Roger Daltrey responds after being called out for previous Brexit comments

Roger Daltrey responds after being called out for previous Brexit comments

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Frontman Roger Daltrey reacted after his decision to sign a letter supporting the visa-free trip for musicians caused an uproar online. The singer had earlier supported Brexit, claiming it would have no bearing on music.

Daltrey joined with Liam Gallagher, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, while more than 100 artists signed an open letter in which they complained to the UK government about “shamefully failing” the music industry in Boris Johnson’s Brexit- agreement.

The letter called on the government to ‘urgently do what it said and to negotiate paperwork-free travel in Europe for British artists and their equipment’, arguing that ‘many tours otherwise’ [will be] unfriendly, especially to young emerging musicians who are already struggling to stay afloat due to the Covid ban on live music ”.

Daltrey’s support for the letter follows on from his previously well-publicized pro-Brexit comments, which he delivered in 2019. Asked if Brexit would be ‘bad for British rock music’, he replied: ‘No. What does this have to do with the rock industry? How are you going to tour Europe? Oh honey. As if we did not tour Europe before the fucking EU. Oh give it up! ”

He added: ‘If you want to sign up to be ruled by a fucking mafia, you do it. Like being ruled by FIFA. ”

Now Daltrey has issued a response regarding his decision to sign his letter and give his support to the visa-free tour campaign. “I have not changed my mind about the EU. I am glad that I am free from Brussels, not from Europe, “he said. NME in a statement. “I would have preferred reform, which we called for before the referendum and was rejected by the then President of the EU.”

The frontman continued: ‘I do think that our government should have made the mitigation of restrictions for musicians and actors a higher priority. Each tour, individual actors and musicians must be treated like any other ‘good’ with one set of paperwork at the point of entry into the EU. Switzerland has borders with five EU countries, and trade is electronically frictionless. Why not us? ”

Earlier today, music fans, figures from the entertainment world and social media users took to Twitter to reshape his original statements and comment on his U-turn.

In comments from Daltrey last year, Music Venue Trust CEO and former concert promoter Mark Davyd said NME: “The problem is that at grassroots level we do not form a large part of the conversation when it comes to considering what happens to musicians. You get Roger Daltrey on television and say, ‘Everything will be fine after Brexit’, because he played in Europe in the 1960s. Then you told James Blunt that it did not matter and would not affect him – and you know what? He’s right. With the amount of money he earns through touring, he will not even notice it. ”

‘It’s basically a tax on new and emerging musicians. This is not a tax that will affect your James Blunts and Roger Daltreys. Someone will be sitting in an office filling out all their paperwork. ‘

The open letter was published a few hours after the ministers rejected the pleas for them to fight for a visa-free tour plan for musicians and their crew at the EU.

Despite widespread anger from artists and bosses in the music industry calling on the government to “take it seriously and rectify it”, ministers yesterday (January 19) rejected the idea and insisted that ‘ taking back control of borders is their priority and that talks will only resume if Brussels “changes its mind”.

Last week, a series broke out after Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the EU was to blame for not allowing visa-free travel for artists, following reports that a ‘standard’ proposal exempted artists from a visa to enter countries in the EU for journeys under 90 days was actually rejected by the British government.

Then, like NME revealed, the EU slammed back by denying allegations that it had rejected the UK’s “ambitious proposals” and said it had in fact offered the UK 90 days of visa-free travel – but the UK responded with its own proposal of only 30 days. See more information about the different offers here.

The XX performs live during a concert on January 22, 2010 at the Astra Club in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Jakubaszek / Getty Images)
The XX performs live during a concert on January 22, 2010 at the Astra Club in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Jakubaszek / Getty Images)

Labor politicians and the Liberal Democrats also spoke out on the issue. NMEand claims that “the government blaming the EU is predictable, but it does not help anything to help our creative industries” – and calls for the stalemate to be ended by negotiations to find a viable solution again.

Last week, insiders in the music industry also reinforced their fears that the current Brexit agreement could prevent British artists from playing in the US, claiming that as a talent they could not gain “international recognition” by playing neighboring European countries with ease no, then it is they can not qualify for a visa.

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