Assorted BD reader comments - part 4 |
This page collects together some of the comments Brain Damage has received from its visitors, about the band's Live 8 reunion on 2nd July, 2005, at London's Hyde Park. Our thanks to everyone who wrote in with their views; we only wish we could post them all! All pictures taken by Andy Whitworth.
For at least the last twenty
years the Floyd have taken a lot of flack for their live shows; critics
will carp on about the lights, inflatables and the films all being
distractions from the music and then they’ll moan about the
supplementary musicians; often seen by the harshest critics as
necessary to compensate for a lack of musicality in the band.
It was quite emotional seeing all
of them together again! Loved Rogers comments before WYWH. He seemed to
be enjoying himself the most, I thought. I was surpirsed how his voice
has changed, however, and was glad he let David do most of the vocals.
MTV also did not show very much of Rick Wright at all, hopefully
they'll do him more justice on the DVD.
I have been virtually a lifelong
Floyd fan, Dark side being the first ever album I bought. I saw them
performing the Wall at Earls court - more years ago than I care to
remember. To see them performing together again to me was magical, I
was almost in tears for Christ sake, whether it was what live8 stood
for, or just the pleasure at seeing the guys together and forgetting
their differences just for that performance I don't really know.
We thought the "Lads" were
absolutely brilliant! The last time we saw them all together was
Newcastle City Hall in 1970! We are big fans of our local tribute band
Shine On, and also Aussiefloyd, but there ain't nothing like the real
thing, this was no Surrogate Band!
Simply a "Majestic" performance.
To put aside personal differences and to get back together to perform
is a powerful positive statement of the human spirit. We can all learn
from that. They stood up to be counted on the most important cause that
they and all of us will ever be involved in. Their performance of
"Money" - how appropriate!! Isn't this what it is all about? G8 drop
the debt! Well done Pink, Bob, Everyone Involved, Maintain the rage to
Edinburgh and Beyond!!!
It was stunning. I couldn't
actually believe what I was seeing or hearing when the first few beats
of Breathe flitted across the screen, then the so-familiar chords
kicked in. I had to stand up with the sheer disbelief and excitement.
But it did really happen. It was by far and away the best performance
of the day. Wish You Were Here is my favourite Floyd lyric and I felt
they did the song justice - though it was a bit mawkish to dedicate it
to Syd - he has been gone quite a long time.
I flew from Miami to London on
Friday July 1, arrived at 11am. The Floyd show was amazing. What was
most noticable for me was when Nick Mason took off his headset during
'Comfortably Numb', and close his eyes and get into the music -
unbelievable. The complete show was surreal and unreal at the same
time. After Floyd played, it was hard to truly enjoy Paul McCartney. We
saw history that night, now the history will come this week at the G8
summit at Gleneagles.
Just shows like cheese Floyd can
mature with age; David's guitar playing was at its finest and the band
seemed to enjoy the set. Roger calling David over at the end for the
farewell wave was tearjerking stuff for me, maybe that will be it but
the memories will be lodged with the others I have during the decades.
I was so delighted to see the
Floyd; I grew up with them, seeing them in Bournemouth when I was 15
and through the late sixties and seventies at numerous pop festivals
around the country. I thought that Jonathan Ross's comment that they
demanded to have horlicks and ovaltine backstage after the gig was
wonderful. I would imagine like myself they are grandfathers but they
most certainly can still produce that magic, it was a wonderful event,
and most important that across all generations the message through
music has I hope touched the hearts of millions, let us make poverty
history.
I was actually moved to tears
during "Comfortably Numb". It was great to see those guys together
again. And the words took on a new meaning - "come on now, I hear
you're feeling down. Well I can ease your pain, get you on your feet
again." The Floyd doing their part to ease the pain in Africa. I was so
proud of them...
I think that for anyone who has
ever had any time for Pink Floyd, the Live8 performance was a highly
charged and emotional experience. I am not ashamed to say that on
several occasions I 'filled up', particularly when Roger and Dave sang
together on WYWH and during the closing CN solo. At that moment, and to
some extent still, I was ready to beg, borrow, steal and sell organs to
see those guys play live together again. It may be foolish, but I still
dare to dream...
Brilliant,
uplifting.......any superlative you like. Roger looked like he actually
appreciated the fact that he owed it to Dave for keeping the flame
burning that made this inspiring reunion possible. We can only hope
that the collective will of m(b)illions will give them the energy to
create more of the indefinable inspiration that we were so stunningly
reminded of on Saturday night!
That was an absolute phenominal
performance, considering it has taken over 20 years to get it on. The
question is now: Do we beg for more, as they could obviously 'cut the
mustard' if they announced a UK/world tour? Or do we sit back and say
that they definitely stole the show at Live 8 , no mean feat for a
bunch of bus pass holders, and keep that image in our heads of the
greatest performance of the weekend. I personally can't make up my
mind, yet. Also if there is anybody who visits this web site who didn't
have a lump in their throat on Saturday night then I suggest they check
their wrist for a pulse - I still do when I watch the video - again and
again. Lets hope the DVD isn't butchered by the the editor.
Yours, still comfortably numb,
Incredible, everything I'd hoped for, other than the TV coverage here in the States, which chopped up
the final third of 'Comfortably Numb' with commentator footage.
Suffice to say I was in tears
(and my eyes still grow damp every time I watch the video) after
Saturday's performance. It's hard not to be moved by the spectacle. I
don't want to sound overly
sentimental, but getting to see the incredibly emotional, passionate,
enthusiastic Rog, in the same frame with David, Nick and Rick was
something I didn't believe I would live to see. Albeit with a slightly
cold and bitter David, who rarely ever looked at Roger on stage.
[Dave's smile towards Nick, while Rog sang the 2nd verse of WYWH was,
however, something to cherish!]
'Didn't they do well?' to borrow
a quote from an old David Gilmour T-shirt. It was wonderful to see them
playing together again and, even better, they rocked! How much
rehearsal had they managed to squeeze in before the gig? Or are the
songs just as engraved in their hearts and minds as they are in ours?
With so many Floyd numbers being appropriate for the occasion it was
still a fabulous choice of songs. The highlights for me were the
Parry/Gilmour solos on Money, and seeing Roger Waters having himself a
great time.
I had no idea what time Pink
Floyd was to play at Live8, so I just stayed in front of the telly all
day... just to be sure that I wasn't going to miss it. I sat and
watched The Who do their set of just two songs.. but pleasing all the
same ( I like their music too). As Pink Floyd were introduced to the
stage I sat right on the edge on my seat not wanting to miss the
slightest bit of their performance. I scared the living daylights out
of my wife, and the dog too when I shouted at the top of my voice
"ROGER WATERS... THATS ROGER WATERS... ROGER WATERS IS ON STAGE WITH
THEM" The wife jumped out of her skin... the dog stared barking at me,
and rightly so.... I thought I was seeing things! I had no idea, no
idea whatsoever that the whole group had reformed for this occasion. So
there I sat, wide eyed throughout their magical performance, grinning
from ear to ear. Okay I'll admit it, a tear of joy too. I hope that
they can now put their past differences behind them and put together at
least one more album as Pink Floyd, as we know and love them, I live in
hope on this one. Fantastic performance Pink Floyd - keep it up...
Please. |