We are very sad to break the news that David Crosby has tragically passed away.
David Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 19, 2023) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
He collaborated with Graham Nash on David Gilmour’s 2006 On An Island album and tour, and again on the 2015 Rattle That Lock album, his last involvement with David was at the Hollywood Bowl on March 24, 2016.
As part of the monumental 50th celebration of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon, the band has released a preview of the newly remastered album, which has been done by the band’s longtime engineer, James Guthrie.
Brain Damage 2023 Remaster is now available on all streaming platforms.
Taking to Pink Floyd’s official Youtube Channel, Nick Mason has announced an animation competition linked to the bands classic album ‘Dark Side of the Moon.
The 50th Anniversary release will also be celebrated as Pink Floyd invite a new generation of animators to enter a competition to create music videos for any of the 10 songs on the iconic 1973 album.
Pink Floyd has a rich history of collaborating with animators from the beginnings of the band (Ian Emes, Gerald Scarfe, etc.), and in some cases the visuals that accompany the songs have become synonymous with the music itself.
The 50th Anniversary will be no exception. The band would like to give all animators an opportunity to present a fresh take on these timeless aural works. Animators can enter up to 10 videos, one per song on the album.
A winner will be selected from a panel of experts which will include Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell (Pink Floyd’s creative director) and the BFI (British Film Institute). The deadline for submissions is November 30th 2023.
The Planetarium Project
On February 27th 1973, EMI Records held a press conference for the debut presentation of Pink Floyd’s new album The Dark Side Of The Moon at the London Planetarium. There was already a buzz in the music biz that the album was something very special and invites for London’s press and media were at a premium there being only so many seats in the auditorium. The group, who were renowned for shunning publicity, were expected to make an appearance given the excitement surrounding the release, which only added to their guests’ anticipation. It was felt the Planetarium as a backdrop for the 42 minute playback was a suitable venue for Britain’s number one ‘psychedelic space rock’ band – a title they disliked and hoped the new record would put paid to that misnomer. Although the Planetarium dome could only show an array of stars, constellations and images of the cosmos whilst the music played, it probably wouldn’t help to dispel the myth, which didn’t go unnoticed by the members of Pink Floyd. The invitation had a photograph of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo on the front, which many believed was the album cover, and led to further speculation as to what the enigmatic band were up to now. It was all a deceit.
As the audience faithfully arrived at 3 pm sharp they were met not by the band but by four life sized cardboard cut outs of Pink Floyd in defiance to EMI’s wishes for them to attend and in protest at the venue. One member did turn up – Richard Wright the keyboardist – who had not received the message of a boycott. He hastily beat a retreat when he realised he was alone. The event was an unmitigated success and the album went on to sell over 50 million copies to date.
Fifty years on in recognition of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, what more fitting a place to celebrate and replay the music set to visuals than a Planetarium. Much water has passed under the bridge since the premiere in 1973 and in retrospect they all agree the brilliance of the band’s non appearance at London’s Planetarium raised more by–lines in the press and accolades for the music than the distraction of their presence to promote the album. Forever anti-establishment and so typical of Pink Floyd’s recipe for success by not kowtowing to the norm and always bucking the system, this attitude was to continue for the rest of their career.
Consequently, and with the help of modern technology, the idea of a revised show at 100 Planetariums around the world combined with stunning visuals – still the solar system and beyond – played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side Of The Moon – has appealed to Pink Floyd. I am certain there will still be a ‘no-show’ from the band, but there will be card board cut outs to remind the audience who Pink Floyd are, and just how significant a role the Planetarium played in the history of the record. It’s a 50th anniversary for the Planetarium event too, only global this time, not just in London.
The show itself will be divided between the 10 tracks of the album, and in chronological order, each having a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a Planetarium can offer. In the modern parlance it’s truly immersive; an all encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.
– Aubrey Powell
A list of venues participating has yet to be released, but according to the Pink Floyd official website, anyone interested is being advised to contact their local planetarium.
Throughout the later half of 2022, Pink Floyd had been teasing fans with videos showcasing The Dark Side of the Moon prism artwork in various forms.As of today, the official announcement has been released with the news of a worldwide release of The Dark Side of the Moon’s 50th anniversary celebration.
With the primary focus of the celebration being a Deluxe Edition boxset that is due for release on March 24, 2023, the same month as the original release back in 1973, there are also scheduled releases of the content in standalone, singular editions in various formats.
The new deluxe box set includes the newly remastered studio album on CD and gatefold vinyl, as well as the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions on Blu-ray and DVD. The set also includes an additional new Blu-ray disc of the Atmos mix, plus a CD and LP of ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon: Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974’.”
CD1: “The Dark Side of the Moon” (50th Anniversary) 2023 Remaster— James Guthrie has remastered the original studio album, which comes in a gatefold sleeve with a 12-page booklet.
CD2 : “The Dark Side of the Moon” Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974, mixed by Andy Jackson, in a gatefold sleeve with a 12-page booklet. Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon of Storm Studios designed the cover. Original 1973 line drawn cover artwork by George Hardie
LP1: “The Dark Side of the Moon” (50th Anniversary) 2023 Remaster, Remastered Original Studio Album 180G Heavyweight 1LP in Gatefold Sleeve, with Original Posters and Stickers
LP2: “The Dark Side of the Moon” Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974 (2023 Master) 180G Heavyweight 1 LP in gatefold, with 2 posters featuring designs by Ian Emes and Gerald Scarfe. Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon of Storm Studios designed the cover. Original 1973 line-drawn cover artwork by George Hardie
1st Blu-ray: Original Album (AUDIO) 5.1 and high-resolution remastered stereo mixes, 1.5.1 Surround Mix: Uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz 2. Stereo Mix: 24 bit/192 uncompressed 3. 5.1 Surround Mix (dts-HD MA) 4. Stereo Mix—dts-HD MA
2nd Blu-ray: (Audio) Atmos and high-resolution stereo mixes from the original, newly remastered album 1. Dolby Atmos Mix 2. Stereo Mix – 24-bit/192kHz Uncompressed 3. Stereo Mix – dts-HD MA
DVD (AUDIO) Original album 5.1 and remastered stereo mixes, 1. 5.1 Surround Mix (Dolby Digital @448 kbps) 2. 5.1 Surround Mix (Dolby Digital @640 kbps) 3. Stereo Mix (LPCM) – 24-bit/48 kHz Uncompressed
160-page Thames & Hudson Hardcover Book with rare black-and-white photographs from the 1973–74 tours of the UK and the USA taken by Jill Furmanovsky, Peter Christopherson, Aubrey Powell, and Storm Thorgerson
76-Page Music Book The entire original album’s songbook
Replicas Of 2×7″ SINGLES 7″ Single 1 Money/Any Colour You Like 7″ Single 2 Us and Them/Time
Replicas of the pamphlet and an invitation to the preview of The Dark Side of the Moon at the London Planetarium on February 27, 1973.
Global ordering information for all formats can be found by Clicking Here.
Stand Alone Versions : As mentioned above, there are also planned standalone releases on the 24th of March; the CD and LP versions.
“The Dark Side Of The Moon: Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974” will be released separately from the box set.
It was originally recorded in November 1974 as part of the band’s winter tour, and this is the first time it will be available as a stand-alone album, with artwork featuring an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie.
Global ordering information for all formats can be found by Clicking Here.
Book: “The Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd is a book designed by Pentagram to high specifications. This official book commemorating the band and the album will be a covetable package for the legions of Floyd fans out there – new and old.
This luxurious book is divided into two parts. The first documents the members of the band between 1972 and 1975, during the making of the album, the album release, and throughout the album tours in the UK, US, Europe, and Japan, in 120 candid black-and white photographs by Storm Thorgerson, Jill Furmanovsky, Aubrey Powell, and Peter Christopherson. A review of the October 1972 Wembley gig by Chris Charlesworth, originally published in Melody Maker, provides insight into one of Floyd’s most celebrated performances.
The second part explores in 60 colour images how Hipgnosis and StormStudios’ original prism motif evolved into an array of graphics and homages to the world’s great artists, some of which went on to grace the band’s future projects.
Global ordering information for all formats can be found by Clicking Here.
We are very saddened to share the news that Jeff Beck has passed away at age 78.
Jeff Beck’s connection within the Pink Floyd family goes back to his collaboration on Roger Waters’ 1992 Amused to Death album and with Jon Carin joining Jeff for a rendition of ‘Where Were You” at Richard Wright’s memorial service (at the request of Rick).
Jeff’s last Floyd-related collaboration was when David Gilmour joined on stage for a rendition of “Jerusalem” at Jeff Beck’s Royal Albert Hall show on July 4, 2009.
” I am devastated to hear the news of the death of my friend and hero Jeff Beck, whose music has thrilled and inspired me and countless others for so many years. Polly‘s and my thoughts go out to his lovely wife Sandra. He will be forever in our hearts.” – David Gilmour
Today we celebrate the legacy of Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett on what would have been his 77th birthday.
He was the principal songwriter behind the band’s debut – 1967 masterpiece The Piper at the Gates of Dawn – and a handful of strong early singles that helped define the psychedelic age. His creative genius was derailed by a drug-fueled psychological collapse, forcing his 1968 removal from the group he helped form. Though Barrett helmed Pink Floyd for barely two years out of their three-decade career, his specter haunted the band for the remainder of their existence and his presence is felt in some of their finest work.
By the end of his life, he had reverted to his birth name, Roger, and settled into his role as an amateur painter and local eccentric in his native Cambridge, England. Syd Barrett, the rock icon, died long before pancreatic cancer claimed his physical body on July 7th, 2006.
Between the late ’60s and early ’80s, design house Hipgnosis created some of the most iconic and ubiquitous album artwork of all time. Their original lifespan coincided with the golden age of the 12-inch LP, beginning just as the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper made the record sleeve the ultimate blank canvas and ending just as new technology looked set to usurp vinyl.
Having originally been approached to design an album cover for their friends Pink Floyd, students Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell and Storm Thorgerson would go on to define the visual identity of rock and roll for the next fifteen years, swiftly gaining international prominence for their famed The Dark Side of the Moon artwork. This paved the way for other major musicians to set foot in the surreal photo-design world of Storm and Po, resulting in seminal Hipgnosis creations for the likes of Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Genesis, Black Sabbath, ELO and Yes.
In this authorised account, with access to previously unpublished material and exclusive contributions from David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Robert Plant and even Aubrey Powell himself, Mark Blake goes behind the scenes of the Hipgnosis partnership to reveal the pioneering ambition and grand vision that led to their success, as well as the clashing egos and artistic differences that undermined it. The Hipgnosis story also offers hitherto-untold insight into some of music’s most legendary bands, as viewed through the prism of the people who shaped their imagery and cultural legacy.
With the work of Hipgnosis continuing to be referenced, reproduced and revered worldwide, Us and Them serves as a celebration, a cautionary tale and a compelling human drama, exploring the vital intersection between art and music.
A Fleeting Glimpse Would Like To Wish Guy Pratt A Happy 61st Birthday !!