Roger Waters set slammed by Death Cab

'Roger Waters doing 'Dark Side Of The Moon' is like Ringo doing 'Sgt Pepper's'
Death Cab For Cutie are not impressed by fellow Coachella act

May 13, 2008

Death Cab For Cutie have rubbished Roger Waters recent sets playing his old band Pink Floyd's most revered album.

The bassist and his band have been performing 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' in its entirety, recently performing it at the Coachella festival, which the US indie band also played (April 25-27).

Talking about Waters' live recreation of the classic record, Death Cab For Cutie told Spin Magazine that the bassist, who wrote a lot of the songs on the album, playing the record was inappropriate because guitarist David Gilmour contributed all the best bits.

"Roger Waters doing 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' would be like Ringo performing 'Sgt. Pepper's'," declared vocalist Ben Gibbard.

"I had the same thought," added bassist Nick Harmer. "All the parts of that album I love the most are Gilmour's."

Do Death Cab For Cutie have a point, or is Roger Waters justified in keeping his own album alive? Besides would Ringo Starr playing 'Sgt. Pepper's' be such a bad thing?

I have to agree with them to a point. I do think he had a significant contribution, espesially since the lyrics are all his. However, I saw Roger and Dave both on tour in '06 and that's where I see their point. Seeing Dave and Ric in NYC was like seeing Pink Floyd, since Dave is the voice and guitar, and Rick wrote a lot of the music for DSOTM. Seeing Roger a few months later was a little dissapointing because it just didn't come close to sounding like the Floyd. Roger wrote the words, but Gilmour and Wright were the music of DSOTM.

I don't agree. I think both David (with Rick) and Roger gives enjoyable perspective on Floyd's songs. I like the way Roger has "Rogered" DSOTM on his latest tours.

But my view is not important here. We need an angry canadian in this thread!!!

I'd prefer David doing Dark Side and Roger sticking to the Wall, but seeing ANY Floyd member doing Floyd stuff at all, we should all count our lucky arses blessed.

I would pay to see either or both of those shows...if only they would planet.

DSoTM needs Dave, Rick and Nick to be perfect but ultimately the lyrics are mostly Rogers' and it could be argued that the music side is simply aesthetics. While I don't think that the rest of the band can be replaced, I do think from personal experience that Rog and his band put on a damn good show.

Putting it another way, Roger is the brain, Dave & Rick (and Nick) are the heart.

Thankfully Death Cab has no merit in judging good music.

You should qualify this with some kind of explanation. It sounds very bollocks. There is no Floyd without "the music side".
That I agree with. And that person that implied Roger has no heart, I don't believe you've EVER been near enough to him to judge. Get thee hence to a RW Concert post haste. Look before you leap.

The only people qualified to slam RW are his ex wives. The rest of the knockers can **** off. The man's a genius. Death Cab for Cutie don't hold a candle to any of the Floyds' brilliance. Who gives rat's arse what they say about anything?!

I never said there was Floyd without 'the music side'. Take the comment in context of the original post with Death Cab rubbishing Rog doing DSoTM. The lyrics are mosty Roger's and really drive the album along so he has every right to do the gigs. Whilst the original artists make the music their own when playing and naturally should have more of a feeling for it. Essentially it can be recreated by others to a good level and it can be argued the music is the music regardless of who plays it, hence the music side being aesthetics.


Read it again, he said that Dave, Rick & Nick were the heart of the band not that Rog has no heart.

That reads real diff'rnt from what you said, Cows.

I know Stratters is untouchable on this site, but he seems reasonable enough to recognise that this is a very tired remark.

Its Stratters post, I'll let him comment on it, was just pointing out he didn't say Rog had no Heart

Again I take umbradge. However it's spelt. Your comment reeks of bollocks. The progenitor of the music ought to be the ulitmate and inimitable mentor. Others are mere replicators.

What is your problem, I said they wont be the floyd and no one can but they can put on a good show which you said yourself.

Recreated doesn't mean original.
To a good level doesn't mean as good as or better than.
It can be argued does not mean fact. Never heard of Devil's Advocate?