Pink Floyd have always been sort of a tightly wound organization, but things
have loosened up since the famous Live 8 reunion in 2005. In fact, the following
year, all four members were out and about, playing Pink Floyd music. Many feel
that the death of Syd Barrett that year helped rekindle the relationship.
Founding bassist and chief lyricist Roger Waters hit the road, playing The
Dark Side Of The Moon around the world, with drummer Nick Mason sitting
in for a handful of shows. Meanwhile, guitarist David Gilmour toured in support
of On An Island, his first solo album in over 20 years, and
invited keyboardist Rick Wright along for the ride. If you were lucky enough
to see both, it was like seeing Pink Floyd in all its glory, albeit two different
versions.
Wright passed away in 2008, bringing Waters, Gilmour and Mason even closer.
Waters and Gilmour played a benefit for the Hoping Foundation together, with
the stipulation that the guitarist would join the bassist at one of his shows
celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Wall. Just another
sign of thawing tensions.
In the midst of these mini reunions, animator Gerald Scarfe, the man as responsible
as Waters for the enduring success of The Wall, has gathered
together the three surviving band members and Alan Parker (who directed the
1982 film adaptation), along with his own personal photos and sketches, for
a book called The Making Of Pink Floyd The Wall.
This book is as much about the visuals as it is the commentary from Scarfe
throughout, along with insights from Mason, Gilmour, Waters and Parker. We learn
how and when Scarfe got involved with the band (supposedly at Mason’s
urging); how he made films shown at the group’s concerts on a huge round
backdrop; his development of the Wish You Were Here tour program;
his designing the inflatable pig for Animals; and how he basically
became the band’s official animator. Scarfe also mentions that things
were not always so serious in the Pink Floyd camp — that at one time,
everyone did get along… more or less. He claims good times with Waters, even
during the making of The Wall.
It’s during the making of the movie that the good-natured Scarfe shows
some bristles. The powerful egos of Parker, Waters and even Scarfe himself,
made for some tumultuous times. That doesn’t stop Parker and Waters from
saying on how Scarfe’s ideas and vision really went into making the film
come together. Although it was basically Waters’ story, and there was
a lot of infighting and clashes, Scarfe’s contributions cannot be denied.
So many years later, all parties involved have nothing but great admiration
and praise for one another.
The book also includes some amazing photos from 1980-81 The Wall shows, as
well as animation cels and rough sketches. There’s even a section about
how things are now, after The Wall. As a whole, The
Making Of Pink Floyd The Wall is an honest and visually stunning book
every Pink Floyd fan will cherish.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
