Pink Floyd:Better Experience Without Knowing History?

[A Talking Head]

{{{Note that I put this here because it is more of an essay.}}}
The first Pink Floyd album I ever bought was "Dark Side of the Moon." It was possibly one of the most brilliant--both musically and lyrically--pieces of work by any band in history. Yet I knew nothing about them (besides who the members were in 1973, from the liner notes, and what the members looked like--though for a while I confused the picture of Wright as being that of Gilmour). I knew them only vaguely as, like I have stated, the "We-don't-need-no-education-band." Three months before I had stumbled upon a vinyl copy of "A Collection of Great Dance Songs" in our garage. From that information, I developed the information and opinion that Pink Floyd was strange, and had the following albums; "Meddle," "Dark Side of the Moon," "Animals," "Wish You Were Here," and "The Wa--" (the paper was torn on that spot, so I knew nothing of the album being named "The Wall." Though it should have been obvious--the song mentioned on the record was "Another Brick in the WALL, Part 2," which at the time I had no idea was the "we-don't-need-no-education" song.) Anyway, I bought "Dark Side..." the following March (though I hate to admit now that I was looking for the "we-don't-need-no-education" song). As I stated above, it was sheer genius. I had picked up the fact that the album had a theme of insanity from a VH1 Top 100 Albums of Rock & Roll countdown. But shortly after buying the album, I copied a few pages on Pink Floyd out of the Guiness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (and from that, it took me a few months to discover that their 1972 album was not titled "Obscured By CLOWNS", but rather CLOUDS--the result of a misprint in the book). But somehow, after reading and gathering thousands of pieces of the Pink Floyd puzzle, the experience of their music was never the same as it had been in those few days before I knew anything about them. It didn't make the Pink Floyd experience worse--just...different. However, sometimes, I find myself wishing I had never known anything about the history of the band--just their every piece of music. Strange, isn't it?
--Bud Sturguess, Texas

_________________
"Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh
And I will cry..."

[Pink Freud]

I definitely think it's possible to get so engrossed with the biographical side of one's favourite band so much that it kind've 'eclipses' the musical experience. I did this with XTC... and to a smaller extent with Floyd.

[FloydWright]

I've seen a lot of the ardent RW fans in particular do this--and they start with this terrible venom against PF--a band that never slighted them!...as though it were a personal insult.

As a fan of Mr. Wright, I admit to having trouble at times with certain albums. But...I do my best to appreciate each for what it is. It isn't always easy.

[Pedge]

Actually learning about their history was quite enjoyable for me. Yes we all know Dark Side, Wish and Wall, but then you look at their history and start to understand the emotional notions that are in their music. The way i see it Pink Floyd finished as a band in 1979, maybe even earlier, but that doesnt mean we can't see enjoy the music made after then, whether they be solo or PF named projects.

[thorin13]

i usually don't know too much about a band unless i really like them. i just like to know the band members and what they played.

[Not Now John]

I admit to knowing too much about Pink Floyd

[Barrett Fan]

Well i think that knowing too much might soil it for some people, it did for me for about a week, for me it was hard to listen to the music (espeacially the later stuff) once i knew the whole story and what everyones reaction was to syd, and how it upset them. Perspective changes once you figure out what it is they are singing about. and for me, i had been a fan since i was 8 or so, and learning about your favorite band can be a bit traumatic cause you feel a connection to them. I have eventually over come this and have found an even greater apriciation for their music. thsi is just me though.

[FloydianFreak]

I pretty much got into the Floyd when I came across an article about them. It described their music and the story about it, and I was intrigued. I downloaded a few songs, and I've been hooked.

[DaedalusLabyrinth]

Well...I have a dirty secret, I was first exposed with the introduction of Echoes, the Best Of...but I had been exposed to it much earlier...without knowing, as we have titled this one. My first purchase was Dark Side itself, musically mindboggling to say the least, followed by The Wall, Works, Animals, Meddle, and Wish You Were Here. I'd also copped coppies of the PULSE and Live at Pompeii videos.

[mad_octopus]

When I was 5, my dad bought me WYWH. I thought it was 'okay'. When I was 9, I bought DSOTM. I thought it was very good.
When I was 12, I recieved Echoes for Christmas. It is mind altering music in a very good way and Pink Floyd and Queen are the best bands in existence!

FACTS PEOPLE!

[Hicks]

Originally posted by mad_octopus
FACTS PEOPLE!

No, just opinions

[fixxlevy]

Yeah, bit objective, but based mostly within fact.

Cousin of truth, if you will

[Driven]

I've always had an interst in what makes people do the things they do. With Pink Floyd, I wanted to know what kind of person would be capable of creating a concept like The Wall (for example).

It's a futile exercise, because you can't REALLY know someone from a series of articles...but I still read any interview I see.

[terminalfrost]

Originally posted by Driven
It's a futile exercise, because you can't REALLY know someone from a series of articles...but I still read any interview I see.

And I, for one, am thankful that you do, Driven. You are always able to come up with the quote from the article that I need to make my point. It would take me forever to find the particular articles.

A wealth of information - my friend in Floyd and Guinness: Driven!

[cool blue]

Yeah, the Driven Man sure knows a lot of STUFF