Photo: WENN
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has has spoken out to defend a speech he made during a show earlier in the week, which was decribed as an "anti-Israel diatribe" by The Jerusalem Post.
The band were performing in Milton Keynes on Friday (11 July) when Vedder interrupted the show to indirectly discuss the escalation tensions between Israel and Palestine, and the role of the United States in the conflict.
He said: "I swear to fucking God, there are people out there who are looking for a reason to kill! They're looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn't belong to them. They should get the fuck out, and mind their own fucking business...
"Everyone wants the same goddamn thing: to have our children, eat, procreate, draw a painting, make some art, listen to music, fuck some more, have another baby, eat, work, eat, work, love, love, love, everyone's the fuckin' same! So why are people at war? Stop the fucking shit, now! Now! Now! We don't want to give them our money. We don't want to give them our taxes to drop bombs on children! Now! No more! Now!"
Watch Vedder's impromptu anti-war speech below
In a statement on the band's website that was published yesterday, Vedder wrote: "With about a dozen assorted ongoing conflicts in the news everyday, and with the stories becoming more horrific, the level of sadness becomes unbearable."
He added: "When attempting to make a plea for more peace in the world at a rock concert, we are reflecting the feelings of all those we have come in contact with so we may all have a better understanding of each other.
"That’s not something I’m going to stop anytime soon. Call me naïve. I’d rather be naïve, heartfelt and hopeful than resigned to say nothing for fear of misinterpretation and retribution."
Elsewhere, Neil Young and Crazy Horse recently cancelled a forthcoming gig in Israel due to the escalating critis in the country.
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