Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother World Tour (1970–71)

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The Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother World Tour, spanning from September 1970 to October 1971, was a significant period in the band’s history, showcasing their evolving musical style and ambitious performances.

Overview

  • Duration: September 1970 – October 1971
  • Significance: This tour marked the first time Pink Floyd visited countries like Japan and Australia.
  • Purpose: The tour was primarily to promote their album “Atom Heart Mother.”
  • Performance Style: The band alternated between using local orchestras and choirs for some dates to perform the title piece and a four-piece arrangement on other occasions.

Notable Aspects

  • Early Performances: In early 1970, the band played “The Violent Sequence,” a piece from the “Zabriskie Point” soundtrack, which later became the basis for “Us and Them” on “The Dark Side of the Moon.” They also performed “Embryo,” a song that never appeared on a studio album but was part of their live repertoire at this time.
  • Song Evolution: The title track “Atom Heart Mother” began as an untitled instrumental piece and debuted with orchestra and choir accompaniment at the Bath Festival in England on June 27, 1970, under the title “The Amazing Pudding.”
  • Broadcast and Audience: Over 500,000 people attended their show at Fête de L’Humanité in Paris on September 12, 1970, which remains their largest crowd to date. This performance was filmed but never broadcast.
  • Innovative Performances: The song “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast” was performed at several gigs, where the act of making breakfast was incorporated into the performance.

Personnel

  • Band Members:
  • Additional Musicians: Local orchestras and choirs were used on some dates.

Setlist

  • The typical setlist included songs like “Astronomy Domine,” “Interstellar Overdrive,” “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” “A Saucerful of Secrets,” “Cymbaline,” “Green Is the Colour,” and “Atom Heart Mother.”

The Atom Heart Mother World Tour was a testament to Pink Floyd’s innovative approach to music and live performance, blending their distinctive sound with unique visual and theatrical elements

Pink Floyd Atom Heart Mother World Tour Dates

UK Tour Leg 1970 1

19th January 1970 Pink Floyd at Brighton Dome Ticket and Flyer
19th January 1970 Pink Floyd at Brighton Dome Ticket and Flyer

1970-01-10 : University of Nottingham (Ballroom), Nottingham, England
1970-01-17 : Lawns Centre, Cottingham, England
1970-01-18 : Fairfield Hall (Croydon), Croydon, England
1970-01-19 : The Dome, Brighton, England
1970-01-23 : Theater Comedie des Champs Elysees, Paris, France
1970-01-24 : Theater Comedie des Champs Elysees, Paris, France
1970-02-02 : Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
1970-02-05 : Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales
1970-02-07 : Royal Albert Hall, London, England

1970 February 2 Pink Floyd at Royal Albert Hall
1970 February 2 Pink Floyd at Royal Albert Hall

1970-02-08 : Opera House (Manchester), Manchester, England
1970-02-11 : Town Hall (Birmingham), Birmingham, England
1970-02-14 : Kings Hall, Stoke-On-Trent, England
1970-02-15 : Empire Theatre (Liverpool), Liverpool, England
1970-02-17 : City Hall (Newcastle), Newcastle, England
1970-02-22 : Electric Garden, Glasgow, Scotland
1970-02-23 : University of Edinburgh (McEwan Hall), Edinburgh, Scotland
1970-02-28 : Leeds University, Leeds, England
1970-03-05 : BBC TV Centre (London), London, England
1970-03-06 : Imperial College (Great Hall), London, England
1970-03-07 : Colston Hall, Bristol, England
1970-03-08 : Mothers Club (Erdington), Birmingham, England
1970-03-09 : City Hall (Sheffield), Sheffield, England

European Leg 1

1970-03-19 Pink Floyd at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
1970-03-19 Pink Floyd at Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden

1970-03-11 : Stadthalle, Offenbach, Germany
1970-03-12 : Hamburg University (Auditorium Maximum), Hamburg, Germany
1970-03-13 : Audimax der Technische University, Berlin, Germany
1970-03-13 : Audimax der Technische University, Berlin, Germany
1970-03-14 : Meistersinger Halle, Nuremberg, Germany
1970-03-15 : Niedersachsenhalle, Hannover, Germany
1970-03-19 : Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
1970-03-20 : Akademiska Foreningens Stora Sal, Lund, Sweden
1970-03-21 : Tivolis Koncertsal, Copenhagen, Denmark
1970-03-30 : Hall des Expositions, Bourget, France

North American Leg 1

Pink Floyd KQED 30 April 1970
Pink Floyd KQED 30 April 1970

1970-04-09 : Fillmore East (New York), New York, New York, USA
1970-04-10 : Five Stages, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1970-04-11 : State University of New York, Long Island, New York, USA
1970-04-12 : Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachussets, USA
1970-04-16 : Fillmore East (New York), New York, New York, USA
1970-04-17 : The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1970-04-18 : The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1970-04-22 : Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York, USA
1970-04-24 : Easttown Theater, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1970-04-25 : Easttown Theater, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1970-04-29 : Fillmore West (San Francisco), San Francisco, California, USA
1970-04-30 : KQED TV Studios, San Francisco, California, USA
1970-05-01 : Civic Auditorium (CA), Santa Monica, California, USA
1970-05-06 : University of California (Royce Hall), Los Angeles, California, USA
1970-05-09 : Terrance Ballroom, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
1970-05-12 : Municipal Auditorium (AL), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1970-05-15 : The Warehouse (New Orleans), New Orleans, Louisianna, USA
1970-05-16 : The Warehouse (New Orleans), New Orleans, Louisianna, USA

European Leg 2

1970 Holland Pop Festival Pink Floyd Roger and Nick
1970 Holland Pop Festival Pink Floyd Roger and Nick
Pink Floyd 1970 July 19th London Hyde Park Free Concert
Pink Floyd 1970 July 18th London Hyde Park Free Concert

The band take a holiday in St Tropez. They were supposed to play a series of concerts but they were cancelled due to civil unrest. However, they did manage to sneak one in…

1970-06-27 : Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, England
1970-06-28 : Kralingse Bos, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1970-07-12 : Soerser Stadium, Aachen, Germany
1970-07-16 : Paris Cinema (London), London, England
1970-07-18 : Hyde Park, London, England
1970-07-22 : University of Essex, Essex, England
1970-07-26 : Antibes, Juan les Pins, France
1970-08-08 : Les Arenas, San Tropez, France
1970-08-12 : Les Arenas (St Raphael), St Raphael, France
1970-08-31 : Charlton Park, Bishopsbourne, England

1970-09-12 : Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France

Programme for Bath Festival of Blues

A random fact for you. This concert at Bath was the first time David Gilmour played his black strat live. He would go on to use it for the next 15 years as his main instrument. It would be auctioned off and replaced by a new one decades later.

USA Leg 2

1970-09-26 : The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1970-09-27 : Fillmore East (New York), New York, New York, USA
1970-09-27 : Fillmore East (New York), New York, New York, USA
1970-10-01 : Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, USA
1970-10-02 : Moore Theater, Seattle, Washington, USA
1970-10-03 : Moore Theater, Seattle, Washington, USA
1970-10-04 : Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
1970-10-06 : Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, USA
1970-10-07 : Gardens Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1970-10-08 : Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
1970-10-09 : Sales Pavilion Annex, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1970-10-10 : Centennial Auditorium, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1970-10-11 : Centre of the Arts, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
1970-10-13 : Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
1970-10-15 : Terrance Ballroom, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
1970-10-16 : Pepperland Auditorium, San Rafael, California, USA
1970-10-17 : Pepperland Auditorium, San Rafael, California, USA

1970 October 16 17 Pink Floyd at Pepperland Auditorium, San Rafael, California, USA
1970 October 16th and 17th Pink Floyd at Pepperland Auditorium, San Rafael, California, USA

1970-10-18 : University College of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
1970-10-21 : Fillmore West (San Francisco), San Francisco, California, USA
1970-10-23 : Civic Auditorium (CA), Los Angeles, California, USA
1970-10-25 : The Tea Party, Boston, Massachussets, USA

European Tour Leg 3

1970-11-06 : Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1970-11-07 : Grote Zaal (De Doelen), Rotterdam, Netherlands
1970-11-11 : Konserthuset, Gothenberg, Sweden
1970-11-12 : Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen, Denmark
1970-11-12 : Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen, Denmark
1970-11-13 : Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Arhus, Denmark
1970-11-14 : Ernst-Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany
1970-11-21 : Casino de Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland
1970-11-22 : Casino de Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland

1970 November 21 Pink Floyd at Superpop Casino Montreux
1970 November 21 Pink Floyd at Superpop Casino Montreux

1970-11-25 : Friedrich Ebert Halle, Ludwigshafen, Germany
1970-11-26 : Killesberghalle, Stuttgart, Germany
1970-11-27 : Niedersachsenhalle, Hannover, Germany
1970-11-28 : Saarlandhalle, Saarbrucken, Germany
1970-11-29 : Circus Crone, Munich, Germany
1970-12-04 : ORTF TV Studios (Buttes Chaumont), Paris, France
1970-12-05 : ORTF TV Studios (Buttes Chaumont), Paris, France

UK Tour Leg 2

1970-12-11 : The Big Apple, Brighton, England
1970-12-12 : Roundhouse, London, England
1970-12-18 : Town Hall (Birmingham), Birmingham, England
1970-12-20 : Colston Hall, Bristol, England
1970-12-21 : Free Trade Hall (Manchester), Manchester, England
1970-12-22 : City Hall (Sheffield), Sheffield, England

Pink Floyd 1971 Tour Commences

1971-01-17 : Roundhouse, London, England
1971-01-23 : Leeds University, Leeds, England
1971-02-03 : University of Exeter, Exeter, England
1971-02-03 : Devonshire House, Exeter, England
1971-02-12 : University of Essex, Essex, England
1971-02-12 : University of Essex, Colchester, England
1971-02-13 : Farnborough Technical College (Student Union), Farnborough, England
1971-02-13 : Farnborough Technical College, Farnborough, England
1971-02-20 : Queen Mary College, London, England

Europe Leg 4

1971-02-24 : Hall Munsterland, Munster, Germany
1971-02-24 : Halle Munsterland, Munster, Germany
1971-02-25 : Grosser Saal, Hamburg, Germany
1971-02-25 : Musikhalle, Hamburg, Germany
1971-02-26 : Stadthalle, Offenbach, Germany
1971-02-27 : ORTF TV Studios (Buttes Chaumont), Paris, France
1971-04-03 : Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands

UK Leg 3

1971-04-12 : Locarno Ballroom (Sunderland), Sunderland, England
1971-04-16 : Top Rank Suite, Doncaster, England
1971-04-22 : Norwich Lads Club, Norwich, England
1971-05-07 : University of Lancaster (Central Hall), Lancaster, England
1971-05-07 : University Of Lancaster, Lancaster, England
1971-05-15 : Crystal Palace Bowl, London, England
1971-05-18 : University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
1971-05-19 : Edinburgh University (Student Health Centre), Edinburgh, Scotland
1971-05-19 : Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, Scotland
1971-05-20 : University of Strathclyde (The Ballroom), Strathclyde, Scotland
1971-05-20 : University Of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
1971-05-21 : Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham, England

Europe Leg 5

1971-06-04 : Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
1971-06-05 : Berliner Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany
1971-06-12 : Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
1971-06-12 : Abbaye de Royaumont (ORTF ), Royaumont, France
1971-06-15 : Abbaye De Royaumont, Royaumont, France
1971-06-19 : Palazzo Delle Manifestazioni Artistiche, Brescia, Italy
1971-06-20 : Palazzo Dello Sport, Rome, Italy
1971-06-20 : Palaeur Dello Sport Eur, Rome, Italy
1971-06-23 : Hatfield Polytechnic, Hatfield, England
1971-06-26 : Amsterdam Bos, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1971-06-26 : Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Pink Floyd rehearsing Atom Heart Mother at Congress Centre Villach, Ossiach, Austria
Pink Floyd rehearsing Atom Heart Mother at Congress Centre Villach, Ossiach, Austria

1971-07-01 : Congress Centre Villach, Ossiach, Austria
1971-07-01 : Congress Center Villach, Ossiach, Austria

Japanese Tour 1971

1971-08-06 : Seikei Gakuen Jofundai, Hakone, Japan
1971-08-07 : Seikei Gakuen Jofundai, Hakone, Japan
1971-08-09 : Festival Hall (Osaka), Osaka, Japan

Australian Tour 1971

1971-08-13 : Festival Hall (Melbourne), Melbourne, Australia
1971-08-15 : Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia

European Leg 6

1971-09-18 : Pavillion De Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland
1971-09-19 : Pavillion De Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland
1971-09-22 : Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden
1971-09-23 : Kb Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark

UK Leg 4

1971-09-30 : Bbc Paris Cinema, London, England
1971-10-10 : Bradford University, Bradford, England
1971-10-11 : Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, England

USA Tour 1971

1971-10-15 : Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, USA
1971-10-16 : Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, USA
1971-10-17 : Convention Hall, San Diego, California, USA
1971-10-19 : National Guard Armory, Eugene, Oregon, USA
1971-10-21 : Willamette University, Salem, Oregon, USA
1971-10-22 : Paramount Theater, Seattle, Washington, USA
1971-10-23 : Gardens Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1971-10-26 : Eastown Theater, Getroit, Michigan, USA
1971-10-27 : Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
1971-10-28 : Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
1971-10-31 : Fieldhouse, Toledo, Ohio, USA

Take a look at the Pink Floyd Timeline for 1970

Development of Pink Floyd’s Loud Rock PA Systems article/book