Nick Cave has responded to the backlash he’s getting for not boycotting Israel and criticized Roger Waters of Pink Floyd.
In his new album, ‘Wild God,’ Cave stood firm on the freedom of expression. While discussing the matter during a new interview, he named some high-profile names such as Waters and Brian Eno. “Brian Eno is a different kettle of fish to Roger Waters, [who] I think is deeply damaging to the boycott movement. It’s embarrassing. Brian Eno is a different character, he’s a thoughtful individual,” Cave said.
In response, the Pink Floyd rocker took to Instagram to share a video about the matter. “Hey Nick Cave, It’s ok to be wrong mate,” he wrote in the caption. “Obviously you not opposing Genocide is a biggy? But hey! Nobody’s perfect? Just say you’re sorry. Not to me and Brian Eno, we don’t give a f*ck. No, say you’re sorry to the Palestinians. Join BDS and we’ll let bygones be bygones. Love, R.”
Similar to the Cave vs. Rogers feud, Waters also had several public feuds about the same matter with Bono earlier.
“In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence. But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us… and those beautiful kids at that music festival,” the rocker said before playing ‘Pride (In the Name of Love)’ on stage with U2.
The performance featured a changed lyric from their 1984 hit, referencing the October 7 attack. “Anybody who knows Bono should go and pick him up by his ankles and shake him… until he stops being an enormous sh*t,” Waters said of Bono months after the show. “We have to start saying to these people; your opinion is so disgusting and so degrading… Sticking up for the Zionist entity.”
“What he did a couple of weeks ago in the Sphere in Las Vegas, singing about the Stars of David, was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Waters added.
In March 2022, Waters also aimed a poem Bono sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The poem compared Irish mythology to the Ukraine crisis and was mocked by Waters, who called both Bono and Pelosi ‘eejits’ on social media.
Cave hasn’t responded to Waters’ comments.