Knebworth Festival 30th Anniversary

[The Piper]

Thirty years ago, Freddy Bannister promoted the Knebworth Festival, headlined by Pink Floyd. To celebrate this date, his daughter, Henrietta Bannister, has reproduced the t-shirt that was worn by the backstage crew at the event. There were no t-shirts officially for sale to the general public at the festival, so now is the time to grab one while they last.

T-shirts are available exclusively from www.rockmusicmemorabilia.com for £10.95 only. They feature not only the Pink Floyd t-shirt, but also several other items, including a commemorative book set.

After two American tours which had seen the debut of their new three-way active PA systems, Pink Floyd returned to Blighty {that is, England} to make their only UK concert appearance of the year, at the Knebworth Festival on Saturday 5 July 1975. This performance witnessed the live premiere of the forthcoming album, "Wish You Were Here", nine weeks before its release, and it came exactly seven days after the Floyd's last North American date in Toronto (...)

(...) The first half of the Knebworth set was dedicated to the forthcoming album material, complete with specially commissioned Gerald Scarfe animation projections, the second set was Floyd's last ever complete live re-creation of "The Dark Side Of The Moon" to feature Roger Waters, and was followed by "Echoes" and a dazzling fireworks display. Backed yet again by sax player Dick Parry, vocalists Venetta Fields and Carlena Williams, and special guest Roy Harper, who delivered his "Have A Cigar" vocal, Floyd's performance was little short of perfect. Or at least that's how it seemed to most of the fans.

Reference: "Welcome to the Machine - the story of Pink Floyd's live sound: part 2", Sound On Stage number 6, April 1997, from our Articles collection.

[Axe victim]

I have very happy memories of that day. The lads were on excellent form.

[Dr Cheese]

And you try to say I'm old!!!

[Axe victim]

I'm sorry to say, dear boy, you are old! Joking aside, Knebworth doesn't seem like 30 years ago. (Entering Granpa Simpson mode) I myself was but a mere long haired youth at the time. There is a photo on this website of me at that time. Autographed copies are available in the foyer price 2 and 6d.The whole day was magic from start to finish. We (a bunch of old hippies) drove down in a beat up old Dormobile. My mates girlfriend, who was from Canada, drove part of the way because we were all too stoned. I always remember her saying "I'm coming to a 'round thing' what do I do"? Seemingly they didn't have roundabouts in Canada? That was her story, and she stuck to it. How the hell we got there, I will never know? John Peel was the DJ for the day, and he played some blinding songs. Ok Linda Lewis was pretty naff, and I never quite figured out why she was on the bill? I could make a suggestion....nah..better not. The band 'Trigger' featured a very talented guitarist (Chris Spedding as I recall). Then Roy Harper came on and did a few tunes with them. Roy Harper had a wonderful voice, and he reappeared later on with the Floyd to do 'have a cigar'. Captain Beefheart wasn't to everyones taste (bloody Philistines...he was a genius) but he did a tremendous set with a brilliant version of Big Eyed Beans from Venus, which had the crowd (me and the other hippies) jumping about and waving our golden locks in the air. Steve Miller band was excellent, and he had some very accomplished musicians playing with him. I don't think I can sum up how I felt about watching Pink Floyd. It was quite literally, life changing. I was gob- smacked, I had seen concerts in the past...but nothing like this! Their sound system ( which they had a few probs with...but minor stuff) was fantastic. Visually ....it was just out of this world. All the photos I took that day came out..apart from the ones of Pink Floyd, sadly my little Kodak Instamatic was not up to the task...story of my life really

[Dr Cheese]

You are very lucky and also extremely ancient, I remember my mother forbidding me to go and see them on the Animals tour at Bingley Hall in Stafford on the grounds that I was too young.

[Axe victim]

Originally Posted by Dr Cheese

You are very lucky and also extremely ancient, I remember my mother forbidding me to go and see them on the Animals tour at Bingley Hall in Stafford on the grounds that I was too young.

Bollocks.....no one's going to believe that! In fact, why don't you get it tattooed on your chest? Just in case you are ever going for a swim in the Pacific ocean. I mean, not even a shark the size of Jaws would swallow that!

[IanC1973]

Originally Posted by Axe victim

Bollocks.....no one's going to believe that!

I don't!

[Axe victim]

there we go! Proof!

[Deranged]

Snap out of it, you're both in your 40s.

[Axe victim]

Originally Posted by Deranged

Snap out of it, you're both in your 40s.

the only thing that will snap round here is Dr Cheese's rupture truss!

[Deranged]

It never ends does it.

[fixxlevy]

The Doctor's truss?

[jeffro]

is there a recording of this show that anyone has heard of?

[terminalfrost]

Originally Posted by Axe victim

The whole day was magic from start to finish.

[Botley]

Originally Posted by jeffro

is there a recording of this show that anyone has heard of?

Yeah, but it offers no audible improvement over any other 1975 show. Unless you like hearing Dave take 15 minutes to retune his guitar.