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Prepare for a time shift as 2012 returns to 1977
Ultimate Setlist Live and Pick Floyd bring this unique live experience. Re-live the 1977 show as the material is played the way it was performed back then by a group of musicians with both a love of the music and a feel for the vibe. Commonly referred to as the 'In The Flesh' tour, Pink Floyd's 1977 world tour showcased both the 'Animals' and 'Wish You Were Here' studio albums in their entireties, in what can arguably be classed as their definitive versions that were played with edge, dynamism and utter conviction by the band. |
 March 2012 - Pick Floyd debut the Floyd 77 set in Birkenhead |
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The 1977 tour was notable for a number of firsts and lasts: it was the last time that Pink Floyd performed as a touring live band with founding member Roger Waters in the line-up. In fact, after this particular tour, as a band Pink Floyd were never really the same entity, and Roger Waters himself would use the energy (both positive and negative) derived during the live shows develop 'The Wall' concept and project who increasingly alienated he felt from the people to whom he simply wished to play his music.
The tour was also the last time that Pink Floyd played any music from the stunning 'Animals' album and so it is always welcome to get the chance to play catch-up and hear the songs from 'Animals' live and in the flesh. Footage and photographs of the Pink Floyd 1977 shows is also very hard to find, although the supporting concert tour artwork can be readily tracked down and is highly valued by Pink Floyd fans. In terms of the musicianship on the tour, Pink Floyd were augmented on stage for the first time by the acclaimed lead guitarist Snowy White and this allowed the intense, complex guitar lines from the studio albums to be replicated live on stage; in addition, Snowy White's presence provided the opportunity for the Pink Floyd lead guitarist David Gilmour to exchange and trade guitar riffs throughout the songs taking them into a new dimension as live songs. |
To some extent too, 1977 was the last time that Pink Floyd would feel free to jam their material live on stage, exploring the boundaries and pushing the envelope with dramatic effect. A good example of this occurred during the closing section of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' where the guitar interplay between Gilmour and White is particularly stunning; curiously their work together remains to this day buried in the archives and otherwise lost to the classic rock world.
Aside from the lead guitar work, the rhythm section of Roger Waters (bass) and Nick Mason (drums) was delivered with a certain hard edged level of aggression, fitting in with the general New Wave musical vibe of the time, and emblematic of the overall themes of the twin studio albums.
Buried in the live recording vaults too, is perhaps one of Pink Floyd's greatest and yet mostly unheard bass and drum rhythmic phrases, that could only be heard live on the 1977 tour itself and which provides compulsive listening as the show is driven to its conclusion. Last but certainly not least is the very fine live keyboard work of the dear departed Pink Floyd member Richard Wright who was totally involved in the music and who cut loose on this tour (probably for the last time too?) as he augmented the studio material with extended instrumental passages and superb understated playing on the Hammond organ.
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