Alex Skolnick is on the side of freedom of speech and supports Roger Waters’ words.
The Testament guitarist took to X to address some users’ problems with people expressing their thoughts online: “Purpose of a social media account: Expressing an opinion. Certain mentally challenged individuals online: ‘You’re a musician!! Stop expressing your opinion!'”
“They really don’t like it when the people who make the music that they love don’t share the same opinions,” a user said of musicians’ beliefs and opinions. “I think Ted Nugent’s whole world view sucks, but as soon as ‘Stranglehold’ comes on, that volume knob is getting cranked to the right as fast as can do it.”
“I think Roger Waters has vile viewpoints, behaves like an obnoxious twit & is losing his mind (look no further than his exchange with himself on Piers Morgan). Yet ‘The Wall’ remains one of my all time favorite albums. REAL music fans don’t abandon music over personal disagreements,” Skolnick responded.
The Pink Floyd rocker has often made headlines for his outspoken political views, namely his criticism of Israel.
A few months ago, he was accused of anti-Semitism after commenting on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In February, he called Bono ‘disgusting’ and ‘a sh*t’ because he had used his Sphere residency shows to honor the victims of the October 7 attack at the Israeli music festival Supernova.
And Skolnick isn’t the only rocker to have shared his thoughts about Waters. “I love Roger. I love him. We are brothers and he goes his way about it, and it takes a lot of guts, and he suffers from it terribly,” Eric Clapton said during an interview with The Real Music Observer. “I’ve seen him sit on the window ledge in tears and say ‘It’s morning here in Manhattan and I’m in tears again,’ you know?”
“I can’t do that, I am on the verge of tears a lot when I think about what’s going on and the evil there is, but I also have to carry a positive message of hope, and he does too,” he added.
Waters consistently denied all claims of anti-Semitism while explaining that his criticism is directed at Israel, not Judaism.
They really don’t like it when the people who make the music that they love don’t share the same opinions.
I think Ted Nugent’s whole world view sucks, but as soon as Stranglehold comes on, that volume knob is getting cranked to the right as fast as can do it.
— Christopher Green (@danvon1) August 26, 2024
I think Roger Waters has vile viewpoints, behaves like an obnoxious twit & is losing his mind (look no further than his exchange with himself on Piers Morgan). Yet THE WALL remains one of my all time favorite albums. REAL music fans don’t abandon music over personal disagreements
— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) August 26, 2024
