Written by Brain Damage contributor, Alex Woodman
(Originally appeared in Brain Damage Magazine issue 37)
Early in 1975, the ads for
the forthcoming Pink Floyd concerts at The Cow Palace in San Francisco
appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Scraping together every last
penny I could, I bought as many tickets to both nights as I could
afford. Pink Floyd were by far my favourite band ever since a friend
played One of These Days for me back in 1971. Now I was finally going
to get a chance to see them.
Both days I arrived with my
friends at One in the afternoon for the 8pm show. (I had to be right up
front!) Fortunately, there was a small line of great people ahead of us
and we enjoyed the “trip” until the show started. The fog slowly
creeping down on us from San Bruno Mountain was a nice effect also.
The doors finally opened and once
inside we found ourselves buying copies of Pink Floyd comics. We then
rushed up and sat about 20 feet from the stage. Looking around, we
noticed that there were stacks of speakers on either side of the
auditorium and a stack in the back.
Nick Mason’s drum kit had the
‘ocean wave’ design on it. Looking through the comic book, we noticed
words to songs we’ve never heard before - Raving and Drooling, You
Gotta Be Crazy and Shine On You Crazy Diamond.
Eight o’clock came and went and
it wasn’t until about 8:20 that the band finally came out. It was told
by a local DJ with a backstage pass that Mr. Gilmour had purchased a
pinball machine and was playing the free game he won on it! The lights
went down and without a word they started into Raving and Drooling
(Sheep), followed by You Gotta Be Crazy (Dogs) and then Shine On You
Crazy Diamond. The first two songs lasted about 10 minutes each with
Shine On clocking in at least a half an hour long. At the end of Shine
On, a mirrored flower rose from behind the band with its mirrored
petals rotating in one direction and mirrored center rotating in the
opposite direction. How incredible to hear new music that was to come
out on the next two albums live for the first time!
After the break, the boys came
out to do Dark Side in its entirety. The quad system was fantastic and
we were all totally blown away. We knew we were in for a treat when the
heartbeat started up. The crashing plane at the end of On the Run
scared the shit out of me as I didn’t notice it until it was right on
top of me! For an encore, we were treated to a great rendition of
Echoes with some saxophone added to the middle of the jam. Dry ice mist
came cascading off the stage into the crowd while green lights were
reflecting on it. All I could see at this point were a bunch of heads
sticking out of this green fog. We all thought it was a great
combination to go along with the high-pitched screams coming from
Gilmour’s guitar. One guy started yelling, “I can’t breathe!” and
climbed up onto the stage. Waters slowly backed away from him when one
of the stage crew quickly appeared from behind the drum set and hit the
guy like a cornerback sending him flying back into the crowd. He
disappeared into the fog. The show ended with the chorus of voices
rising higher and higher, then softly fading away.
Both shows were great and
unforgettable. I am really glad I went as it was the only chance I had
to see the Floyd as a foursome.
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