European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Lights lasers special effects and quadraphonic sound Pink Floyd in concert in Mannheim. Is Philo by Anita Gosch Welcome to the machine become More elaborate Wilh each Lour but when it comes to pure sensationalism and gimmickry nothing can beat the band s the will concerns in 7s8oh1, the landmark shows i Alured an actual Wall Buill Brick by Brick across the Slage thai aside thu open air concert Al the Maimart Clande in Mannheim Germany last weekend provided precisely what one has come to expect at a Pink Floyd spectacular. All the ingredients were there the dazzling lights and lasers inc stunning visual elects the mind boggling so surround sound Iho surrealistic video images the assorted gizmos and gang cos right Down to Iho giant inflatable Pink male pig from the band s animals Days. Pink Floyd has always been a predictable band in concert you know by Anita Gosch staff writer according 10 the Bithlo. David of Judah Stew the Gemni a single Ilone irom his Sling. But a modern Day David resold for. Giant and turned a in of something larger than life. David , guitarist Singer and now he id of Pink Floyd saved the legend by super group irom near Xii Naclion when Iron Man and Chick songwriter Roger Waters jell in 1983. Under Gilr Nour s leadership the 60s psychedelic cult band has become a monstrous mtg Sec mood and Mic making machine. The Pink Floyd world tour 1987/68 press release distributed by the band s management reads like an exec rpm irom the guinness Booko Wod records the show is the largest production Ever undertaken on the Road " the stage setup is the la grm Ever in an outdoor measuring 85 feel High and 1gg text wide. Pink Floyd s legendary quadraphonic sound by Blum is larger and More perfect than Over before in tact it is Iho Largos p a by slim Ever used and among Iho visual effects is the largest Mirro Tafi Over by " in Iarj i on. The press release says the Stago contains computerized lighting a Sterns. Four Floyd droids 01 Light robots developed especially Tor the show. 280 Laung lamps and a32 ool a diameter circular screen. So what does Alt this mean to the average Pink Floyd fan a show that s bigger and softer than Ever Belovet not. Really Pink Floyd s concerts have drummer Nick Mason anger guitarist David Glt motor keyboardist Rick Wright Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday june 22, 1988 there s going to be some weird or outrageous visual effect. You just Don l know what Hal s going to be. The Overall Impact of a Pink Floyd show however is of a giant music Light and laser machine set up somewhere in the distance. Heck Tor All one could see of he band members in Mannheim what with some 60.000 people packed Inlo the Bolival grounds the music May Well have been on tape. Of Pink Floyd it s not personality that counts the musicians Are basically Boring on stage anyway. It s Iho technology that draws the band s legions o tens interestingly enough Hough Iho Lew limes a voice presumably s did speak even if in was Only to utter a Quick thank the crowd roared. Be god the machine Halh spoken and then there s Iho music mood music one can sing to. Sway to. Groove to. Of Teck of an appropriate 60s term. During Iho first half o the 2vi-hour show Pink Floyd performed songs from Tho new release a momentary lapse of reason. Unfortunately though the band May have Kepi up Wilh Iho limes As far As technology is concerned the new songs seem Tro in in Somo Disiano Era. The material is largely a slightly More uptempo rehash of the band s psychedelic style of Iho acid Daze. It was Pink Floyd s older songs Tho fans had come to hear judging by the much Moro enthusiastic response during the second half of in show. The band limited its repertoire to the biggest hits from the commercially successful albums dark Side of the moan wish you Weie Heie and 7/ie Wall. Songs included Tho singalong tunes Money and time the Leen Anthem another bask in no Wala along Wilh Stirne on you crazy Diamond Welcome to the machine and us and them. So what does All ii realty mean to the average Pink Floyd fan was the Mannheim concert to in she Oughty $30 admission fee was in Worth Tho crowd. The heal the i Raff the Long lines Irre general hassle Otan open air festival apparently yes to an american fan from Pir Masens it was Worth All thai and Mere. It was Worth All Iho Beer we drank she said. A Good partying to another Ian the concert was even Worth injury and pain. John Sekella of Span Dahlem a deserves a purple hear for going above and beyond the Call of Pink Floyd Lan Dom. The 23-year-old airman who found an empty spol for his Camp chair at the Back o the festival grounds said he might have broken his loot White playing Frisbee earlier thai Day. Yet Sekella refused logo the Hospital. There was no Way i was going to miss this concert he said his red and swollen fool propped up on a picnic cooler whal to ally makes in world of thai whal i like about Pink Floyd is thai they re really Laid Back he said. It s really it seems thai for Plain atmosphere and a Good Lime nothing can beat the giant that has become Pink Floyd. Pm floyd1 Ewo Eum Bur owl mum win conc Ali in m Murdola &. Switzerland. Blk tfx. Us. A Foort a i g 1 of. London. Sudul my 5 Trot inc Lahd limn aug. 10. Scandinavia oho aug. 19. Copenhagen aug 81
