TEAR DOWN THE WALL - Pink Floyd Panel Discussion

From the 1960s counterculture through to Bob Geldof’s Live 8 festival and beyond, not many bands have maintained their appeal, across the generations, as Pink Floyd. In September 2022 Routledge published their definitive Handbook to Pink Floyd. For the first time, this book aimed to truly ‘tear down the wall’, in terms of interrogating both the musical output of this innovative, intriguing band, but also the varied influence of social, cultural and political environments, over several decades, on their work. Few other bands have had such diverse links and connective powers – to music, yes, but also art, design, performance, to culture and indeed counterculture.

At a retail price of £194, this is perhaps a book for the aficionado... and at 554 pages it is not one you would want to drop on your foot. Perhaps an easier win would be to join this panel Louder Than Words have pulled together to celebrate the publication of the book. The panel discussion is chaired by the books’ co-editors – the independent scholar Chris Hart and Louder’s own Simon A. Morrison, music writer and academic – along with several contributors to the book. Along with other contributors and Floyd fans contributing from the floor these, panellists include prog rock expert Daryl Easlea, who penned a chapter on The Dark Side of the Moon; David Pattie, who looked at their stage performance; Jim Mason, who investigated whether the track ‘On The Run’ was the first example of electronic dance music; music writer and Syd Barrett biographer Rob Chapman’s overview of the very earliest of Floyd’s music; Martin James, who considered the year 1977 in particular, and the album Animals, in his chapter ‘More Punk Than Pink’ and Malcolm Boyle who ran the successful one man show on Syd Barratt - The Madcap - and has recently produced the 60s counterculture film on John 'Hoppy' Hopkins.

We are also delighted that joining the panel is the artist, Floyd fan and Louder regular Bob Follen, whose collection of Floyd memorabilia forms the photographic centre pages of the book, and will also be on display at the event.

Like the refracted light on the iconic cover of The Dark Side of the Moon, this panel discussion will open up both the band and the book to explore, from these different disciplines and practices, the many dimensions that contribute to Pink Floyd. After all, what is more important than conversation? As Pink Floyd themselves sang, on a song of that name, ‘It’s Louder Than Words... this thing that we do...’

So on Friday November 11, whether friend, fan or indeed foe of Pink Floyd and progressive rock, let’s turn out the lights, light up the incense and lasers, celebrate the publication of the book with its contributors and editors and, collectively... tear down the wall.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

INNSIDE Manchester, 1 First Street, Manchester, United Kingdom