Roger Waters has always been a figure of extremes — one of Britain’s most celebrated rock icons, yet also one of its most polarizing voices. His groundbreaking work with Pink Floyd cemented his place in music history, but his outspoken political views in recent years have divided fans.
Love him or not, Waters remains a towering presence in the U.K. music scene, consistently releasing new work — often live albums and collections of his best-known songs — that resonate with devoted followers.
Now, he’s back at the top. This Is Not a Drill – Live from Prague, recorded during his May 2023 farewell tour stop in the Czech capital, has debuted at No. 1 on the Official Rock and Metal Albums Chart. It marks Waters’ fourth solo chart-topper on that list, and his third consecutive release to claim the crown.
A Track Record of No. 1s
Waters first hit the summit with Is This the Life We Really Want? in 2017, holding the position for two weeks. Since then, Us + Them and The Dark Side of the Moon Redux have also stormed to No. 1. Across his solo career, he’s reached the Rock and Metal top 10 eight times, with half of those projects going all the way.
He’s placed nine different titles on that chart under his own name — a separate achievement from his monumental success with Pink Floyd.
Pink Floyd’s Chart Legacy
While Waters’ solo work has done remarkably well, Pink Floyd’s numbers are even more staggering. The band boasts seven No. 1s on the Rock and Metal Albums chart, nearly double Waters’ tally. Earlier this year, they added another with At Pompeii MCMLXXII, the live album that accompanied their concert film. That release not only led the rock chart but also topped the overall U.K. Albums Chart.
A Multi-Chart Debut
This Is Not a Drill – Live from Prague didn’t just dominate the rock charts. It also landed on six different U.K. rankings in its first week, hitting the top 10 on all but one. On the Official Albums Chart, it opened at No. 20, while scoring No. 3 debuts on both the Official Album Sales and Official Physical Albums lists. It also secured No. 7 on both the Official Album Downloads and Official Vinyl Albums charts.
For Waters, the release is not only another commercial victory but also a fitting milestone from his farewell tour — proof that, after decades in the spotlight, his music still commands attention.
