To celebrate Roger Waters‘ revival of The Wall for a tour that will likely lead to a Glee episode dedicated to the album, a smash Broadway musical, and a film version of the Broadway musical starring Justin Timberlake in the role originally occupied by Bob Geldof, let’s have some Pink Floyd-themed Dugout Chatter. As always, your gut answers are all that matter. If you’ve been following proceedings within the Halls of Rock for some time but have not yet jumped in with a comment there’s no better time to shine on, you crazy diamond.
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
I look forward to your answers.
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Spiritualized-Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
Gorrillaz.
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Roger.
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
Yes.
No.
It’s funny too, because Floyd is in my top 5 and i can’t stand Syd Barrett.
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
U2.
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
Johnny Rotten.
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Marvin Gaye’s “Here, My Dear”
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
GWAR
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Richard Wright
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
Probably. You could make an argument for Brian Wilson and the reams of material that has been written on the Beach Boys, but at least Brian got it together somewhat. Syd really crashed and burned.
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
Radiohead
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
Eric Clapton
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Bring the family by John Hiatt
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
KISS or the New York Dolls
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Richard Wright. His playing is rooted in the classical, yet it somehow sounds both current and timeless. It makes its presence known, but leaves plenty of room for others to add their personal touches. It’s comforting, and yet just off kilter enough to keep it from being dull.
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
I don’t like Syd Barrett-era Floyd. I like Meddle through Animals, so I think that the critic’s tolerance is well deserved.
What established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
U2 or Kings of Leon
Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
Nick Lowe
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Bobb Trimble’s HARVEST OF DREAMS is at the very top of that list.
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
The Tubes.
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Architectural work? Are you kidding?
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
Brian Jones and Nick Drake didn’t live long enough to achieve their status. Barrett is certainly first, ahead of Roky Erickson. I see Barrett as a victim in many ways, among them a certain kind of revolting patronizing among rock fans that is only one-upped by their response to Daniel Johnston.
By the way, I would argue that in my own circles, Jonathan Richman is ahead of Barrett in this regard–someone whose early career has created a lifelong critical appraisal of subsequent work that doesn’t have anything to do with it whatsoever.
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
He’d wear a shirt that says “I’m glad Kurt Cobain is dead.”
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
Ringo Starr
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
-Who By Numbers
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
-Kiss was the obvious one to mind. Funkadelic is another.
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Roger Waters.
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
-I don’t think so, not to that degree. One could argue the case for Brian Wilson or Roky Erickson (but then, I don’t think there was much non-Roky period 13th Floor Elevators music). Maybe Ian Curtis…just tossing out possible candidates
While I am a Syd fan, I’ve come to find that the “lost years” of Pink Floyd (the post Syd-pre Dark Side of The Moon) era is my fave.
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
-U2
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock
-Elvis Costello
Where I think Syd has a leg up in rock martyrdom on Brian Wilson and some others beginning to be suggested is that his loss was a core theme in the Waters-led version of the band. So references to Syd helped generate content for the band while also helping interest rock nerds, who may not have liked Classic Floyd in its time but found the Syd period of the band (and Syd’s plight, as referred to in songs) a lot more interesting.
The Beach Boys didn’t write songs about Brian Wilson in the late-’60s, did they? And although Brian’s GENIUS gave the band all the cred it would ever need, did rock fans who didn’t like the Beach Boys in their prime go back and appreciate them based on the Brian Legacy? I guess some rock nerds who didn’t grow up loving the band’s pop classics did, but it seems a little different. The surviving Beach Boys couldn’t ever capitalize on Brian’s struggles and carve out their own identity.
Ian Curtis’ legacy to New Order is profound. Maybe he’s a notch above Brian Wilson in this conversation.
I can’t top a lot of the above answers, so I’ll just answer a few.
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Neil Young’s Tonight’s the Night
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Nick Mason. Not super-creative but easily the most likable member of Pink Floyd.
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
Trent Reznor
Good points – and Ian Curtis is a good call. Not to be too much of nerd on this (well, I am kind of nerd on this), but I would just say that the Beach Boys milked the “Brian’s Back” theme repeatedly through the 1970s — on Surf’s Up, Holland, 16 Big Ones, and even Love You. We know now that Brian was anything but “back” during this period. Those 70s albums (with the exception of 16 Big Ones) have achieved some bit of “critical tolerance” but were clearly driven by Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Carl Wilson.
The Brian’s Back theme is worth noting, funoka. Never – and I mean NEVER – feel you need to apologize for being “too much of a nerd” on such matters. This is Rock Town Hall.
C’mon, surely this was written for Brian? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-e-mIdcoQE
Slowly, gradually, inexorably as the years have passed I have developed a tolerance for Dark Side of the Moon and can understand its particular greatness. I cannot say this about The Wall, which has always bored me to tears. I don’t have much interest in either Floyd or his own stuff after Syd left Floyd. I love the early singles and like Piper a great deal. That’s about all.
Thanks — never saw this. And I meant 15 Big Ones — I hate that record anyway.
When I quickly scanned this before reading the body of it and saw “Trent Reznor,” I thought he was the one whose T-shirt a modern day John Rotten would defile, and thought it was a great answer. Oh well…
What you say about “slowly, gradually…” developing a tolerance, misterioso, applies to nearly their entire catalog for me. I still prefer the two solo Syd albums, but I at least appreciate the formalism, or architecture, of their classic albums and the attempts at articulating deep thoughts with their lyrics. Every once in a while something actually moves me. This entire Dugout Chatter idea came out of a recent Rolling Stone interview with Waters. I’ve noticed this in other interviews I’ve seen/read with him in recent years that he now makes a tremendous effort to stand behind the intent of his work as a generally “good egg” who now acknowledges his faults and limitations. I don’t know, I’m a sucker for good eggs, and it’s one of those interesting Maturity of Rock examples for me that may cause someone to post in the “Don’t Ever Change” thread that “Rock ‘n roll artists should never mature!”
Most healing album: Late for the Sky
Third band that should come to mind: Madonna
Pink Floyd member hired to perform architectural work: Gilmour, for his ability to provide long-term service
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Yes
Established powerhouse band’s t-shirt tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon would wear: Still ‘Pink Floyd SUCKS!’
Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock: Stephen Stills
You’re a sucker for good eggs? Does that mean you suck eggs?
I should add that I have also developed a “sure, why not listen to it once a year?” level of interest in Wish You Were Here. Though the fact that my favorite song on there is not sung by a member of the band is probably telling.
my choice of Waters as my architect is based on my belief that:
He would pay a ridiculous amount of attention to detail &
He wouldn’t let scumbag, capitalist contractors cut any corners during construction.
Didn’t Eric do an album with Waters?
Put me in the “rock nerds who didn’t grow up loving the band’s pop classics” camp.
Even as a child, growing up in California, I could not tolerate them. There was something shrill about the harmonies to my impressionable ears, and the visuals from TV appearances had a real uber-wholesome/creepy vibe to them. Plus, shhh… Only ol’ people listened to them! Does that make sense???? It did to my elementary school mind-set!
Not too many rock nerds will admit it, but somewhere in their mid-20’s they had that Beach Boys lightbulb moment. I’m not proud.
Your honesty is appreciated, jeangray. I grew up as an AM radio kid, so I was into their big hits. It actually bummed me out when rock nerds who grew up more FM oriented suddenly adopted the band and started touting crap like Smile and, worse, the fat-ass-stuffed-in-white bellbottoms albums that would follow.
Yes but he also might spit in your face if he feels you aren’t “getting” his design vision.
Next to John Lennon‘s Plastic Ono Band and Pink Floyd‘s The Wall, what confessional album was probably most healing to both its creator(s) and listeners?
Gonna pass on this one, I was never much into Self-Help Rock.
Flaming Lips and The Residents are the first two other bands that come to mind that, like Pink Floyd, depend on visuals and concepts as much as music. What’s the third band that should come to my mind?
Genesis.
In their prime, which member of Pink Floyd would you have most likely hired to perform architectural work?
Who was PF’s Pete Best? Pass!
Is Syd Barrett rock’s most powerful martyr? Has any band member’s initial burst of creativity and subsequent long-term suffering provided as much critical tolerance and interest for the surviving band members’ slow recovery?
Bob Stinson
In the years that have followed punk rock and teenage John Lydon‘s legendary, homemade Pink Floyd SUCKS! t-shirt, what established powerhouse band’s t-shirt would tomorrow’s teenage John Lydon wear?
Simon Cowell Sucks! Or maybe Cary Sherman.
Next to Roger Waters, what once-irascible rocker comes to mind when you think Wiser, Gentler Elder Statesman of Rock?
I’m gonna go there: Steve Albini.