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Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Honours Veterans

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Honours Veterans

Roger Waters has honoured wounded veterans in New York by performing with some of them at the annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit event.

The founding member of Pink Floyd took to the stage of the Beacon Theatre with 14 injured soldiers he met recently at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington DC.

He rehearsed with them at the hospital and for the past few days in New York ahead of the performance to highlight the plight of wounded veterans in post-war life.

Before the show, Waters described the experience as "fantastic”, saying he shared "enormous empathy with the men".

He also spoke of the loss of his grandfather in World War One in 1916 and his father during World War Two in 1944, which has spurred him on to work with war veterans.

"I never talk about the politics because it's not relevant to me. I'm not interested in it," he said.

"What I am interested in is the burdens these guys bear and would never question motive or even dream of talking about any of the politics."

However, it was reported earlier this year that Waters had taken a more political stance when he was quoted as saying the Falkland Islands were Argentinian.

Before the show in New York, he walked the red carpet with Staff Sergeant Robert Henline.

The soldier was the sole survivor of a roadside bombing north of Baghdad in 2007 in which he suffered burns over 38% of his body.

His head was burned to the skull and he had to endure more than 40 operations.

Still, he maintains a sense of humour. On the open red carpet on a chilly night, Waters pushed closer to him for warmth.

"Get next to the burnt guy. I'm good. I'm heated up," Staff Sgt Henline joked.

The retired soldier revealed he had been doing stand-up comedy for the past year and a half.

Waters performed three songs with the veterans, including the Pink Floyd classic Wish You Were Here.

When asked about his own band reuniting, Waters seemed doubtful.

"I think David (Gilmour) is retired by and large. I shouldn't speak for him. But that's the impression I get."

Waters then added: "Hey whatever. All good things come to an end."

The event benefited the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which helps returning veterans and their families, and featured Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Ricky Gervais and Robin Williams, amongst others.