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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eddie Vedder shrugs off controversy over recent anti-war comments | Eddie Vedder shrugs off controversy over recent anti-war comments |
| (1 day later) | |
| Eddie Vedder has brushed aside the | Eddie Vedder has brushed aside the |
| controversy over his recent comments said to be regarding the conflict in Israel | controversy over his recent comments said to be regarding the conflict in Israel |
| and Gaza. "Imagine that – I'm still anti-war," the Pearl | and Gaza. "Imagine that – I'm still anti-war," the Pearl |
| Jam singer wrote in a statement. "[War] hurts no matter which | Jam singer wrote in a statement. "[War] hurts no matter which |
| sides the bombs are falling on." | sides the bombs are falling on." |
| Vedder was apparently surprised by the | Vedder was apparently surprised by the |
| furor over his remarks at an 11 July concert in Milton Keynes. "I | furor over his remarks at an 11 July concert in Milton Keynes. "I |
| swear to fucking God, there are people out there who are looking for | swear to fucking God, there are people out there who are looking for |
| a reason to kill," he said that night, mid-way through a | a reason to kill," he said that night, mid-way through a |
| performance of the song Daughter. "They’re looking | performance of the song Daughter. "They’re looking |
| for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn’t | 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 | belong to them. They should get the fuck out and mind their own |
| fucking business … We don't want to give them our taxes to drop | fucking business … We don't want to give them our taxes to drop |
| bombs on children." | bombs on children." |
| Although Vedder and Pearl Jam never | Although Vedder and Pearl Jam never |
| overtly referenced Israel, Gaza, or even the Middle East, the | overtly referenced Israel, Gaza, or even the Middle East, the |
| Jerusalem Post branded his monologue a "harsh anti-Israel diatribe". | Jerusalem Post branded his monologue a "harsh anti-Israel diatribe". |
| Pro-Israeli fans flooded the Pearl Jam's Facebook page, criticising | Pro-Israeli fans flooded the Pearl Jam's Facebook page, criticising |
| the speech, while Israeli rock DJ Ben Red published an open letter telling | |
| Vedder to stay away from Israel now that his "true face has | Vedder to stay away from Israel now that his "true face has |
| finally been revealed". | |
| On Wednesday afternoon, Vedder posted | On Wednesday afternoon, Vedder posted |
| his own letter on the official Pearl Jam website. Once again he avoided any direct reference to the violence that has | his own letter on the official Pearl Jam website. Once again he avoided any direct reference to the violence that has |
| broken out between Hamas and the Israel Defence Force. "With about a dozen assorted ongoing conflicts in the news every day, and | broken out between Hamas and the Israel Defence Force. "With about a dozen assorted ongoing conflicts in the news every day, and |
| with the stories becoming more horrific, the level of sadness becomes | with the stories becoming more horrific, the level of sadness becomes |
| unbearable," he wrote. "Some of us, after another morning | unbearable," he wrote. "Some of us, after another morning |
| dose of news coverage full of death and destruction, feel the need to | dose of news coverage full of death and destruction, feel the need to |
| reach out to others to see if we are not alone in our outrage." | reach out to others to see if we are not alone in our outrage." |
| "I don’t know how to process the | "I don’t know how to process the |
| feeling of guilt and complicity when I hear about the deaths of a | feeling of guilt and complicity when I hear about the deaths of a |
| civilian family from a US drone strike," Vedder went on. "When | civilian family from a US drone strike," Vedder went on. "When |
| attempting to make a plea for more peace in the world at a rock | 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 | 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. | contact with so we may all have a better understanding of each other. |
| That's not something I'm going to stop any time soon … I'd rather be | That's not something I'm going to stop any time soon … I'd rather be |
| naïve, heartfelt and hopeful than resigned to say nothing for fear | naïve, heartfelt and hopeful than resigned to say nothing for fear |
| of misinterpretation and retribution." | of misinterpretation and retribution." |
| Vedder's letter was met with an | Vedder's letter was met with an |
| inevitable mixture of praise and condemnation. "Beautifully said … Brought me to tears," tweeted one reader. "Your | inevitable mixture of praise and condemnation. "Beautifully said … Brought me to tears," tweeted one reader. "Your |
| ignorance was breathtaking before, but you've outdone yourself here," | ignorance was breathtaking before, but you've outdone yourself here," |
| replied another. | replied another. |
| Pearl Jam are not the first musicians | Pearl Jam are not the first musicians |
| to be drawn into the fray over Israel's new offensive. Neil Young and | to be drawn into the fray over Israel's new offensive. Neil Young and |
| Crazy Horse cancelled a concert booked in Tel Aviv after Pink Floyd's Roger Waters sent a letter pleading with him to drop the show. Swizz Beats, TI and Waka Flocka | Crazy Horse cancelled a concert booked in Tel Aviv after Pink Floyd's Roger Waters sent a letter pleading with him to drop the show. Swizz Beats, TI and Waka Flocka |
| Flame have all tweeted their support for the "#FreePalestine" | Flame have all tweeted their support for the "#FreePalestine" |
| campaign, as did Rihanna, although she deleted the post within | campaign, as did Rihanna, although she deleted the post within |
| minutes. "Let's pray for peace and a swift end to the | minutes. "Let's pray for peace and a swift end to the |
| Israeli-Palestinian conflict!" the pop star wrote instead. | Israeli-Palestinian conflict!" the pop star wrote instead. |
| Vedder's next scheduled gig is a solo | Vedder's next scheduled gig is a solo |
| set at this week's Super Bock Super Rock festival in Portugal. | set at this week's Super Bock Super Rock festival in Portugal. |
| • This article was amended on 18 July 2014. An earlier version said in error that DJ Ben Red had deleted his open letter. |