The Pink Floyd 1966

 

The Pink Floyd 1966

by Pete Clemons

The music media world has been gradually gearing up for Dark Side of the Moon's 50th birthday. Released in 1973 it is a wonderful record that has stood the test of time. Some may remember that this momentous album, albeit in it's then working format, was performed in Coventry a year or so before it's official release. Having written a blog on that event, several years ago, I decided to mark 'Dark Sides' half century by putting a few words together as to how The Pink Floyd first had their break.

First, you need to go back to 1965 when an office called the London free school was formed. It focused on changing society. I guess it was more an ideology. It was a middle class attempt to help the working class. Helping people with benefits and rights, that kind of thing. It was a mix of individuals and the school was based in Notting Hill area. Those individuals included Pete Jenner, who later became Pink Floyd's manager, record producer Joe Boyd and John Hopkins, a visionary.

In order to survive the free school needed money. To get money the school organised events, such as carnivals, in order to bring in much needed cash. Some of those events were sometimes known as UFO's. One fund raising event to be held in a church hall during 1966, and requiring a band, became an early gig for The Pink Floyd.

The Pink Floyd were Syd Barrett guitar and principle song writer, Roger Waters on bass, Richard Wright on keyboards and Nick Mason on drums. Syd and Roger had developed ideas as 13/14 year old's. An even earlier friend, David Gilmour, had taught Syd the basics of guitar playing at an even younger age.

Syd was particularly was creative. He was enchanting, good looking and had an aura about him that left you never truly understanding where or what was in his mind. Syd went down to London and hooked up with his friends who were, by now, there for study and had also flirted with other bands.

Syd had a bounce in his step. Walked on his toes. And he brought that bounce to way he lived. He was 'very Tigger like' according to Roger Waters. Roger also mentioned that Syd 'knew who the band 'Love' were, whereas I couldn't give a shit. He was a rock n roll student'.

Nick Mason, who had hooked up with Roger and Rick at art school, said 'Syd was nice guy. He did all the creative work. He was easy to work with. He provided the songs. But he was not a director. Everyone else did what they thought was right for the beat'.

Rick Wright articulated it all. Nick and Roger, helped create a rhythmic thing, but also had a good time and seemingly enjoyed the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

Pete Jenner had seen The Pink Floyd play, at an afternoon gig, at the Marquee club sometime during mid 1966. At that time the band were basically playing jams to very primitive lights shows. Syd Barrett and Rick Wright led the wall of sound. The Pink Floyd also played with lots of reverb, repeat echo.

Late 1966 saw the UFO club become a permanent UFO establishment. Based on Tottenham Court Road, London, it quickly became the centre of the underground scene. The light shows were being improving as the innovators had now moved on to oils on glass. The psychedelic thing had not yet reached the general public. And few attendees left the club before sun came up.

The Pink Floyd were established as the house band. A typical gig involved lights projected onto the band so they became difficult to see. They were anonymous makers of sound.

According to Roger Water, who is more succinct about it all, they were essentially 'a blues band with a weird noise behind them. Rather than 3 minute songs they stretched things out to 7 minutes. They played simple riffs. A riff twice at beginning, don't change chords, then play free form over minor chord, then 2 riffs at the end. It was all very improvisational'.

As a song writer Syd Barrett was original and wonderful. He was avant garde but also had a rock 'n' roll edge. He would detune his guitar. Syd had the sensibility of that time.

Roger Waters has said that he 'cannot really remember the underground scene. I certainly do not remember anything fundamentally revolutionary. I am very blasé about it. We had a management that promoted us. The Pink Floyd were there and were available'.

The Pink Floyd recorded their first single, 'Arnold Layne' with Joe Boyd. It was released in 1967. Of their material, it was one of the more suitable. For the purposes of air play the single had to be a more radio friendly 3 minute song. Giving what the band were becoming more well known for Nick Mason mentioned it as 'a real surprise when single was released'.

Another fundraising event which featured The Pink Floyd was the 14 Hour Technicolour Dream event held at London's Alexandra Palace. This was organised by Barry Miles and put together to raise funds for his International Times (IT) magazine. Pink Floyd's now legendary performance began as new dawn was coming up.

The stage was built 6 feet high so all crowd could see all the acts. An eye witness said it was astonishing and very powerful as the early morning light glanced onto Syd's silver guitar. Once more the band played a series of long improvisations. Roger Waters thinks that the band had played in Holland previous evening and went straight to the Ally Pally from the airport.

What, for many, was a legendary, almost spiritual event was again played down by Roger Waters. 'We entertained the crowd by twiddling knobs on a beat frequency oscillator. A tone generator'. Incidentally, the technicolour dream event was bookended by gigs in Rugby and Coventry.

It was at this time, though, that Syd Barrett was beginning to struggle. Before 1967 was out The Pink Floyd were beginning to fall apart. But recover they did and, several years later, they created the timeless Dark Side of the Moon.