There are few other celebrities as famous as Roger Waters for being outspoken, harsh and controversial both on and off the stage.
He’s known for being candid about his personal opinions, even if they come across as harsh. He hasn’t shied away from expressing his strong views, even toward his fellow bandmates. Many label him as cynical and pessimistic, traits that seem to be uniquely his.
During his tenure in the band, he played the bass guitar and was a member of Pink Floyd from its inception in 1965 until 1985. Despite being the bassist, he managed to compose some of the band’s most iconic songs, including “Comfortably Numb,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “Another Brick in the Wall.”
Roger Waters isn’t reticent when it comes to his opinions about other musicians of his era. While he has praised artists like Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan, he’s been quite candid about his indifference or even distaste for many others.
He has mentioned, “I’m monumentally surprised how my fellow musicians are scared to express their opinions.” He doesn’t mince words about his feelings towards today’s popular music either, noting that much of it seems self-centered and consumer-driven.
Over time, he’s made it clear which bands he dislikes, and here are seven of them:
Roger Waters isn’t fond of AC/DC and Van Halen
Roger isn’t fond of loud music. He also isn’t very interested in today’s music or its modern forms. While discussing music with Joe Rogan, he had thoughts about AC/DC.
He shared, “I’m not into most popular music. Not really into loud rock ‘n’ roll—some people love it, but I couldn’t care less about AC/DC or Eddie Van Halen.”
It was a surprising viewpoint. Roger clarified it was just his personal preference and that he didn’t feel drawn to that kind of music. He mentioned, “It’s like, who? I know the name, of course. Eddie’s surely talented, a great guitarist, and all that. It’s just not my thing.”
Roger Waters’ Dislike for U2
This is more personal. Roger’s distaste for U2 stems from their remarks about Pink Floyd’s work. He recalled, “I remember when we did The Wall, getting criticized by Bono.
U2, a young band, were like, ‘We can’t stand the theatrics Pink Floyd does. We focus on our music and the songs themselves.'” He mentioned this in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine.
The Sex Pistols Are Noisy – Roger Waters
Roger didn’t mince words about The Sex Pistols. His opinion was quite straightforward and a bit cold. In a conversation with Rolling Stone, he stated:
“The Sex Pistols were just making noise. Clearly contrived. Managed by a guy who ran a shop with goofy clothes! Then one of them passed away, adding an iconic layer. Death tends to do that. Except for the person who died, their parents, and his girlfriend Nancy; for everyone else, it’s quite something.”
Legend has it that John Lydon joined The Sex Pistols while wearing a t-shirt that read ‘I Hate Pink Floyd’. Even David Gilmour, a Pink Floyd member, shared his thoughts on The Sex Pistols.
He said, “Punk didn’t alienate us. It just wasn’t our scene. Some good things came out of punk, but many jumped on the bandwagon only to jump off at the top.”
Roger Doesn’t Feel The Weeknd & Drake Are Significant Enough
Both are contemporary artists. But Roger’s stance on modern music is clear. He believes it lacks depth. He mentioned in Vanity Fair, “I don’t know who or what the Weeknd is. People say he’s big. With respect to the Weeknd, Drake, or any of them, I’m far more significant than they’ll ever be, no matter the streams.”
A strong statement. He feels the current system is corrupt. “Most in the industry don’t care about others. It might not cross their minds, or if it does, they’re afraid to speak out. It’s a rotten, corrupt system, causing immense suffering.”
Roger’s Former Band Pink Floyd
Roger Waters co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965. Walking away from your creation is tough. Nonetheless, he left in December 1985, assuming the group would dissolve. But it didn’t. Creative and personal differences led to his departure.
Roger even labeled his former bandmates as ‘toxic’. After the split, he noted, “They were snobby and irritable, feeling insignificant, I think. I could have been an architect, but I wouldn’t have been content. Much of modern architecture is a game.”
Legal issues over the band’s name and songs emerged between him and the bandmates. Roger took them to court to prevent name use, unsuccessfully. “Gilmour thinks he owns Pink Floyd since I left in ’85,” Waters remarked. “He’s Pink Floyd, and I’m irrelevant—my mouth should stay shut.”
