Bigger Than The Event Itself
Posted on July 3, 2005
Filed Under Music |
Don’t accept that what’s happening
Is just a case of others’ suffering
Or you’ll find that your joining in
The Turning Away.
The Live8 concerts took place this weekend in ten cities throughout the world to promote an increase of aid to Africa to end poverty.
This is not the story. This is the story: At the concert in Hyde Park, London, history was made. The version of Pink Floyd most known and loved, including David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright, performed together in concert as a band for the first time in 24 years. After the release of their last album together, for which there was no tour, the band split up due to artistic and personality differences.
Pink Floyd and their music from 1966 to 1981 were some of the most important musical influences to me. Roger Waters’ and David Gilmour’s solo careers continued to inspire me, but the split between the two of them and the indignant hatred convinced Pink Floyd fans throughout the world that there would never be any reconciliation and the band that held the record for weeks on the Billboard Top 100 list would never play together again.
Apparently we were all wrong. Bob Geldof, who was from the band Boomtown Rats, played the character Pink in the movie based on Pink Floyd’s album, The Wall, and also organized 1985’s Live Aid, managed to convince Waters and Gilmour to come together for one final performace.
I downloaded yesterday’s Pink Floyd portion of the concert and watched it about an hour ago. This was pure Pink Floyd with none of the flashiness that developed after Dark Side of the Moon propelled them to fame and fortune. Instead of a multitude of additional musicians, including back-up singers and doubles for each of the primary Floyd’s instruments, the band contained the four principals, one additional guitarist, one back-up singer, and one saxophonist. They were used sparingly.
The band performed Speak to Me/Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here (dedicated to founding band member Syd Barrett, of course) and Comfortably Numb. Although it would have been wonderful to hear more songs — especially some older ones — what they did perform felt amazing.
Although a reunion tour sounds like a one-in-a-lifetime chance to catch Pink Floyd as they should have existed throughout the past generation, these folks are old now. The concerts would most definitely sell out everywhere but it’s hard to believe they have it in them to do one more world tour.
For those who missed the broadcast, weren’t offered the full performance, or haven’t downloaded the concert yet, you can watch here.
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Hey, Harlan.
I was watching this event at Chili’s thinking how the hell did live8 come to philly and I didn’t have tickets???!!! That’s the day I finally woke up after this pitfall of depression after highschool. So, I donated my last ten bucks in my checking account, bought a cutie bracelet, and started a job search big time. But..that’s not the point of this comment, Your blog rocked! Some how I think our generation writes more eloquently than previous due to the fact we had “BBS”es…Thanks for the good times on yours!