Before Pink Floyd, rock and roll was all about attitude. After Pink Floyd, it could be all atmosphere. Though perfectly suited for headphones and hi-fis, their sound is architectural, and almost requires the grandest of settings for its full realization. The bombast of the band’s stadium shows, with all their theatrical excesses, seems entirely justified by the music, unlike the Spinal Tap-like pretensions of many other arena rock bands. In 1989, Pink Floyd (sans Roger Waters) played for 20,000 Italian fans from a massive stage floating in the canals of Venice, a fascinating contrast to a 1972 performance, when the band played for no one but a film crew, in an amphitheater in the ruined city of Pompeii.
Invoking these magical moments, a street musician named Serin plays the music of Pink Floyd in the streets of Rome, parking himself right in front of the Pantheon. With pre-recorded backing tracks and a black Stratocaster reminiscent of David Gilmour’s signature instrument, Serin not only nails the songs, he gets the atmosphere just right, an achievement no doubt aided by his choice of setting. At the top, see him play “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” just above, “Comfortably Numb” and, below, an excellent rendition of “Time” (on a white Strat this time). For comparison’s sake, watch Pink Floyd themselves play “Echoes” at Pompeii, further down. (Stream more clips of their Pompeii concert film here).
For another version of the one-man-Pink Floyd-cover band concept, see 19-year-old Ewan Cunningham cover “Echoes,” “Comfortably Numb” and other songs, multitracking himself on every instrument.
via Laughing Squid
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Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
John Lydons tee shirt circa 1976 sums up the stockbrokers from Surry rather well.
God I despise this band, alongside the Eagles, they destroyed popular music.
Ah, God love you, wise up!!
I heard he had to move away from the pantheon do you know where he plays now??