Saturday 27 November 2010

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their psychedelic and progressive rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful rock music groups of all time. It is estimated that they have sold over 200 million albums worldwide.

The band originally consisted of university students Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett. Founded in 1965, they first became popular playing in London's underground music scene in the late 1960s. Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd several months prior to Barrett's departure from the group due to deteriorating mental health in 1968. Following the loss of their principal songwriter, Pink Floyd bassist and vocalist Roger Waters became the band's lyricist and conceptual leader, with Gilmour assuming lead guitar and sharing lead vocals. With this lineup Pink Floyd achieved worldwide critical and commercial success with The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall.

Numerous artists have been influenced by Pink Floyd's work. David Bowie has called Syd Barrett a major inspiration. A teenage The Edge (of U2 fame) bought his first delay pedal after hearing the opening to Animals, and the Pet Shop Boys paid homage to The Wall during a performance in Boston. Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery has cited Wish You Were Here as a major inspiration. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 17 January 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame on 16 November 2005. (Wikipedia)

There's a hell of a lot more to say about them, but you can google that yourself. In the mean time, here's a suggestion. Instead of wasting your evening on Facebook or watching random TV download 'Dark Side of the Moon', turn the lights off and listen to the album from beginning to end. It's really worth it. And it's my all time favourite album.

'Comfortably Numb' is actually a track from Pink Floyd's album 'The Wall'. I thought I'd post it as it has the best guitar solo I've ever heard. And you should listen to the whole of 'Dark Side of the Moon', not just one track. Otherwise, it just ruins the experience.

Friday 26 November 2010

The Book of Love

It's winter in London. And it's cold. But it's the kind of cold that makes me want to go out for a walk. So I did just that and discovered that London looks like it's been taken out of a fairytale around the holidays.
Anyway, as I was walking towards Oxford Circus on my way home I overheard a short conversation:

She said: "It's cold. Can I put my hand in your pocket?"
He replied: "Of course dear."

For some reason this stuck with me. I found it really sweet and it made me smile when I heard it. I love winter, because there's always an 'excuse' to get closer. "It's cold!" :)

'The Book of Love" is Peter Gabriel's cover of The Magnetic Fields' song. It was also a song from the movie "Shall We Dance?" and from the TV series "Scrubs". Peter Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist, flautist and founding member of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, he went on to have a very successful solo career. Gabriel was also awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.