Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has come under fire for what some are calling an "anti-Israel diatribe" he gave
during a jam session at the band's Friday concert in England.
NME reported that the singer got heated while performing the band's hit song "Daughters."
"I swear to f***ing God," he began, after taking a swig from what appeared to be a wine bottle. "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 f*** out, and mind their own f***ing business."
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After what was perceived by many as accusing Israel of bloodlust, his impromptu speech became a more generalized anti-war diatribe.
"Everyone wants the same g**damn thing: to have our children, eat, procreate, draw a painting, make some art, listen to music, f*** some more, have another baby, eat, work, eat, work, love, love, love, everyone's the f***ing same! So why are people at war? Stop the f***ing s***, 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!"
The middle-aged Vedder then broke into Edwin Starr's anti-war song "War (What is it Good For?)" and finally — wine bottle in hand — dropped to his knees, begging for peace.
On Sunday,
The Jerusalem Post labeled the speech an "anti-Israel diatribe."
Many fans took to social media to both defend and criticize the speech.
Ben Red, a rock disc jockey for Israel Radio’s music station 88FM, expressed regret that he had campaigned to get Pearl Jam to play a concert in his home country.
"Eddie Vedder, your true face is finally being revealed," he wrote on Vedder's Facebook page. "You are invited not to come here. I personally do not want to see you, and I will erase the Facebook page calling on bringing [Pearl Jam] to Israel, but not before I expose who you really are."
Vedder responded to the controversy on Wednesday with a
blog post on the band's website. In it he quoted John Lennon, proclaimed "War hurts," and called for peace. He did not apologize.
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