Originally Posted by
Dixie Chicken
Oh BOY do you have a lot of catching up to do. What an amazing career, and an amazing band. Of course "The Wall" may be one of the most important not only albums, but a truely great Rock Opera, rating up there with Tommy for sure albeit more politically charged.
The original principles David Gilmour and Roger Waters have been at each other for a few decades now. Both are INCREDIBLY talented! Find the DVD The Wall LIVE from Berlin 1990. That show was the largest production ever staged, and may still be. The stage was over 550' long, 80' high and there was a 'wall' that was built from HUGE blocks by those tall skinny construction cranes on each side of the stage. Most was built prior to the concert, and of course during the concert the premise is to complete the wall. Which at the end of the concert (while the song is playing) the wall is torn down.
There were full Russian Army semi's driving across the stage will all sorts of military weapons, cannons, tanks, etc. Limo's, vehicles, you name it. The video itself isn't that great (didn't have high-def then) but the audio is awesome. The list of stars that showed was unheard of at the time.
One of the most important parts of it though was where it took place. Literally between Brandenburg gate and Potzdamer Platz which was 'no mans land' where people would get shot trying to go from east to west Germany. The producers had never been there, nobody had, and the concerns that there were ordnance's there were very real. They found literally thousands of rounds, land mines, and even Hitler's bunker was there where he spent his last days.
To see over 500,000 people there, peacefully, in such a massive political statement was a quite beautiful thing. Of course the concert didn't go off without a hitch and a breaker blew during it. Roger Waters however was (and still is) an incredible perfectionist. That the concert itself had problems wasn't a surprise, considering what a MASSIVE undertaking it was. He had arranged for retakes to happen after the concert, as well as the night before they had a full dress rehearsal.
At the time it was broadcast live on TV and simulcast on the radio. I still have those recordings on VHS. Of course I have the DVD, as well as a black denim jacket that could only be had then. I've been offered $1500 for it and it's not for sale.
That concert wasn't NEAR their best, and of course the performers were singing many parts, rather than the original band. But the statement it made, and still makes is something that'll never be equaled.
Last version of The Wall we saw was the Roger Waters 2014 tour. Of course these days they no longer build a REAL wall out of super human sized Styrofoam blocks. And the stage wasn't 550+ feet long. That one they had a massive video screen and forty some odd digital projectors all running at once, which made it seem as if the wall was being built, along with other typical psychedelic imagery that Pink Floyd is known for. My daughter was 26 then. She and her husband went with us to that one as she'd heard the music from the time she was a little girl.
I'd have to say the show at Ga Tech, Bobby Dodd Stadium in 94 however was one of the best experiences I've ever had. AND IT'S A DRY STADIUM! That concert wasn't Roger Waters, but David Gilmour touring as Pink Floyd. It was said to be the biggest production for a tour ever. Three complete stage setups at all times so they could minimize the time between shows. They even had custom remote control AIRSHIPS! They did 2 nights in Atlanta, and the production was so amazing that you would literally lose the performers on the stage BUT YOU DIDN'T CARE! It was actually in surround sound! The combination of lights, lasers, and actually the first introduction of a gold argon laser was revolutionary. Never imagined going to a Pink Floyd show and not having SOME sort of 'buzz', but we did. It was such a sensory experience that had one been 'buzzed' you would simply have missed too much of it! Went with another couple, and it was so friggin good that tickets were bought for when they showed at Clemson a week or so later. Heheheee
More than you probably wanted to know.... but welcome to the world of Pink Floyd. :-)