Bryan Ferry: Nazi admiring twit, or twit?

Question

http://www.recessmonkey.com/

BRYAN Ferry has sparked outrage by singing the praises of the Nazis. The ageing rocker described the murderous fascist regime as "just amazing" in an interview. He said: "The Nazis knew how to put themselves in the limelight and present themselves. Leni Riefenstahl's movies and Albert Speer's buildings and the mass parades and the flags - just amazing. Really beautiful." The Roxy Music star also revealed he calls his West London studio his Fuhrerbunker - after Hitler's HQ.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=18910707%26siteid=89520-name_page.html

Answer 1

How anyone can praise the nazi's and expect to be seen as anything other than....well....a nazi is beyond me.

Mr Ferry seems to be trying to outdo his son, who has a penchant for the tearing to pieces of foxes.

Answer 2

The worst thing about this issue is that Ferry is being berated for liking the architecture of Albert Speer and the films of Helena Riefenstahl. For more than fifty years, paintings produced by German under the Third Reich were embargoed from public view.

Interestingly, Porsche's 'people's car' also known as the VW Beetle, was an icon of Nazi Germany. Perhaps it's a disgrace that anyone should have bought one.

Answer 3

Bryan Ferry was simply expressing the opinion, a widely held one by the way, that the Nazis knew how to present themselves to the outside world in a very good light. Their propaganda machine worked well for them and hid the real truth from an awe struck public. In particular the propaganda films made by Leni Riefenstahl were instrumental in keeping the Nazi party at the top of the heap and in the minds of the people.

I cannot believe that Brian Ferry is in anyway Nazi. Next time you see him on stage or on TV, take a careful look at his backing group. They're hardly ayrian. So any idea that BF is a Nazi is just plain crap.

There is no doubt that the Nazi knew how to put on a show. They wanted to show the German people that the nation was united. One nation, one leader, one people...etc blah.

Answer 4

Love or hate him Hitler raised a defeated nation to self pride, he invented the motorway, gave us the Volkswagen, so if you like the golf GTI, do's that make you a Nazi lover?, The truth is the Nazi party only came to power because Germany was being raped of it's resources, by the allies, after the first world war, there debt was huge,we took there coal, steel, and used there scientist to invent jet propulsion, which paved the way to man on the moon, there horrendous experiments on Jewish children, opened up new frontiers of medical science which are still used today, and they had to pay regardless of the German people starving to death at the time, the final solution was there biggest shame, so before you all become self righteous, take a look what are people did then say I'm above you, because I am the all conquering army we win you pay.

Answer 5

To probably everything there is both good and bad. I remember a Star Trek episode-original series where Spock stated that Nazi's had the most efficient political regime that had ever existed. I think I've seen something like that said in a real historical text. No doubt there were some very good sides to Germany at that time as well. If you think about it Hitler was voted into power not because he was evil.

Answer 6

A great singer and a fashion icon.

Brian is not a Nazi symphatizer he admired Albert speers work , speer was a great architect that is fact.

Leaving aside the now known implications of the parades, they were impressively organised and interesting to watch.

I think Brian was not thinking of the implications his words would have, a little naive perhaps that's all. He would not have meant to offend the Jewish race who lost people in the holocaust that's for sure. he isn't that sort of a guy.

Answer 7

Firstly, I don't believe everything I see/hear in the media.

Secondly, perhaps the fact that he is just starting a tour, and is something of a faded star, gives away a need for publicity - especially free publicity like this: I wouldn't have known he was on tour, if it hadn't been for your posting and his comments. Perhaps he is trying to emulate their communication successes, through the power of the mass media?

Overall, the Nazi's got some things right - they were convincing communicators, having got millions to support them. I believe this, whilst deploring them overall. Perhaps this communication element of his comments was somewhat correct? They had prolific campaining, including all of those disgusting propaganda marches etc. Ok, many people lived in fear and joined in for this reason. Otherwise, people did the most disgusting things to other humans, that were unforgiveable, due in part to their methodologies.

There are going to be people who see value in many things that we won't agree are either good or decent. It seems a bit stupid of him to voice his opinions, but this reeks of being desperate, even if he hated the many other things that they nazi's did. We don't know what his views were about the wider nazi atrocities. How sad that anyone would pin any of their beliefs to that disgusting lot!

Probably best to be ignored and let his career rot even further. (I loved some of his past music, but will steer clear of him now though) If he breaks the law, by promotion of nazi beliefs, there are many of us that would ensure that he is pursued by the law. I have a vested interest, having lost many of my predecessors through their vile tactics.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 8

You are a brilliant example of how NOT to read the media. You've only succeeded in making an example of your foolish self here.

He was speaking in the context of art. He was appreciating the Nazis aesthetically. It is the media who have said that he was appraising the entire regime, not Bryan Ferry. He did not condone what the Nazis stood for or did.

The media have reported this story because its a well known name making what seems to be a controversial comment when taken out of context. They are simply trying to sell papers and you have fallen for it.

The problem is the media, and in particular the hyper-capitalist press. Its all about making money, son.

They fu ck the morals so I say FU CK THE PRESS.

Answer 9

I must admit that I've not seen the full quote of his comments. Having read the above I'm not convinced the quote amounts to Bryan Ferry condoning the Nazis. He does seem to be acknowledging the success of their propoganda campaign, which let's face it, was unfortunately, very successful.
Calling his studio the 'Fuhrerbunker' is a bit dodgy though!!!

Answer 10

I like Albert Speer's buildings and I like the idea of mass parades and the flags. I don't like the idea of invading and slaughtering though. Whats wrong with Albert Speers Architecture. Its on a massive scale, but its very grand and impressive. I think you are looking for an excuse to call him a Nazi.

Answer 11

If nothing worse, he is at least a twit, for allowing himself to be quoted saying something which would so easily be misinterpreted and then broadcast widely. But yes, the Nazis invented the autobahns and the VW Beetle and a lot of other things that people still admire - and it is often said that they made the trains run on time. Enough to make you spit, but true. And they were clever propagandists who harnessed the creative skills of artists and composers to promote their pernicious ideas. A lot of people still listen to that music, eg Wagner, disregarding its assocations with the Nazis. (I hate it, for its associations.)

But I don't know what to make of his "Führerbunker". Hitler went down into his bunker when he was losing the war and beleaguered, and had nowhere else to run - and committed suicide there. Seems an unfortunate choice of name for Ferry's studio. What do you make of it? Maybe it's because it's his escape hole. Or just that it is heavily soundproofed and isolated from the world outside. (I hope for the sake of the neighbours that it's heavily soundproofed. I'd hate to have to listen to that!)