Aussie Pink Floyd tribute band marks 'Wall' anniversary
By Jesse Claeys | Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008
This year, the Australian Pink Floyd will perform "The Wall," a classic rock album from Pink Floyd.
As a younger man growing up in Adelaide, Australia, Jason Sawford had his eyes set on a job in the field of biochemistry.
That was the focus of his university studies. His plans dramatically changed after seeing a flyer hanging inside of a music shop. A keyboard player was needed for a new tribute band.
"I just started getting into the band's music," Sawford said of Pink Floyd. "It seemed like an interesting thing to do. Tribute bands, at that time, were new. We were all guys who just want to play Pink Floyd."
Twenty years later and the guys who just wanted to perform songs like "Comfortably Numb" and "Money" now regularly tour the world. The Australian Pink Floyd spent April through July playing in the United Kingdom (including two nights at the famed Royal Albert Hall) and is now on a two-month jaunt across the United States. The group will perform at the Orpheum Theatre Sunday night.
Their current tour, according to Sawford, is their most ambitious to date.
"This is the first time we've actually done 'The Wall,' mainly because I think it is such an ambitious project. It's a very long album, I mean, it's almost the size of two albums, so there's a lot to learn. Then, of course, to try and tell the story of 'The Wall' in a convincing and theatric way takes a lot of planning," the keyboardist said.
On each tour The Australian Pink Floyd selects a Pink Floyd album and presents it in its entirety to audiences. This time around the group has focused on constructing sets, arranging light shows and tackling a concept album that was made into a film released in 1982. "The Wall" tells the story of a protagonist who fells isolated from the rest of the world though songs like "Another Brink in the Wall" and "Hey You."
"Most people who have not seen us come along and are a bit skeptical. In the end they are blown away by it and become avid fans after it," Sawford said during a telephone interview.
What type of person is a fan of The Australian Pink Floyd? Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist/songwriter David Gilmour, to name one.
"When we started out we didn't have permission or anything, we just went out and did it. When we met Dave Gilmour we actually asked him what he thought about it and he was cool with it."
Not only was Gilmour approving of the tribute act, he also booked The Australian Pink Floyd to perform at one of his birthday parties.
"It was nerve racking to play his party. We knew he was there as well as other members of Pink Floyd and all of these other famous musicians."
While attempting to stay true to the original recorded music, Sawford said the band does occasionally slip up or tack on an extra solo here or there. He's not worried those types of things will anger diehard Floyd fans in attendance.
"What it comes down to is we are all fans of the same band. We're happy to be playing the songs and they are happy to be hearing them."
What: Australian Pink Floyd Show
When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Tickets: $30 and up. Tickets are available at the Tyson Events Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com or by calling (712) 252-3434.
Additional info: The Australian Pink Floyd Show, founded in 1988, features the performance an entire Pink Floyd album on each tour. For this tour the band will be performing "The Wall," marking the 30th anniversary of its release. "The Wall," a concept record later made into a film, is largely considered one of Pink Floyd's strongest works.
That was the focus of his university studies. His plans dramatically changed after seeing a flyer hanging inside of a music shop. A keyboard player was needed for a new tribute band.
"I just started getting into the band's music," Sawford said of Pink Floyd. "It seemed like an interesting thing to do. Tribute bands, at that time, were new. We were all guys who just want to play Pink Floyd."
Twenty years later and the guys who just wanted to perform songs like "Comfortably Numb" and "Money" now regularly tour the world. The Australian Pink Floyd spent April through July playing in the United Kingdom (including two nights at the famed Royal Albert Hall) and is now on a two-month jaunt across the United States. The group will perform at the Orpheum Theatre Sunday night.
Their current tour, according to Sawford, is their most ambitious to date.
"This is the first time we've actually done 'The Wall,' mainly because I think it is such an ambitious project. It's a very long album, I mean, it's almost the size of two albums, so there's a lot to learn. Then, of course, to try and tell the story of 'The Wall' in a convincing and theatric way takes a lot of planning," the keyboardist said.
On each tour The Australian Pink Floyd selects a Pink Floyd album and presents it in its entirety to audiences. This time around the group has focused on constructing sets, arranging light shows and tackling a concept album that was made into a film released in 1982. "The Wall" tells the story of a protagonist who fells isolated from the rest of the world though songs like "Another Brink in the Wall" and "Hey You."
"Most people who have not seen us come along and are a bit skeptical. In the end they are blown away by it and become avid fans after it," Sawford said during a telephone interview.
What type of person is a fan of The Australian Pink Floyd? Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist/songwriter David Gilmour, to name one.
"When we started out we didn't have permission or anything, we just went out and did it. When we met Dave Gilmour we actually asked him what he thought about it and he was cool with it."
Not only was Gilmour approving of the tribute act, he also booked The Australian Pink Floyd to perform at one of his birthday parties.
"It was nerve racking to play his party. We knew he was there as well as other members of Pink Floyd and all of these other famous musicians."
While attempting to stay true to the original recorded music, Sawford said the band does occasionally slip up or tack on an extra solo here or there. He's not worried those types of things will anger diehard Floyd fans in attendance.
"What it comes down to is we are all fans of the same band. We're happy to be playing the songs and they are happy to be hearing them."
What: Australian Pink Floyd Show
When: 7:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Tickets: $30 and up. Tickets are available at the Tyson Events Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, at ticketmaster.com or by calling (712) 252-3434.
Additional info: The Australian Pink Floyd Show, founded in 1988, features the performance an entire Pink Floyd album on each tour. For this tour the band will be performing "The Wall," marking the 30th anniversary of its release. "The Wall," a concept record later made into a film, is largely considered one of Pink Floyd's strongest works.
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