Remembering Syd

By Michael J.W. Stickings

If only Pink Floyd would play together again. Again. The Live8 reunion a couple of years ago was amazing -- pigs flew, as I put it -- but it would be something special if Gilmour, Waters, Wright, and Mason went on tour one last time. I saw the post-Waters Floyd on their Pulse tour, then both Gilmour (with Wright) and Waters last year, separately. Incredible shows, all -- but one can only imagine what a Floyd tour would be like now.

Still, Gilmour, Waters, Wright, and Mason did come together, in a way, for a tribute concert to Syd Barrett:

Pink Floyd's stars have performed at a concert in honour of their ex-bandmate Syd Barrett, who died last year -- but stopped short of a full reunion.

Roger Waters and David Gilmour, who famously fell out more than 25 years ago, appeared separately at the tribute gig at London's Barbican Centre.

Gilmour was joined by original drummer Nick Mason and keyboard player Rick Wright, while Waters played solo.

Alas. The Gilmour-led Floyd played "Arnold Layne," the band's first hit, while Waters played his own "Flickering Flame". And Waters didn't join in for the finale, an ensemble performance of "Bike," from Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the only performer not to do so.

What does that mean? More tension? Or perhaps a reluctance not to overshadow the tribute to Syd with another reunion? It's too bad, though. There would be no better tribute to Syd than for the band to make peace and perform together again.

Regardless, it sounds like it was a fantastic show. A fitting tribute to the Madcap himself.

(For my thoughts on Syd upon his death, see here.)