Roger Waters: The Wall Berlin 1990 anniversary package this month
Written by Matt   
Tuesday, 01 March 2011

Roger Waters - The Wall Live In Berlin 1990 20th anniversary editionBack on November 13th 2010, we gave you an exclusive update on the commemorative release of the 1990 Berlin Wall concert by Roger Waters. This marks the 21st anniversary year of the show, and should keep us all going until the release (both theatrically, and on Blu-ray, as confirmed by Roger himself on his Facebook page the other day) of the current tranche of Wall concerts.

Whilst there were initial plans to release it on Blu-ray, these have now been dropped. However, Universal has lined up a special 2DVD/2CD package (as well as a standard edition). It includes previously unreleased material as detailed below, including the original concert edit - it'll be great to finally get the concert as it happened, rather than the release version which tidied up the problems by using footage from the dress rehearsals. Those of us lucky enough to be there on the night will never forget the sight of Roger tap-dancing during the power cut - and soon, everyone should be able to enjoy this and much more!

We also have the release dates (and ordering details) for each region, and these vary from as early as next week for a couple of countries! 

IMPORTANT UPDATE: It seems that, despite listing as a 2DVD set and showing the expanded contents, this set is now shipping ONLY as a one-DVD (and 2CD) set. We've tried to get information from Universal regarding this, to no avail, and as the release has not been done in conjunction with Roger (or his management) they have no idea about this either. If anyone has seen/received a 2DVD set, please let us know!

The new material we've been told features on both editions is:

  • Behind The Wall Documentary - extended from 30 minutes to 70 minutes
  • Footage of Rupert Everett (as "Pink")/Marianne Faithful ("Mother")/Ute Lemper ("Wife") shot by Ian Emes for stage projections edited as theatrical promos for the first time ever. Tracks: Mother, Young Lust, and Don't Leave Me Now.
  • Gerald Scarfe animations - previously unreleased full screen original

The additional content on the 2DVD/2CD package includes:

  • Additional DVD with the live broadcast concert edit never before (officially) released on DVD, including Leonard Cheshire's introduction, the power cut, and more - the warts and all version as per the worldwide broadcast - available picture in picture comparison alongside DVD edit as well as full screen.
  • The 2CD double live album

There's also brand new liners notes by Daryl Easlea, in a 20 page booklet. We're just waiting on final confirmation on these details, and if there's anything else of note in the package, from Universal. Our review of this release should follow soon, too.

RELEASE (and ordering) DETAILS:

8th March - Italy
8th March - Canada
21st March - France
28th March - United Kingdom
29th March - United States
31st March - Germany

The links above should all be to the 2DVD/2CD edition, although please double-check when placing any orders that you are buying the appropriate edition. These sets should also be available from other retailers in due course, although as yet we don't have these details.