If there’s a Bible on Pink Floyd, this should be it.
Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd is the equivalent of a collective lobotomy of the members of this electronic, psychedelic holdover from the 1960s (more on that later). Not that the group is past its time, though. Quite the contrary. I, for one, have been a loyal fan since about 1967, which was when I discovered the group. And if the several appearances where I’ve seen them put on their sound and light extravaganzas are any indicator, the thousands and thousands of people in sight at these concerts agree. And so do the millions around the globe who faithfully — and assuredly, since they know that Floyd has never put out a bad album — plunk down their plastic to keep Syd’s Boys in Champagne and truffles.
It’s not fair to call them Syd’s Boys, but realistically, if not for Syd Barrett, long odds say the group would never have become one, or would have quickly broken up. But once the die was cast, they kept going on in Syd’s absence. Although Syd wasn’t a member of the group for far longer than he played with them, that albatross has become a permanent part of the Floyd persona.
I call it an albatross, since although Syd was the creative intellect when they began, the others in the group have shown their true abilities over the past 40 years, putting out “their best” album ever, every time they put out a new album. You can pick out a little dale, or a saddle in the hilly terrain which comprises Pink Floyd. It’s not all been flat land, easy to travel or navigate. They’ve had their share of ups and downs, but never an outright failure. In a nutshell, they’ve managed to carry on quite well, everybody in the world knows who they are, and yet one of the first questions out of everybody’s mouth is inevitably about Syd.
Before you get all huffy, I’m a die-hard Syd fan. I’ve got everything he’s ever recorded (that’s been released), I’ve read many of the books about him and Floyd, and I still have my Syd altar in place. But Pink Floyd is a force to be reckoned with these days, at least in the electronic music field. And psychedelia has been dead, or at least moribund, for the past 35 years, yet Pink Floyd manages to continue to collect fans like some women collect men.
Article comments
1 - Paul Burke - Author Journey Home
I just saw a reunion concert on cable over here in the states - it was post Gilmore On an Island release.
It drives me nuts that musicians can't take a step back from their little peeves and just get along. I've been in bands and I've seen the egos and mutiny's that go on even at the pedestrian level. It's flat out ridiculous and it's all ego. The bigger you are the more opportunity you have to branch out on your own. My point - shut up if you and your old mates don't get along suck it up and stop trying to dictate to all the other band members.
Compromise and then go out and do your own thing. You are rich enough to buy the worlds best session men - you can make them play while standing on one leg. A band is a collaboration.
So bollix on the Roger Waters of the world. Get a clue do you have any idea how lucky you are...I'm a huge fan of the band but me thinks the bass player has lead guitar envy - after all they are cheering Gilmore's licks - like it or not.
These petulant old men frittered away their time and now I understand their band mates have succumbed to illness and passed away - at least that's what I thought I caught while the television was on doing chores.
Good god - if that doesn't wake them up nothing will. We waste our time over petulant b.s. as opportunity and time drain through the hour glass. Is that enough of a nasty edge for you Rodger. Who cares who is right or wrong - it makes no difference if you can't get along - both are stupid reckless and blind - sorry boys you ran out of time.
Paul Burke
Author - Journey Home
2 - Brian
Not only is it the "Floyd" Bible, but it reads like it too. I found the book embedded with information I reaaly didn't care to know. Certainly it has some information I found entertaining, but to me it reads like an owners manual for the space shuttle, boring!!