Pink Floyd to reunite
12th June, 2005
24 years after their last performance, Pink Floyd are to reform with their classic lineup of bassist Roger Waters, guitarist David Gilmour, keyboard player Richard Wright and drummer Nick Mason for the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park (London).
They last peformed with this lineup at Earls Court (London) in 1981, after which Waters left in what was to become a rather nasty, and quite bitter legal battle over the ownership of the Pink Floyd name. Eventually this would become the center of a bitterness between the band members that would split up the band for good, or so it would seem at the time.
After much fighting, David Gilmour was awarded the Floyd name, and the band continued to tour and record until the mid-nineties, albeit without Waters in the lineup. Creative tensions, and the fallout following Waters' departure caused the once leading band to dwindle, recording their last studio album in 1994.
When asked about the unexpected reunion, Floyd guitarist David Gilmour said that "like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world," criticising G8 nations saying "it's crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations," before finally admitting that "any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so petty in this context, and if reforming for this concert will help focus attention then it's got to be worthwhile."
Bob Geldof himself is apparently to thank for getting the band back together, after reading a Nick Mason quote online that said the only thing that would probably get Floyd performing again would be a new Live Aid. Geldof then contacted band members, and the rest it would seem is history.
Pink Floyd will be performing in Earls Park, London, on the 2nd July alongside other big-name acts such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, U2 and REM. Whether this will finally mark an end to Floyd, or if it will result in them touring or recording together again remains to be seen.