Below is a recent, hour and a half interview with Roger Waters, posted online by The Global Consortium for Sustainable Peace. The fascinating, wide-ranging chat conducted by Professor John Haas of Cerritos College, covers a wide range of subjects as you may expect, with Roger sharing his views on things such as nature, human rights, BDS, and music, including touring.
He talks about his concert plans for this year - dates in the US, Canada and Mexico - and answers questions about playing at the border wall. From our busy email inbox, we know that many of you are keen to know what is happening with his next tour (which he has said will be a new production) and as soon as we have the confirmed information we will of course let you know.
Just arrived in UK stores, and available worldwide online is the new issue (issue 105, January 2020) of the UK's Prog Magazine. Always a decent read, this month's issue has three features in particular of interest to Pink Floyd fans.
First, there's a two-page look at Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, and in particular, the band's UK and Ireland tour this year. With comments from Nick and guitarist Lee Harris, it finds the band missing the stage, and looking forward to being back on it in the spring when the dates resume.
The main feature is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd's epic double album The Wall in a ten-page feature. They talked to Nick Mason, Bob Ezrin, Gerald Scarfe, and Bob Geldof about how the album evolved into a live extravaganza, a movie and how it pretty much broke the band. It's a lively, and fascinating, look at this wide-ranging project.
The Wall feature is followed by a two-page interview with the Floyd's Creative Director Aubrey 'Po' Powell, and Andy Jackson, long-time collaborator with the band who mixed and produced much of the music on The Later Years. There's also brand new and exclusive interviews with Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, Marillion, Sons Of Apollo, The Flower Kings, Edison's Children, Kaprekar's Constant, Nightmare Scenario, The Blackheart Orchestra, American Tears, Field Music, Lee Abraham Music and more...
Plus there's the results of the 2019 Readers' Poll (with Nick Mason in the top ten drummers, and the Saucers in the top ten event category), and a look at 50 years of the legendary Friars Aylesbury venue. And music from Oak, The Dave Foster Band, Stuckfish, Moonshot Band and more on the CD.
If your local store doesn't stock this magazine, you can get a copy, shipped anywhere in the world, through this direct link.
To be released on January 24th, 2020, is a long-awaited reissue of the hybrid multichannel SACD (Super Audio CD) of Pink Floyd's iconic 1973 album, The Dark Side Of The Moon.
Originally released in the format (having a separate stereo layer playable on all normal CD players) in 2003 as mark of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the album, the SACD proved very popular. However, it has been out of print for some years, so the reissue later this month will be welcomed by many.
The release is by Analogue Productions, and seems that they will be selling it exclusively through their AcousticSounds.com store, and preorders are now being taken. The mix is the same as the 2003 release, but we understand the packaging has been updated and the retailer are noting that it is presented in a "deluxe" format.
SACDs provide high audio quality, and in certain cases (such as this, and the other Floyd SACD, Wish You Were Here) multi-channel, surround mixes too. The DSOTM and WYWH SACDs both sound superb, and it is worth checking to see if you have suitable equipment to play multichannel SACDs. A number of Sony CD players are compatible with SACDs, and indeed some Playstation 3 consoles play SACDs with no problem. Other makes of CD/DVD/Blu-ray players do support the format, but this varies from model to model. As our contributor John Malcolm notes, there are a number of "universal" players out there which include SACD in their capabilities. It is worth checking the specifications of players, particularly if you are looking to pick up a cheap, second-hand machine on eBay and suchlike.
If we hear of other retailers who are selling this title, we will let you know.
UPDATE, March 2nd:There has been a delay of some kind to this release, with the retailer currently stating that the "arrival date [is] to be announced". More as we get it!
Now available in selected stores, and online worldwide through this link is a special magazine from the makers of the UK's respected Uncut Magazine.
Prog Rock - The Ultimate Genre Guide is a blend of newly written articles, along with classic archive features, looking at the greats of the golden age of UK progressive rock. As the opening piece suggests, the period featured bands and performers retreating from the limelight, be it via elaborate stage shows, or the wearing of fox heads and make-up as a mask. This was all to give prominence to the music - and what music some of it was!
Artists covered in some depth across the 124 pages include The Moody Blues, King Crimson, Yes, ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Floyd's chums The Soft Machine, and of course Pink Floyd, who are also the cover stars.
The twelve-page Floyd section is in two parts. First, there's an extensive look at the band's music, including how they took some of the complex arrangements on the road - and how these were presented to the audiences. This section is followed by three fascinating articles from 1973 editions of the New Musical Express and Melody Maker weekly newspapers, two of which include extensive interviews with David Gilmour - giving an interesting look at his, and the band's, thoughts and feelings at the time.
There's also a list of the 40 best UK prog albums so you can see how many are in your own collection, and maybe find titles that you'll want to track down to explore further. Elsewhere you can find a list of some of the most collectable records of the genre, in case you are sitting on an obscure goldmine!
Our very best wishes go to Guy Pratt today (January 3rd), who is celebrating his birthday. Born in London in 1962, son of the actor Mike Pratt from Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), Guy took to a career in music, which lead to his first world tour whilst still a teenager!
Working with the likes of Bryan Ferry and Robert Palmer lead to him being noticed by David Gilmour, who invited Guy to play for Pink Floyd in 1987. This lead to work with other major artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson, but Guy stayed loyal to David, performing alongside him up to the most recent tours, including David's 2015-2016 Rattle That Lock tour that concluded in London's Royal Albert Hall. Of course, in 2018 Guy was revealed as part of Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets, a band who have thrilled fans in the UK, Europe and North America with their highly acclaimed shows playing early Floyd songs (with those indulging in unofficial audio and video elsewhere, also loving the band!).
The Saucers have announced more shows that will be taking place this year - starting in April with a number of dates in the UK and Ireland, before heading back into Europe for more shows there. Tickets for all these shows are now on sale, so don't miss out!
Life as a musician on the road, and in the studio, inspired Guy to write his hilarious "My Bass And Other Animals" book, an essential read for any Floyd fan. He has toured his memories in a tour of the same name, and has also developed adaptations of the show. Whatever your interests in music are, the book (as with his solo, stand-up shows) give a mind-boggling and hilarious look at life with various musicians. There's plenty of detail within the pages of his Floyd life, so well worth taking a look.
Many happy returns, Guy, from all of us at Brain Damage!
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To be released on January 24th, 2020, is a long-awaited reissue of the hybrid multichannel SACD (Super Audio CD) of Pink Floyd's iconic 1973 album, The Dark Side Of The Moon. 
