Pink Floyed raises Joburg's pulse

It's hard to imagine that a cover band can do justice to the legend that is Pink Floyd, but the Pink Floyd Experience gives it a fair go – and succeeds.
LIKE a rollercoaster chugging towards the top of its climb, the melody built up. Anticipation had the audience straining forward in their seats like dogs on leashes, waiting for the crescendo to hit. It didn’t take long.

Re-living Pibk FloydRe-living Pink FloydMemory lane never tasted as sweet as when some of the world’s most unforgettable rock tunes were reincarnated on the stage of the Mandela at the Joburg Theatre; Pink Floyd came screaming through the speakers, lasers and visuals went ballistic and the crowd’s pulse spiked as one as rock n roll’s glory days were played out in technicolour.

Performed by the Pink Floyd Experience, the production is a recreation of the original group’s milestone stadium show, The Division Bell Tour, which was based on the band’s 1990s album, Pulse.

Having only visited Joburg once before, in 2005, when they performed The Wall, popular demand insisted that the Experience return. Taking up the challenge, they are promising and delivering a three-hour spectacular of lights, lasers and a liberal dose of the good old Floyd magic. This includes 20 tons of state-of-the-art custom equipment and a 10-piece band.

This New Zealand band has been re-living Pink Floyd’s music for over 10 years. “Having become disillusioned with the changing pub scene in New Zealand during the 1990s, founding members Darren Whittaker, Glen Ahearn and Stan Gratkowski decided to embark on a self-indulgent project to fill the void once they stopped playing their regular gigs in many pubs, bars and gang pads,” states the show programme.

Cool factor
“Having grown up with the music of the 1960s and 70s, Pink Floyd was the obvious choice. With its timeless music and ‘cool factor’, the guys believed there would be no other band as much fun to cover.”

They started small, but soon realised that to do justice to the music, they needed to raise the bar. Soon lights and sound systems were added to their repertoire, and their reputation gained them some acclaim. It also gained them the attention of music company EMI and Roger Waters, a founding member of the original band, who insisted that they stop performing their The Wall tour.

Watching Pink Floyd perform is quite an ethereal experienceWatching Pink Floyd perform is quite an ethereal experienceSo the Experience reworked their shows, and every year since then they have developed a new Floyd-based show. This year it was based on the Division Bell tour.

Favourites such as Learning to Fly, Keep Talking and A Great Day for Freedom dominate the first half, while songs from the Dark Side of the Moon litter the set list of the second half, ensuring that your feet never stop tapping and your hands beat along in time to the music.

Old winners such as Time, Money and Another Brick in the Wall also guarantee that you will be straining against invisible restraints to get to your feet and dance along.

Tickets start from R190 and can be bought directly from the Joburg Theatre, either by visiting the website or by calling the theatre’s ticketing line on 0861 670 670. There are discounts for groups of 10 people or more; group bookings can be made by calling 011 877 6853/4.

“Thirty-one years on, Pink Floyd’s albums are still among the highest selling of any given year, which is evidence that the public still craves the magic that was created by Pink Floyd,” says the show’s publicist, Collett Dawson.

“To be able to witness a recreation of that magic live is now a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

The Joburg Theatre Complex is located on Loveday Street in Braamfontein.