Pink Floyd History 1972

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Following on from the previous chapter which covered Relics, Meddle and Pompeii, in 1972, Pink Floyd rehearsed The Dark Side of the Moon, worked on the soundtrack for the film La Vallée (later released as Obscured by Clouds), toured Japan with Dark Side, and headlined the ‘2nd British Rock Meeting’ in West Germany. Quite an eventful year.

3 January 1972

1972 Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones Rehearsal Facility Bermondsey South London

Pink Floyd Rehearsing at Bermondsey South London

Pink Floyd began two weeks of gig rehearsals at the Rolling Stones’ rehearsal facility in Bermondsey, South London. This facility was a disused Victorian warehouse at 47 Bermondsey Street. It was described as a very dark room and a dank and dirty place.

During these rehearsals, they were working on a suite of music under the title “Eclipse”, which would later evolve into “The Dark Side Of The Moon”. They were writing pieces of music and jamming. The idea of the album was to explore the stresses and strains on their lives.

“We were there for a little while, writing pieces of music and jamming,” said David Gilmour. “It was a very dark room.”

17 January 1972

Production Rehearsals at Rainbow Theatre

Pink Floyd spent four days in production rehearsals at London’s Rainbow Theatre getting ready for taking their new album out on the road where it would develop over time.

Its interesting to listen to some of the bootleg recordings available, in addition to the excellent live LP from the 50th Anniversary celebration of Dark Side of the Moon.

The band road-tested not only a brand new PA but also a new piece of music, titled The Dark Side Of The Moon, which they had been working on intermittently at Abbey Road. The piece was occasionally called Eclipse and A Piece For Assorted Lunatics.

According to Nick Mason in his book Inside Out, “By now Pink Floyd’s equipment included a 360 degree surround sound system and a 28-input desk with four quad outputs, and the required three trucks to shift the nine tonnes of material around”.

Links – Photos of Pink Floyd at Rainbow Theatre 17th February 1972, Watch The Secrets of Pink Floyd’s Quadrophonic PA and see lots of articles on CV Vintage Audio.

20 January 1972

1972 Pink Floyd backstage in Brighton Dome [Pic: Jull Furmanovsky]

Dark Side of the Moon Abandoned at Brighton Dome

The live debut of Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side Of The Moon” was planned to take place at Brighton’s The Dome on January 20, 1972. However, during the performance, technical problems arose while the band was playing the song “Money”, causing them to abandon the piece mid-way.
After a break, the band continued the gig with performances of several other songs:

“Atom Heart Mother”: This song sometimes featured an entire orchestra and choir, which was reputedly a nightmare to bring on tour. “Careful With That Axe, Eugene”: This song was part of Pink Floyd’s repertoire and was performed at various concerts. “One Of These Days”: This song was also part of their live performances. “Echoes”: This song was a staple in their live performances.

For the encore, they performed “A Saucerful Of Secrets”. This song is from their second studio album of the same name and was a significant part of their live performances. It’s an experimental and avant-garde piece broken into four sub-chapters.

21 January 1972

1972 Pink Floyd at the Rainbow Theatre — 1973 Pink Floyd at Earls Court in London [Pic: Jull Furmanovsky]

Dark Side of the Moon Initial Tour

Pink Floyd played 16 UK dates, featuring full performances of a work-in progress version of The Dark Side Of The Moon. The tour culminated with four nights at London’s Rainbow Theatre.

1972-01-20 : Brighton Dome, Brighton, England (Failed to play DSOTM because of power outage, which was rescheduled to later in the year)

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

Links – Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Tour 72/73

26 January 1972

1972-01-26 Possibly Syd Barrett with Stars Band — 1972-01-26 Possibly Syd Barrett with the band Stars Band, although this picture could be Twink

Syd Barrett Solo Concert with Stars / Last Minute Put Together Boogie Band

On January 26 1972, Jenny Spires brought Syd Barrett down to a Cambridge Blues Society gig at Kings College Cellars. Eddie ‘Guitar’ Burns, a seasoned American blues player in the John Lee Hooker vein, was playing, backed by Monck and John ‘Twink’ Alder, the former Tomorrow and Pretty Things drummer who had recently landed in Cambridge after quitting The Pink Fairies. Syd must have been persuaded to bring his guitar along, as before Burns took the stage, he played a brief, improvised set with Twink and Monck.

Syd would also play at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge with Stars but he has to leave the stage after badly cutting his hand. Again, this story could be myth as there is no documentary evidence.

Reference: Twilight of an Idol Syd Barrett 1971-73 by Mark Sturdy – Full account of Stars – Listen to The Last Minute Put Together Boogie Band with Syd Barrett – Live 1972

23 February 1972

1972 Pink Floyd Recording Obscured By Clouds (9) — 1972 Pink Floyd Recording Obscured By Clouds

Pink Floyd Recording La Vallée AKA Obscured by Clouds Album

Pink Floyd began a week-long recording session at Château d’Hérouville studios near Paris on February 23, 1972. On the back of More‘s success, its director Barbet Schroeder asked them to record the soundtrack of his next major project, The Valley. They were working on music for the soundtrack to Barbet Schroeder’s film, La Vallée. This recording session was part of two sessions in France while Pink Floyd were in the midst of touring.

The album they produced during this time is called “Obscured by Clouds” and it serves as the soundtrack for La Vallée. It was released on June 2, 1972. The album is shorter than some of Pink Floyd’s previous albums and makes heavy use of the acoustic guitar. Lyrically, the songs center around love, a common theme in the film the album was inspired by.

After recording had finished, Pink Floyd had a falling out with the film company. This prompted them to release the soundtrack album as “Obscured by Clouds” rather than “La Vallée”. In response, the film was retitled La Vallée (Obscured by Clouds) on its release.

There are some videos available online that provide a glimpse into Pink Floyd’s time at the Château d’Hérouville studios. These include interviews with band members David Gilmour and Roger Waters.

Links – Watch the interviews behind the scenes, View 118 Photos of Pink Floyd Recording Obscured by Clouds at Strawberry Studios in Paris, France –

6 March 1972

Dark Side of the Moon in Japan March 1972

Pink Floyd began a whistle-stop tour of Japan beginning in Tokyo and ending on 13 March in Sapporo. Their set list included The Dark Side Of The Moon.

Links: View pictures of Pink Floyd in Japan 1972,

23 March 1972

1972 Nick Mason recording Obscured By Clouds at Strawberry Studios Paris

Obscured By Clouds Second Recording Phase

The band spent four days completing the soundtrack to La Vallée at Château d’Hérouville.

During downtime, Pink Floyd roadie Chris Adamson was challenged by Roger Waters to eat a stone (14lbs) of raw potatoes in one sitting. Waters later said that the stunt was abandoned after Adamson had consumed “around two and a half pounds”.

6 April 1972

1972 Pink Floyd Obscured by Clouds - Front Cover — 1972 Pink Floyd Obscured by Clouds – Front Cover

Obscured by Clouds album Complete

Pink Floyd finished mixing the soundtrack to La Vallée, which was later renamed to Obscured By Clouds, at London’s Morgan Studios on April 6, 1972.

The band had seen a rough cut of the film and noted certain timings for cues with a stopwatch. From this, they created a number of pieces that they felt could be cross-faded at various points in the final cut of the film. The album Obscured by Clouds was released on June 2, 1972.

This album showcases a transitional sound for Pink Floyd, blending their established psychedelic style with emerging progressive rock elements. Tracks like the title song “Obscured by Clouds” and “Wot’s… Uh the Deal” display a mix of atmospheric instrumentals and more structured, lyrical compositions.

You can see and hear the band progressing from their early days of Syd Barrett Psychedelia, through to 1970s rock on Obscured by Clouds. The remixed version of the album from 2011 really brings out the overdrive on Gilmour’s guitars and sounds fantastic. This was a tipping point just before Dark Side of the Moon and the albums that followed in terms of the more mellow sounds.

A man can be seen reaching up to trees on the front cover if you look carefully.

14 April 1972

1972 Pink Floyd at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, April 14, 1972

Pink Floyd embark on 17 Date US Tour of Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd’s 17-date US tour in 1972 was a significant event in the band’s history. The tour commenced on April 14, 1972, at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory Auditorium in Tampa, Florida, and ended on May 4 at the Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

The setlist for the concert at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory included tracks from their album “The Dark Side of the Moon” such as “Eclipse (A Piece for Assorted Lunatics)”, “Speak to Me”, “Breathe (In the Air)”, “On the Run (then titled ‘The Travel Sequence’)”, “Time”, “Breathe (Reprise)”, “The Great Gig in the Sky (then titled ‘The Mortality Sequence’)”, “Money”, “Us and Them”, “Any Colour You Like (then titled ‘Scat’)”, “Brain Damage (then titled ‘The Lunatic Song’)”, “Eclipse”. They also performed “One of These Days”, “Careful With That Axe, Eugene”, and “Echoes”.

This tour was part of the “Dark Side of the Moon Tour”, and it was during this period that Pink Floyd was road-testing their new PA system and the music for their upcoming album “The Dark Side Of The Moon”. The tour was a significant milestone in the band’s journey towards becoming one of the most influential rock bands in history. It showcased their innovative approach to music and their ability to create a unique and immersive live experience for their fans.

21 May 1972

1972 Pink Floyd 2nd British Rock Meeting in Germany

Pink Floyd perform DSotM at 2nd British Rock Meeting

The ‘2nd British Rock Meeting’ was a three-day festival that took place in Germersheim, West Germany. Pink Floyd headlined the second day of the festival. This festival was a significant event, attracting over 70,000 attendees.

Other notable bands that performed at the festival included The Kinks, The Faces, and Status Quo. However, not all announced groups performed. For instance, the headliner Faces did not perform, and in their place, Wishbone Ash performed unannounced.

During their performance, Pink Floyd played a setlist that included songs from their “Dark Side of the Moon Tour”. The setlist included “Atom Heart Mother (without Orchestra)”, “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”, “One of These Days”, “Careful With That Axe, Eugene”, “Echoes”, and “A Saucerful of Secrets”.

The ‘2nd British Rock Meeting’ was a landmark event in the history of rock music, showcasing some of the most influential bands of the time. It was a testament to the vibrant and diverse rock scene during that period.

24 May 1972

Abbey Road Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Session Sheet high resolution image

Recording Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios

Pink Floyd began a month-long recording session at Abbey Road. At this point, working titles for the songs that would make up The Dark Side Of The Moon included Travel (instead of Breathe), Religion (instead of The Great Gig In The Sky) and Lunatic (instead of Brain Damage).

2 June 1972

1972 Pink Floyd Recording Obscured By Clouds (117) — David Gilmour’s effect pedals in 1972

Obscured by Clouds released in the UK

Obscured By Clouds was released in the UK, where it reached No. 6 in the charts. Track listing: Obscured By Clouds; When You’re In; Burning Bridges; The Gold It’s In The…; Wot’s… Uh The Deal; Mudmen; Free Four; Stay; Absolutely Curtains. The final track, Absolutely Curtains, included a vocal performance from members of the Mapuga Tribe of New Guinea.

17 June 1972

Obscured by Clouds released in the USA

Obscured By Clouds is released in the US a couple of weeks after the release in the UK. It sold a fair few copies but only reached No. 42 in the charts.

28 June 1972

Pink Floyd at Brighton Dome 1972 [Pic: Jull Furmanovsky]

Pink Floyd perform Replacement Brighton Dome Concerts following Technical Failures

Pink Floyd’s performance at the Brighton’s Dome on June 28, 1972, was a replacement for an earlier show that had been abandoned due to technical issues.

The original concert was supposed to be the live debut of their album “The Dark Side Of The Moon” on January 20, 1972. However, during the performance of the song “Money”, a lack of power led to the backing tape slowing down and going out of time, causing the band to stop. After a break, they returned to play “Atom Heart Mother” instead.

The replacement concerts at Brighton’s Dome on June 28 and 29 were successful. These shows were part of their “Dark Side of the Moon Tour”, and they featured full performances of the album.

July 1972

1972 July Pink Floyd - One of These Days (‘French Windows’) — 1972 July Pink Floyd – One of These Days (‘French Windows’)

Ian Emes’ animation of One Of These Days

In July 1972, the late Ian Emes’ animation of One Of These Days, known at the time as French Windows, was completed and released. He was later to work on other Pink Floyd music, such the clock animation of Time, but here’s that first piece: Pink Floyd – One of These Days (‘French Windows’)

2 September 1972

1972 Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii Theatrical Release poster

Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii Film Premiere

The premiere of “Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii” took place on 2 September 1972, at the 26th Edinburgh International Film Festival in Scotland. After its premiere, the film disappeared for two years, and by the time it re-emerged, the world seemed to be living in the huge shadow cast by “Dark Side…”. Despite this, the film has been re-released numerous times and has inspired many other bands to create their own videos or film concerts without an audience.

“Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii” is a concert film that features the English rock group Pink Floyd performing at the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy. The band performed a typical live set from the era, but there was no audience beyond the basic film crew. The main footage in and around the amphitheatre was filmed over four days in October 1971.

The film was directed by Adrian Maben, who had approached the band early in 1971 with the idea of making a film using modern paintings as some kind of surrealistic décor. However, this idea was rejected. Later, during a visit to Pompeii, Maben was inspired by the silence and natural ambient sounds present in the deserted ruins. He thought these would make a good backdrop for the music.

The film caught Pink Floyd at a particularly propitious moment, just before their album “Meddle” was released at the end of 1971. It highlights the best of the band in the five-year period between Syd Barrett’s departure in 1968 and the arrival of “The Dark Side Of The Moon” in 1973.

3 September 1972

1972 Pink Floyd The Valley Obscured by Clouds

Venice Film Premier of La Vallée (Obscured By Clouds)

“La Vallée” (also known as “Obscured By Clouds”) is a French film written and directed by Barbet Schroeder. The film stars Bulle Ogier as Viviane, a woman who goes on a strange and accidental voyage of self-discovery through the New Guinea bush. Pink Floyd recorded an album, “Obscured by Clouds”, as the soundtrack to the film.

The film was premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 1972. This premiere was a significant event, showcasing the collaboration between Pink Floyd and Barbet Schroeder. The film and its soundtrack were well-received, further cementing Pink Floyd’s reputation as innovative musicians.

It is interesting to note that Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange was also premiered at the same event. Pink Floyd had a well documented argument where Stanley Kubrick ended up putting a Pink Floyd LP image in the film!

8 September 1972

1972-05-22 Pink Floyd Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 22

Pink Floyd perform at Municipal Auditorium opening their 17-date tour

Pink Floyd returned to the US for a 17-date American and Canadian tour in 1972. The tour opened at the Municipal Auditorium in Austin, Texas. Over the course of the tour, they performed their music across various cities in the US and Canada.

The tour ended with a matinee and evening performance at Vancouver’s Gardens Arena. This tour was significant as it took place during a transformative period for the band. They were transitioning from their earlier psychedelic sound to a more progressive rock style, which would be fully realized in their subsequent albums.

See Pink Floyd Tour 1972

21 October 1972

1972-10-21 Pink Floyd at Empire Pool Wembley Ticket

Pink Floyd perform benefit concert at Empire Pool, Wembley

On October 21, 1972, Pink Floyd played a benefit gig for the ‘War On Want’ and ‘Save The Children’ charities at the Empire Pool, Wembley. During this concert, they performed their iconic album “The Dark Side Of The Moon” and “More”.

10 November 1972

1973 Pink Floyd performing at Roland Petite Ballet — Picture is from 1973 and shows Pink Floyd performing at Roland Petite Ballet

Pink Floyd Roland Petite Ballet

Pink Floyd’s seven-date European tour included five performances in Marseille, France. Here, the band accompanied choreographer Roland Petit’s Ballets de Marseille dance company, performing the four-movement Pink Floyd Ballet (featuring: One Of These Days; Careful With That Axe, Eugene; Obscured By Clouds; When You’re In; Echoes).

Links – Watch the video

? November 1972

1972 Pink Floyd football match in Marseille

Pink Floyd Football Club vs the Media

Pink Floyd played a football match against the dancers and staff from the Ballet de Marseille in 1972. This match was one of the more high-profile games played by their amateur football team, P.F.F.C. (Pink Floyd Football Club).

The band would also play in 1974 being beaten 4-3 by the French Media. Nick Mason would buy a stake in Bolton Wanderers years later.

25 November 1972

Pink Floyd Censored

The cinematic premiere of Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii, which was due to take place at London’s Rainbow Theatre, was cancelled, partly because the theatre’s owners discovered that the film had not yet been granted a certificate by the British Board Of Film Censors.

28 November 1972