News that Pink Floyd have managed to bury their 24-year-old feud and reunite for London's Live 8 concert on July 2 will amaze fans of the Jurassic prog-rockers, though it merely fuels Damon Albarn's argument that the show is crammed with white Anglo-Saxons, writes Adam Sweeting.
The Floyd split was basically the band versus Roger Waters, the Wagner of pomp rock and the man who masterminded the conceptual nightmare that was The Wall. The solo Waters performed The Wall in Berlin in 1990, but he hasn't played with the Floyd since they toured the piece in 1981. During the split, Waters allegedly printed up a roll of toilet paper with guitarist Dave Gilmour's face on every sheet.
"It's great to be asked to help Bob [Geldof] raise awareness of debt and poverty," said Waters, 61. "The cynics will scoff. Screw 'em."
More billionaires lining up to get on TV? What's to be cynical about?
Still, the news has fans out there salivating, writes Imogen Tilden. "I'm beginning to think Geldof is either operating under a divine directive or he's just got a massive amount of information at his disposal with which to blackmail most bands into co-operating with him," suggests one blogger.
For this fan, Pink Floyd are simply "the greatest band of all time"; while does their legendary status mean that Geldof's message is in danger of being submerged? "I am more interested by the chance to see Pink Floyd than for the message that Bob Geldof is trying to get across," admits this blogger.
