The Final Cut

Roger Waters is a lyrical genius. Too bad he's such an egocentric shit.

We've endured many of that codger's cantankerous, anti-establishment tirades over the years. He's called out more people than Biggie and Tupac combined.

One favorite from Waters' highlight reel: Shaming former Pink Floyd mates for performing Dark Side of the Moon on tour, calling the act "insincere," and intimating greed on David Gilmour's part. Now we have the hypocritical Waters' own vindictive money grab, the Dark Side of the Moon Live Tour.

Gilmour was never a great songwriter, only a great guitarist. Listen to this year's Gilmour solo disc, On an Island. What else but Dark Side could his '94 Division Bell revue have pulled off?

Waters revealed recently that after the reunited Floyd played Live 8, the other members refused a quarter-billion-dollar huzzah for one final reunion tour.

Can you blame them? Forget Waters' misanthropic attitude or that he quit Floyd and unsuccessfully sued them for the name -- did you hear that voice? Gargled battery acid and razor blades. He was lucky to share that Hyde Park stage at all.

So, Waters' myopic Floyd vendetta rages on. While a tour of The Wall actually lends itself to Waters' weakened vocals, it would also fill stadiums the world over. Instead, The Wall will suffer a slow, overproduced death on Broadway.

Rather than indulging petty, "my tribute band is better" jealousies, Waters would be better served touring Atom Heart Mother and the socially relevant Animals, and celebrating the real Pink, the late Syd Barrett.

But this tour isn't about vision, fans, legacy, or even "Money." Waters just wants to needle Gilmour one last time, at the audience's expense.