Pete Doherty 'deeply sorry' for singing 'Nazi' anthem

Pete Doherty has said sorry for performing an outdated verse of the German national anthem that has Nazi connotations. Photo / AP

British singer Pete Doherty has apologised for offending fans at a German music festival after he sang a verse of the national anthem that has Nazi connotations.

The rocker took to the stage at the Munich event, organised by radio station Bayerischer Rundfunk, on Saturday and launched into a rendition of Deutschlandlied – translated The Song of Germany.

As soon as fans heard the first verse – which has been banned since the end of World War II because of its use during the Nazi regime by Adolf Hitler and its reference to racial superiority – they began to jeer and heckle Doherty.

His performance was allowed to continue for five more songs before organisers made him leave the stage and the live radio broadcast was cut, prompting Doherty to hurl his microphone at the concert's host.

A statement released by Bayerischer Rundfunk said: "As the British say, 'We are not amused.' Unfortunately, it was unforeseeable. Live is live."

Only the third verse of the national anthem is allowed to be sung in Germany. The first stanza of the anthem translates as: "Germany, Germany above all / Above all in the world. When, for protection and defence, it always takes a brotherly stand together. / From the Meuse to the Memel, From the Adige to the Belt, Germany, Germany above everything. Above everything in the world."

Dohery's spokesperson says the singer was "unaware of the controversy surrounding the German national anthem and he deeply apologises if he has caused any offence."

The Babyshambles singer has admitted he grew up listening to songs about the Nazis because his father was an officer in the British army and the family lived at various garrisons.

He said: "Growing up in army barracks I remember hearing a lot of army-related songs, mostly about Hitler's genitalia, the quartermaster's stores and one perennial favourite that went something like, 'left, right, left', which I could always hear belting out from the parade square."

- BANG! SHOWBIZ / NZ HERALD ONLINE