As the primary singer and songwriter of the legendary band Pink Floyd, Roger Waters has written more than his fair share of epic hit songs. Pink Floyd’s groundbreaking 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon” consistently ranks among the greatest albums of all time. Now, Roger Waters brings his legendary catalog to Crypto.com Arena.
This album has set a record that has yet to be matched by remaining on the Billboard charts for a total of 491 weeks. Subsequent albums, “Wish You Were Here,” “Animals,” and “The Wall” were both progressive and massive in their scope with many of the songs having a social-political commentary.
Roger Waters has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, even if that means alienating a good portion of his fan base. During his 2017 “US & Them” tour, he angered many fans by making his disdain for Donald Trump known to all by displaying unflattering images of the former President during his performance, causing some fans to exit the show prematurely.
In January 2020, when Waters announced the current tour by stating, “This tour will be part of a global movement by people who are concerned by others to affect the change that is necessary,” he named the tour “This Is Not a Drill” and stated “let’s put an end to this madness.”
CRYPTO.COM ARENA
Los Angeles, California
September 27 & 28, 2022
The tour was originally conceived to coincide with the 2020 election and hopefully influence its outcome; however, due to the pandemic it had been postponed for over two years. Finally coming to fruition, the show’s staging will feature Waters and the band “in the round” with large video screens playing powerful imagery to accompany the music and convey the importance of the pressing issues of our times.
The band is made up of guitarists Jonathan Wilson and Dave Kilminster, drummer Joey Waronker, guitarist/bassist Gus Seyffert, keyboardist/guitarist Jon Carin, organist Robert Walter, saxophonist Seamus Blake, and backing singers Amanda Belair and Shanay Johnson.
Although they will be playing about 20 of Pink Floyd’s biggest hits, like “Comfortably Numb,” “Another Brick in The Wall,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Money,” Waters reminds the audience that if they like Pink Floyd’s music, but don’t agree with his politics, they should “fuck off to the bar.”
Growing up with FM radio in Los Angeles and going to high school during the 1970s, I – like many my age – was indoctrinated with a love of Pink Floyd. If you just happened to be listening to the lyrics, then none of his views should be a surprise to you, or even matter.
Roger Waters never seems to rely on being just a nostalgia act and he’s definitely important to me and my generation, but should be for all generations as well. See him in person at the Crypto Arena September 27th and 28th.
