Home / Pink Floyd Tour Database / Historical Tours / Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Tour (1972–73)
The Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” Tour, which took place from 1972 to 1973, was a pivotal moment in the band’s history and in the landscape of rock music. This tour was in support of their iconic album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” which is often considered one of the greatest albums ever made. The album was released in March 1973, and the tour played a crucial role in its promotion and success. Here are some key aspects of the tour:
- Album Preview: Remarkably, Pink Floyd began performing “The Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety during live shows before the album was officially released. This allowed audiences to experience the music in a live setting, building anticipation for the album’s release.
- Setlist: The setlist for the tour typically included the entire “The Dark Side of the Moon” album, often played as one continuous piece. The performances also featured other Pink Floyd classics from earlier albums.
- Innovative Sound and Stage Production: The tour was groundbreaking in terms of live sound quality and stage production. Pink Floyd used advanced sound engineering techniques, including quadraphonic sound systems, which created a surround sound experience for the audience. The lighting and visual effects were also cutting-edge, with innovative use of projectors and screen animations.
- Critical and Commercial Success: “The Dark Side of the Moon” album became a massive commercial success, and the tour played a significant role in this achievement. The album remained on the Billboard charts for an unprecedented 741 weeks and has sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
- Cultural Impact: The tour, and the album it supported, had a profound cultural impact. “The Dark Side of the Moon” explored themes of conflict, greed, time, and mental illness, resonating deeply with audiences worldwide.
- Legacy: The “Dark Side of the Moon” Tour solidified Pink Floyd’s status as one of the most innovative and influential bands in rock history. The tour’s success helped pave the way for their subsequent projects and tours, which continued to push the boundaries of live rock performances.
The “Dark Side of the Moon” Tour is remembered not just for its musical significance but also for its contributions to live performance art, setting new standards in sound and visual presentation that influenced generations of musicians and concert producers.
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Tour Dates
1972-01-20 : Brighton Dome, Brighton, England
1972-01-21 : Guildhall (Portsmouth), Portsmouth, England
1972-01-22 : Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, England
1972-01-23 : Guildhall (Southampton), Southampton, England
1972-01-27 : City Hall (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
1972-01-28 : City Hall (Leeds), Leeds, England
1972-02-03 : Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, England
1972-02-05 : Colston Hall, Bristol, England
1972-02-10 : De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England
1972-02-11 : Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
1972-02-12 : City (Oval) Hall, Sheffield, England
1972-02-13 : The Empire Theatre, Liverpool, England
1972-02-17 : Rainbow Theatre, London, England
1972-02-18 : Rainbow Theatre, London, England
1972-02-19 : Rainbow Theatre, London, England
1972-02-20 : Rainbow Theatre, London, England
1972-03-06 : Tokyo-To Taiikukan, Tokyo, Japan
1972-03-07 : Tokyo-To Taiikukan, Tokyo, Japan
1972-03-08 : Festival Hall (Osaka), Osaka, Japan
1972-03-09 : Festival Hall (Osaka), Osaka, Japan
1972-03-10 : Dai-Sho-Gun Furitsu Taiikukan, Kyoto, Japan
1972-03-13 : Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, Japan
1972-03-29 : Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
1972-03-30 : Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
1972-04-14 : Fort Homer Hesterly Armory Auditorium, Tampa, Florida, USA
1972-04-15 : The Sportatorium, Hollywood, Florida, USA
1972-04-16 : Township Auditorium, Columbia, Sacramento, USA
1972-04-18 : Symphony Hall, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1972-04-20 : The Syria Mosque Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
1972-04-21 : Lyric Theater, Baltimore (Maryland), USA
1972-04-22 : Civic Theater, Akron (Ohio), USA
1972-04-23 : Music Hall (Cincinnati), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1972-04-24 : Allen Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
1972-04-26 : Ford Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1972-04-27 : Ford Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1972-04-28 : The Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
1972-04-29 : Spectrum Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1972-05-01 : Carnegie Hall (New York), New York, New York, USA
1972-05-02 : Carnegie Hall (New York), New York, New York, USA
1972-05-03 : Concert Hall, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
1972-05-04 : Music Hall (Boston), Boston, Massachussets, USA
1972-05-18 : Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
1972-05-21 : Insel Grun, Germersheim, Germany
1972-05-22 : Olympisch Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1972-06-28 : Brighton Dome, Brighton, England
1972-06-29 : Brighton Dome, Brighton, England
1972-09-08 : Municipal Auditorium, Austin, Texas, USA
1972-09-09 : Music Hall (Houston), Houston, Texas, USA
1972-09-10 : Mcfarlin Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, USA
1972-09-11 : Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
1972-09-12 : Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
1972-09-13 : Henry Levitt Arena, Wichita, Kansas, USA
1972-09-15 : Community Center Arena, Tuscon, Arizona, USA
1972-09-16 : Golden Hall, San Diego, California, USA
1972-09-17 : Big Surf, Tempe, Arizona, USA
1972-09-19 : University Of Denver Arena, Denver, Colarado, USA
1972-09-22 : Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, USA
1972-09-23 : Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, USA
1972-09-24 : Winterland Auditorium, San Francisco, California, USA
1972-09-27 : Gardens Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1972-09-28 : Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, USA
1972-09-29 : Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle, Washington, USA
1972-09-30 : Vancouver Gardens Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1972-10-21 : Empire Pool, London, England
1972-11-10 : Kb Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
1972-11-11 : Kb Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
1972-11-12 : Ernst-Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany
1972-11-14 : Philipshalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
1972-11-15 : Sporthalle (Boblingen), Boblingen, Germany
1972-11-16 : Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
1972-11-17 : Festhalle, Frankfurt, Germany
1972-11-22 : Roland Petit Ballet, Salle Valliers, France
1972-11-23 : Roland Petit Ballet, Salle Valliers, France
1972-11-24 : Roland Petit Ballet, Salle Valliers, France
1972-11-25 : Roland Petit Ballet, Salle Valliers, France
1972-11-26 : Roland Petit Ballet, Salle Valliers, France
1972-11-28 : Palais des Sports, Toulouse, France
1972-11-29 : Les Arenas, Poitiers, France
1972-12-01 : Centre Sportif, Paris, France
1972-12-02 : Centre Sportif, Paris, France
1972-12-03 : Parc Des Expositions, Caen, France
1972-12-05 : Sport Palais Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium
1972-12-07 : Palais des Sports, Lille, France
1972-12-08 : Parc Des Expositions, Nancy, France
1972-12-09 : Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
1972-12-10 : Palais des Sports, Lyon, France
1973-01-13 : Palais Des Sports De La Porte De Versailles, Paris, France
1973-01-14 : Palais Des Sports De La Porte De Versailles, Paris, France
1973-02-03 : Palais Des Sports De La Porte De Versailles, Paris, France
1973-02-04 : Palais Des Sports De La Porte De Versailles, Paris, France
1973-03-04 : Dane County Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
1973-03-05 : Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1973-03-06 : Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, Massachusetts, USA
1973-03-07 : International Amphitheater, Chicago, Ilinois, USA
1973-03-08 : University Of Cincinnati Fieldhouse, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1973-03-10 : Memorial Gymnasium, Kent, Ohio, USA
1973-03-11 : Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1973-03-12 : Forum de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1973-03-14 : Music Hall, Boston, Massachussets, USA
1973-03-15 : Spectrum Theater, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1973-03-17 : Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York, USA
1973-03-18 : Palace Theater, Waterbury, Cincinnati, USA
1973-03-19 : Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
1973-03-22 : Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, USA
1973-03-23 : Charlotte Park Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
1973-03-24 : Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1973-05-18 : Earls Court Exhibition Hall, London, England
1973-05-19 : Earls Court Exhibition Hall, London, England
1973-06-17 : Performing Arts Center, Saratoga, New York, USA
1973-06-18 : Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
1973-06-19 : Civic Center Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
1973-06-20 : Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland, USA
1973-06-21 : Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland, USA
1973-06-22 : Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo (New York), USA
1973-06-23 : Olympia Stadium (Detroit), Detroit, Michigan, USA
1973-06-24 : Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
1973-06-25 : Convention Center (Louisville), Louisville, Kentucky, USA
1973-06-26 : Lake Spivey Park, Jonesboro, Georgia, USA
1973-06-27 : Jacksonville Coliseum, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
1973-06-28 : The Sportatorium, Hollywood, Florida, USA
1973-06-29 : Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida, USA
1973-10-12 : Munchener Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany
1973-10-13 : Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
1973-11-04 : Rainbow Theatre, London, England