huge round screen, while thinking about the moon. Most people will agree this was the "Light Side of the Show."

The third part of the show, just after "Dark Side of the Moon" was over, was maybe the most relevant part for this region. The 5 songs from the album "The Wall," continued to show what Waters was trying to say the day before the show, when he paint sprayed the Israeli Wall with the words: "We don't need no forced control." The Israeli's insist on calling the wall a defencing fence. But, this Wall, which separates Israel and the Palestinian territories, is not exactly like the mortar and brick walls we've known in the past, but it was still very relevant to the whole concept of Pink Floyd's most famous album.

Just before starting "The Happiest Days of our Lives," Waters made a little speech to the audience, saying there are a lot of people in the world who can learn from this generation of Israeli's, how to break down walls. This optimistic statement was followed by great applause, which continued until the perfect ending of the show with the song; "Comfortably Numb."

Maybe without knowing it, Roger Waters' concert seemed built upon the history of Israel. Many of the songs touched on topics ranging from the racism in Nazi Germany (which was the main reason for founding a Jewish state), to mentioning our wars (with lyrics that spoke of Begin and Lebanon), and songs that spoke about walls, reminding us of the current walls, which sooner or later will fall. Only the main part of the concert, "Dark Side of the Moon," which gave the concert it's name, felt like a nice long commercial break in the middle of a news broadcast. Indeed, this evening was full of politics, but both Jews and Arabs in the crowd who were familiar with Roger's material and politics, and knew what to expect, will agree that this was the greatest rock concert in the history of this land of walls.

I am big fan of yours and I visited this site and had to write about this concert. This was the best "show" I've ever seen andheardtogether with 60,000enthusiasticpeople. No doubt it was the best and biggest concertever in Israel. I liked the song "Comfortably Numb," the most and it was a good song to end the concert with.

I and many fans in Israel hope Roger will visit us againin the future during another tourand give the people another chance, who enjoyed this show and those who couldn't go to the show but wantedto feel the power of it. Again' thank you Roger forperforming in our small but wonderful country.