Pete Doherty Apologizes for Singing Nazi Anthem in Germany

by Blaine Metzgar | December 1, 2009 at 10:18 am

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Pete Doherty looks like he is back to his old ways, the zombie lead singer of The Libertines and Babyshambles was booed off stage in Munich, Germany after he sang the first verse of the German National Anthem, a verse that has Nazi connotations and has been ignored since the fall of the Third Reich. "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles," Doherty crooned in a rendition of Hit the Road Jack; translating to "Germany, Germany above everything," the audience was understandably unhappy with the impromptu verse and proceeded to boo Doherty's performance. Doherty sang five more songs before being escorted off stage.

Bayerischer Rundfunk, a public radio station live-broadcasting the on3 music festival, cut their broadcast after Doherty belted the controversial verse.

In a letter printed on the on3 website, Doherty's manager Adrian Hunter said the singer had "wanted to celebrate his appearance in Munich by assimilating and integrating with the crowd".

"Pete himself is from Jewish descent and has fought against racism and fascism with numerous organisations," the letter said.

"This is a subject he feels very strongly about."

A spokesperson for Doherty stated the singer was "unaware of the controversy" surrounding anthem's opening verse.