Today, when we watch genre-definÂing conÂcert films like MonÂterey Pop, WoodÂstock, Gimme ShelÂter, or ZigÂgy StarÂdust and the SpiÂders from Mars, we look upon the audiÂence with nearÂly as much interÂest as we do the perÂformÂers. But Pink Floyd nevÂer did things in quite the same way as othÂer rock bands of that era. In 1972, they put out a conÂcert film with no audiÂence at all, subÂstiÂtutÂing for visuÂal interÂest the majesÂtic ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheÂater in PomÂpeii. Pink Floyd at PomÂpeii – MCMLXXII has lateÂly been restored, and you can see the trailÂer for its upcomÂing worldÂwide cinÂeÂmas-and-IMAX re-release above.
Even withÂout the unpreÂdictable eleÂment of attenÂdees (apart from a few local chilÂdren who snuck in to watch), the proÂducÂtion had its difÂfiÂculÂties. Ever musiÂcalÂly rigÂorÂous, the Floyd insistÂed on playÂing live with their actuÂal tourÂing gear, which took three days to truck over from LonÂdon.
Only then was it disÂcovÂered that the amphitheÂater didÂn’t have enough elecÂtricÂiÂty availÂable to powÂer it all, which ultiÂmateÂly required runÂning a half-mile-long extenÂsion cord to the town hall. Though hardÂly unimÂpresÂsive, the resultÂing footage fell short of feaÂture length, which required supÂpleÂmenÂtary shootÂing at the conÂsidÂerÂably less hisÂtoric StuÂdio EuropaÂsonor in Paris.
Pink Floyd at PomÂpeii – MCMLXXII was origÂiÂnalÂly meant, in part, to proÂmote their then-latÂest-release MedÂdle. That album is best rememÂbered for “Echoes,” which occuÂpies the entireÂty of side two, and which foreÂshadÂowed the kinds of ambiÂtious comÂpoÂsiÂtions of which the post-Syd BarÂrett verÂsion of the Floyd would be capaÂble. The film splits it up into two parts, one to open it and the othÂer to close it; you can get a taste of this live renÂdiÂtion from the clip just above. In between the two halves of “Echoes” come songs like “CareÂful with That Axe, Eugene,” “A SaucerÂful of Secrets,” and “MadeÂmoiÂselle Nobs,” as well as footage of the band in the stuÂdio, at work on their next project: an album called The Dark Side of the Moon.
RelatÂed conÂtent:
Watch the Rare Reunions of Pink Floyd: ConÂcerts from 2005, 2010 & 2011
David Gilmour Makes His Live at PomÂpeii ConÂcert Film Free to Watch Online
Take a High Def, GuidÂed Tour of PomÂpeii
Based in Seoul, ColÂin Marshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities, lanÂguage, and culÂture. His projects include the SubÂstack newsletÂter Books on Cities and the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles. FolÂlow him on the social netÂwork forÂmerÂly known as TwitÂter at @colinmarshall.
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