Pink Floyd – Valentine's Ball, Warwick University, Coventry 1969
by Pete Clemons
After recently watching 'The 14 Hour Technicolour Dream' film for the umpteenth time I have often wondered how many gigs have been long forgotten about over the midst of time.
In order to fulfil that Alexandra Palais gig The Pink Floyd had to be flown in from The Netherlands where they had performed earlier that evening. The 29th April 1967. The date for the Technicolour Dream event was also 29th April but in actual fact they played on the 30th April as the band didn't get on stage till sunrise. They then fulfilled yet another gig later on the 30th.
Bands, especially where the members were young and had a youthful energy and, so long as they had a trusty van, occasionally played a couple of gigs over an evening and early morning.
I take the point that both those dates mentioned above, the one in the Netherlands and the Technicolour Dream, were celebrated events and unlikely to have been forgotten. But had the gigs been more conspicuous then some double date bookings could easily have been overlooked.
A possible point in case:
A Pink Floyd related reference book states that on 14th February 1969 the band played Loughborough. International Times mentioned a Pink Floyd gig for the same day at Warwick University. The reference book suggested that International Times was mistaken.
The fact is, both references are actually correct. However I need to add some providence.
So how could both bands have played the same evening. Look at the finishing time on the advertising flyer for gig. It was 3am.
Not an easy ask but it was not beyond the realms of impossibility to load a van, travel from Loughborough to Coventry, set up and perform a set. As I mentioned, when you are young energy was abound and, lets face it, the late 1960s were very different times. These things happened back then.
How the Warwick University Valentine's gig was advertised.........
Four groups in a single night! Aw, come on... Who'd be so enterprising as to treat us poor students to four groups in one night? They must be awful.
The Pink What ? Floy? The Pink Floyd!! you don't mean that incredible electric deal? You do...........! And who else ? Watsons Harp Booze Band. Steve Millers Blues Band.- Catering for all tastes, eh?
What do you mean not only musical tastes ? Gastronomic. Gastronomic! What do you mean Gastronomic? Ah! Food. Hum. .. Come of it - I can imagine: cheese rolls and gherkins.. . the odd hamburger. You don't fool me, I've seen it all before. Yeah, yeah.
That's what they all call it, "A BUFFET” but it'll be cheese rolls and gherkins. You'll see. Oh no! There'll be meats for every palate, sumptuous accompanying dishes, all the trimmings and as much as you want. All sounds rather good. In fact - With a jazz background as well? Seems to be extra-ordinarily appealing.
On St. Valentine's Day, is it? A Ball on St'. Valentine's Day - a President's Ball on St. Valentine's Day. and only thirty five bob! So where do I get my ticket?
And how it all went........
Ball Breaks Even ! Over four-hundred people attended the IVth President's Ball last Friday. This will mean that the Ball will almost break even -£20 loss at maximum - as compared to a £150 loss last-year.
The entertainments secretary handed over the arrangements for the ball to a private enterprise, who last term organised the first successful dance at Warwick in the shape of the "Pre-1965 Rave".
The first move was to place the Ball ticket selling on a capitalist basis, paying sellers 1/- commission on each ticket. It also granted a franchise for a photographer to preserve the gullible guests' finery for posterity for 2/- a time.
The first crisis came when the "Philli-dogs", one of the Pink Floyd's supporting groups, cancelled with "a broken back axle" a few hours before the start. However, the entertainments team managed to get hold of the 'Playground' who were appearing at Lanchester College with The Who the same night. A good move as the replacement group only cost £30.
The event got off to a very boring beginning with everyone sitting around in the bar feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable in unaccustomed clothes. The buffet meal broke the ice however, (the queue was so long that lifetime friendships were made in it), and Lennie and Grego's cabaret performance went unfortunately ignored in the hubbub of conversation.
Sources of amusement were such well-known Campus bums appeared in suits (the latter in full tails and bow tie). "Best Dress of the Evening Award" went to a student who wore an 18th century courtesan's outfit.
The free punch provided at the buffet was surprisingly weak considering that there was £25 worth of rum mixed with it. The President and other members of the Executive ate a private meal at Union expense and only mixed with the lowly proletariat towards the end of the Ball.
As for the late start to Pink Floyd's set at the Valentine's Ball 1969, well it happened again in Coventry. That night during February 1972 when Chuck Berry was on the same bill. It was well past midnight when they finally found the stage. As I touched on at the beginning. I wonder how many other early morning starts, not by just The Pink Floyd but by other bands, are now long forgotten and possibly lost forever.
