Pink Floyd The Wall Tour 1980-1981
Encyclopedia
The Wall Tour was a concert tour by British progressive rock
band Pink Floyd
from 1980-1981 in support of their concept album The Wall
. The tour was relatively small compared to previous tours for a major release, with only 31 shows in total. The tour was notable for its extensive use of stage theatrics, most notably a giant wall constructed across the stage to convey the sense of alienation present in both the album, and Roger Waters
personal feelings at the time. It was to be Pink Floyd
's last concert tour with the full classic line-up, with bassist Roger Waters
's leaving the band following a court battle after the tour.
stated in its March 2, 1980 edition that:
The Wall concert was only performed 31 times in four cities: Los Angeles (7 shows), New York (5), Dortmund (8) and London (11). The primary 'tour' consisted of 18 shows in LA, New York and London in 1980, but the band performed a further eight shows in Dortmund (13-20 February 1981) and five more shows at Earl's Court (13-17 June) for filming, with the intention of integrating the shows into the upcoming movie
.
The London shows are documented on the album Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980-81
.
Gilmour and Mason attempted to convince Waters to expand the show for a more lucrative, large-scale stadium tour, but because of the nature of the material (one of the primary themes is the distance between an artist and his audience) Waters balked at this.
was dropped shortly before the final shows took place. There are conflicting statements regarding the professionally filmed footage. It had been widely believed that 'the wrong type of film' had been used and the results were dark and murky. Mark Fisher
, partly responsible for designing the show said the footage was: 'very dark and horrible and boring and should be burned'. Alan Parker himself said: '[the filming of the shows were] five blown opportunities'. These rumours were partly scotched when the Channel 4
documentary 'Behind the Wall' (2000) used perfectly clear film footage from the 1981 concerts. However, the 27 February and 9 August 1980 concerts were shot on video
and are of much lower quality (this may be partly due to highly degenerated bootlegs). David Gilmour has stated in an interview that only three tracks were captured on film:
Roger Waters said on an episode of In the Studio with Redbeard
which devoted two parts to the making of The Wall that "the London shows in 1980/81 were filmed and he had all of the footage and was thinking of putting it together to be released. However felt extremely reluctant to release the concerts on the video cassette format". He also would have to refer to the shows as a document of what went on.
In the December 2009 Issue of Mojo, Roger Waters revealed that he had 'discovered a whole load of new footage of The Wall shows' and that he was busy 'editing it'. He explained that he assumed the cameramen decided to shoot more than they were asked to as they had the cameras and 'nobody [seemed] bothered'. It is presumed that this footage is 35mm film.
During Waters' tour of The Wall in 2010 footage of Waters performing his vocal parts in Mother
, labeled as being filmed in Earls Court in 1980, was projected onto the incomplete wall.
with
s comprised the entire album, The Wall
. Two songs that did not make it onto the album, "What Shall We Do Now?", and the then untitled "The Last Few Bricks", were also played.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
from 1980-1981 in support of their concept album The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
. The tour was relatively small compared to previous tours for a major release, with only 31 shows in total. The tour was notable for its extensive use of stage theatrics, most notably a giant wall constructed across the stage to convey the sense of alienation present in both the album, and Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
personal feelings at the time. It was to be Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's last concert tour with the full classic line-up, with bassist Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
's leaving the band following a court battle after the tour.
History
The costs of the tour were estimated to have reached US$ 1.5 million even before the first performance. The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
stated in its March 2, 1980 edition that:
'The 'Wall' show remains a milestone in rock history though and there's no point in denying it. Never again will one be able to accept the technical clumsiness, distorted sound and meagre visuals of most arena rock concerts as inevitable" and concluded that "the 'Wall' show will be the touchstone against which all future rock spectacles must be measured.'
The Wall concert was only performed 31 times in four cities: Los Angeles (7 shows), New York (5), Dortmund (8) and London (11). The primary 'tour' consisted of 18 shows in LA, New York and London in 1980, but the band performed a further eight shows in Dortmund (13-20 February 1981) and five more shows at Earl's Court (13-17 June) for filming, with the intention of integrating the shows into the upcoming movie
Pink Floyd The Wall (film)
Pink Floyd—The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical film directed by Alan Parker based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. The film is highly metaphorical and is rich in symbolic imagery and sound...
.
The London shows are documented on the album Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980-81
Is There Anybody out There? The Wall Live 1980-81
Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81 is an album released by Pink Floyd in 2000. It is a live rendition of The Wall, produced and engineered by James Guthrie, with tracks selected from the August 1980 and June 1981 performances at Earls Court in London...
.
Gilmour and Mason attempted to convince Waters to expand the show for a more lucrative, large-scale stadium tour, but because of the nature of the material (one of the primary themes is the distance between an artist and his audience) Waters balked at this.
Concert film
The idea to include live concert footage of any significant length for The Wall filmPink Floyd The Wall (film)
Pink Floyd—The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical film directed by Alan Parker based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. The film is highly metaphorical and is rich in symbolic imagery and sound...
was dropped shortly before the final shows took place. There are conflicting statements regarding the professionally filmed footage. It had been widely believed that 'the wrong type of film' had been used and the results were dark and murky. Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher (architect)
Mark Fisher OBE MVO is a British architect. He was born in Warwickshire, England.Fisher graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1971. He was a Unit Master at the AA School from 1973 to 1977. In 1984 he set up the Fisher Park Partnership with Jonathan Park...
, partly responsible for designing the show said the footage was: 'very dark and horrible and boring and should be burned'. Alan Parker himself said: '[the filming of the shows were] five blown opportunities'. These rumours were partly scotched when the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary 'Behind the Wall' (2000) used perfectly clear film footage from the 1981 concerts. However, the 27 February and 9 August 1980 concerts were shot on video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
and are of much lower quality (this may be partly due to highly degenerated bootlegs). David Gilmour has stated in an interview that only three tracks were captured on film:
'About 20 minutes were shot - for example, "Hey You", where the camera was behind the wall focusing on us, then it went up and over the wall onto the audience. That's a great bit of footage. But only three tracks were filmed.'
Roger Waters said on an episode of In the Studio with Redbeard
In the Studio with Redbeard
In the Studio with Redbeard is a North American radio program, produced and hosted by Dallas, Texas based rock and roll disc jockey Redbeard....
which devoted two parts to the making of The Wall that "the London shows in 1980/81 were filmed and he had all of the footage and was thinking of putting it together to be released. However felt extremely reluctant to release the concerts on the video cassette format". He also would have to refer to the shows as a document of what went on.
In the December 2009 Issue of Mojo, Roger Waters revealed that he had 'discovered a whole load of new footage of The Wall shows' and that he was busy 'editing it'. He explained that he assumed the cameramen decided to shoot more than they were asked to as they had the cameras and 'nobody [seemed] bothered'. It is presumed that this footage is 35mm film.
During Waters' tour of The Wall in 2010 footage of Waters performing his vocal parts in Mother
Mother (Pink Floyd song)
"Mother" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979. The song is notable for its varied use of time signatures.-Composition:...
, labeled as being filmed in Earls Court in 1980, was projected onto the incomplete wall.
Tour band
Pink Floyd:- David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
- electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, mandolin on "Outside the Wall", musical director - Nick MasonNick MasonNicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
- drums, percussion, acoustic guitar on "Outside the Wall" - Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
- bass guitar, vocals, acoustic guitar, clarinet on "Outside the Wall" - Richard WrightRichard Wright (musician)Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
- piano, organ, synthesizer, vocals, accordion on "Outside The Wall"
with
- Andy BownAndy BownAndy Bown is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
- bass guitar, acoustic guitar on "Outside the Wall" - Joe Chemay - backing vocals
- Stan Farber - backing vocals
- Jim Haas- backing vocals
- John Joyce - backing vocals
- Andy RobertsAndy Roberts (musician)Andrew "Andy" Roberts is an English musician.He gained a violin scholarship to Felsted School. He then attended Liverpool University. He has played with The Liverpool Scene, Plainsong, The Scaffold, Roy Harper, Chris Spedding, Pink Floyd, Hank Wangford, Kevin Ayers, Vivian Stanshall and Grimms...
- guitars (1981 shows) - Snowy WhiteSnowy WhiteSnowy White is an English guitarist, known for having played with Thin Lizzy and with Pink Floyd and, more recently, for Roger Waters'...
- guitars (1980 shows) - Willie Wilson - drums, percussion
- Peter WoodPeter WoodPeter John Wood was an English musician, born in Middlesex, England. In his early years he lived with his parents in Hythe Field Avenue, Egham, Surrey...
- keyboards, acoustic guitar on "Outside the Wall" - Gary Yudman – MC (New York and London)
- Cynthia Fox - MC (Los Angeles)
- Jim LaddJim LaddJim Ladd , an American disc jockey, radio producer and writer, is one of the few notable remaining freeform rock DJs in United States commercial radio.- Radio show style :...
- MC (Los Angeles) - Ace Young - MC (Los Angeles)
- Willi Thomczyk - MC (Dortmund)
Set list
The 1980/1981 set listSet list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
s comprised the entire album, The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
. Two songs that did not make it onto the album, "What Shall We Do Now?", and the then untitled "The Last Few Bricks", were also played.
Set one
- "In the Flesh?In the Flesh?"In the Flesh?" is a song by Pink Floyd. It was released on The Wall album in 1979. The title is a reference to the band's 1977 "In the Flesh" tour, during which bassist and songwriter Roger Waters, in frustration, spat at a fan attempting to climb the fence separating the band from the crowd "In...
" - "The Thin IceThe Thin Ice"The Thin Ice" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall in 1979.-Composition:The song is 2 minutes, 30 seconds in length. The first few seconds are occupied by the sound of a baby crying , lasting around seven seconds...
" - "Another Brick in the Wall (Part I)"
- "The Happiest Days of Our LivesThe Happiest Days of Our Lives"The Happiest Days of Our Lives" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:The song is approximately 1 minute, 46 seconds in length, beginning with 24 seconds of a helicopter sound effect; followed by shouting from the schoolmaster . Then the sound effects abruptly...
" - "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)"
- "MotherMother (Pink Floyd song)"Mother" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979. The song is notable for its varied use of time signatures.-Composition:...
" - "Goodbye Blue SkyGoodbye Blue Sky"Goodbye Blue Sky" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Plot:In a brief prologue, birds are heard chirping peacefully...
" - "Empty SpacesEmpty Spaces"Empty Spaces" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:The song is 2 minutes and 10 seconds in length and features a long introductory section, which includes an airport announcement, a reference to Pink heading for an American tour. At approximately 48 seconds...
" - "What Shall We Do Now?What Shall We Do Now?"What Shall We Do Now?" is a song by Pink Floyd, written by Roger Waters.It was originally intended to be on their 1979 album The Wall, and appeared in demo versions of The Wall, but was omitted due to the time restraints of the vinyl format...
" - "Young LustYoung Lust (song)"Young Lust" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:"Young Lust" is approximately 3 minutes, 25 seconds in length...
" - "One of My TurnsOne of My Turns"One of My Turns" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appears on The Wall album in 1979, and was released as a B-side on the single of "Another Brick in the Wall ".-Composition:...
" - "Don't Leave Me Now"
- "Another Brick in the Wall (Part III)"
- "The Last Few BricksThe Last Few Bricks"The Last Few Bricks" is an instrumental bridge/medley used by Pink Floyd and Roger Waters at The Wall live shows, between "Another Brick in the Wall " and "Goodbye Cruel World"...
" - "Goodbye Cruel World"
Set two
- "Hey You"
- "Is There Anybody Out There?Is There Anybody Out There?"Is There Anybody Out There?" is a largely instrumental song from the Pink Floyd album, The Wall.-Overview:The first half of the piece has the same concept of "Hey You", being a distress call from Pink. The second half is instrumental. An interesting part of the song is the classical guitar solo,...
" - "Nobody HomeNobody Home"Nobody Home" is a song from the Pink Floyd album The Wall.-Overview:In the song, the character Pink describes his lonely life of isolation behind his self-created mental wall. He has no one to talk to, and all he has are his possessions. The song describes what Roger Waters says he experienced...
" - "VeraVera (song)"Vera" is a song by Pink Floyd which appears on their 1979 album, The Wall. The title is a reference to Vera Lynn, a British singer who came to prominence during World War II with her popular song "We'll Meet Again". The reference is ironic, as Roger Waters would not meet his father, lost in the war...
" - "Bring the Boys Back HomeBring the Boys Back Home"Bring the Boys Back Home" is a song from the Pink Floyd album, The Wall. The song was released as a B-side on the single, "When the Tigers Broke Free".-Overview:...
" - "Comfortably NumbComfortably Numb"Comfortably Numb" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, which first appears on the 1979 double album, The Wall. It was also released as a single in the same year with "Hey You" as the B-side. It is one of only three songs on the album for which writing credits are shared between Roger...
" - "The Show Must Go OnThe Show Must Go On (Pink Floyd song)"The Show Must Go On" , a song by English rock band Pink Floyd, that appeared on their 1979 album The Wall...
" - "In the Flesh"
- "Run Like HellRun Like Hell"Run Like Hell" is a song from the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall.-Overview:The song is written from the point of view of anti-hero Pink during a hallucination in which he becomes a fascist dictator and turns a concert audience into an angry mob...
" - "Waiting for the WormsWaiting for the Worms"Waiting for the Worms" is a song from the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall. It is preceded by "Run Like Hell" and followed by "Stop".-Overview:...
" - "StopStop (Pink Floyd song)"Stop" is a song from the 1979 Pink Floyd album, The Wall. It was written by Roger Waters.-Overview:Pink is tired of his life as a fascist dictator and the hallucination ends. He is also tired of 'The Wall', accordingly he devolves into his own mind and puts himself on trial...
" - "The TrialThe Trial (song)"The Trial" is a track from the rock opera/concept album The Wall, by Pink Floyd. The song, written by Roger Waters and Bob Ezrin, marks the climax of the album and the film.-Plot:...
" - "Outside the WallOutside the Wall"Outside the Wall" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on their 1979 album The Wall. It was written by Roger Waters.-Overview:...
"
Leg 1: North America 1980
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February 1980 | Los Angeles, CA | United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in the University Park neighborhood, of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park. It is located next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, just south of the campus of the University of Southern California.-History:The Los Angeles... |
| 8 February 1980 | |||
| 9 February 1980 | |||
| 10 February 1980 | |||
| 11 February 1980 | |||
| 12 February 1980 | |||
| 13 February 1980 | |||
| 24 February 1980 | Uniondale, NY | Nassau Coliseum Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island... |
|
| 25 February 1980 | |||
| 26 February 1980 | |||
| 27 February 1980 | |||
| 28 February 1980 |
Leg 2: Europe 1980-1981
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 August 1980 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
Earls Court Arena |
| 5 August 1980 | |||
| 6 August 1980 | |||
| 7 August 1980 | |||
| 8 August 1980 | |||
| 9 August 1980 | |||
| 13 February 1981 | Dortmund Dortmund Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union.... |
West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... |
Westfalenhalle Westfalenhalle Westfalenhallen are three multi-purpose venues, located in Dortmund, Germany. The original building was opened in 1925, but was destroyed during World War II. New halls were built, the Große Westfalenhalle opened in 1952. The capacity of the arena is 16,500... |
| 14 February 1981 | |||
| 15 February 1981 | |||
| 16 February 1981 | |||
| 17 February 1981 | |||
| 18 February 1981 | |||
| 19 February 1981 | |||
| 20 February 1981 | |||
| 13 June 1981 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
Earls Court Arena |
| 14 June 1981 | |||
| 15 June 1981 | |||
| 16 June 1981 | |||
| 17 June 1981 |