On Saturday the 14th of September a small group of Cranleighans were granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Roger Waters, the erstwhile bassist for Pink Floyd, perform the band’s classic 1979 record ‘The Wall’ live at Wembley Stadium. A sprawling concept album that originally filled two LPs, the realisation of the protagonist’s anguish – Pink, a disillusioned rock star memorably played by Bob Geldof in the 1980 film – is portrayed by the physical construction of a giant wall across the stage. Onto this is projected Gerald Scarfe animations, varying between the grotesque and the strikingly beautiful, as well as more contemporary visual artwork, before the wall is torn down at the climax of the show. Coupled with vast puppets of the other characters (and a plane crashed into the top of the wall), the effect is quite extraordinary.
On remarkable form for a man who has just turned 70, Roger Waters was wholly in command of an astonishing performance, including veteran guitarist Snowy White covering the original Dave Gilmour solos. Jon Stocks, Tim Ayling and Tom Bligh very much enjoyed the proceedings, and I myself could not help but shed a tear as Waters croaked out the verse parts in Comfortably Numb, Snowy White blazing out that legendary solo from atop the wall itself.
We were privileged to see the last ever performance of the album in London, on this, the final tour – I certainly hope to have the chance to enjoy a few more vintage rock performances later in the year! Black Sabbath are playing the O2 in December…
EAC
