Pink Floyd feature in the latest (November 2004) issue of the normal monthly version of Q Magazine. They have beaten the Rolling Stones and U2 to win the accolade of the top band of all time, based on album and concert ticket sales. Q awarded them the top spot for their 23.3 million-selling album of 'The Wall' album, for playing to 125,000 fans at Knebworth House (as part of the 1990 Nordoff-Robbins show) and for spending a total of 911 weeks on the UK chart with Dark Side Of The Moon.
Here's the run down of who they reckon are the top bands:
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones
U2
Queen
Dire Straits
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
The Beatles
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Fleetwood Mac
In a completely separate event, last night's BMI Awards at London’s Dorchester Hotel also featured Pink Floyd. The BMI, America’s performing rights agency, collects royalties for songwriters from radio and TV.
Pink Floyd featured in the best British Bands run down, at number six. Here's their complete rundown:
The Beatles
Queen
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones
The Smiths
Pink Floyd
The Kinks
Radiohead
he Clash
The Who.
Q also are running a story on their news pages that they understand that the current Floyd and Roger Waters are considering a reunion! It says "Nearly 20 years after the acrimonious departure of frontman Roger Waters, Pink Floyd are rumoured to be putting aside their considerable differences and reuniting for a series of lucrative shows next year." It then gives a potted history of Floyd and the breakup.
"However, Q understands that discussions have taken place between the two parties about playing a set of shows to mark the 30th anniversary of 1975's Wish You Were Here album. "If a reunited Pink Floyd went out on tour, they could gross 100 million dollars in one year," says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of US magazine Pollstar". The article then goes on to give examples of other bands, including the Pixies, who have made up or are considering it.
Before everyone gets too excited, it should be mentioned that we recently discussed this whole subject with Pink Floyd Management - indeed, before Q even hits the streets. They categorically stated that the band were not doing ANY shows next year, and also stated that there were no plans to celebrate 30 years of Wish You Were Here (apart from the 2005 Calendar, designed by Storm Thorgerson, mentioned elsewhere on these pages).
However, this news story has excited a lot of fans, who believe that it will happen, and we have received a mountain of emails regarding this story, especially as media across the world are picking up on it. Thanks for all your emails on the subject! If the situation does change, we will obviously pass on the good news. In the meantime, it does seem like one of the regular rumours that go around about the band touring again...
Our thanks to Kevan Porter and the Sofa King for their help with this story.
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