Pink Floyd History 1975

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In 1975, Pink Floyd had a significant year with several notable events and releases. They released their ninth studio album, “Wish You Were Here”, on September 12, 1975. The album was recorded at EMI Studios in London and is known for its themes of alienation and criticism of the music business. It includes the iconic track “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett. To promote their new album, Pink Floyd embarked on the Wish You Were Here Tour in 1975, which included performances in North America and Europe, showcasing songs from “Wish You Were Here” as well as other hits. One of the notable live performances was at Knebworth Park on July 5, 1975, remembered for its high-quality performance and rare footage.

6 January 1975

1975 Pink Floyd at Abbey Road recording Wish You Were Here
1975 Pink Floyd at Abbey Road recording Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd at Abbey Road recording Wish You Were Here 3 Month Session

Pink Floyd began an intermittent three months of recording at Abbey Road studios for their next album, Wish You Were Here.

8 April 1975

1975-04 April Pink Floyd concert at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California
1975-04 April Pink Floyd concert at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California

Pink Floyd North American Tour 1975

The first 14 dates of Pink Floyd’s North American Tour in 1975 began at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum on April 8, 1975. This tour was part of their “Wish You Were Here” Tour, which supported their then-forthcoming album “Wish You Were Here”.

During these performances, the band was joined on stage by additional personnel to enhance their live sound. Saxophonist Dick Parry played a significant role, contributing his saxophone skills to tracks like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”². Parry had previously worked with Pink Floyd on their albums “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”.

Backing singers Carlena Williams and Venetta Fields also joined the band on stage. The duo, known as The Blackberries, had previously toured with Pink Floyd on their 1974 French Summer Tour and British Winter Tour. They provided backing vocals for the “Wish You Were Here” album and performed on the North American Tour, adding depth and harmony to the band’s live performances.

The setlist for these concerts typically included songs from the “Wish You Were Here” album, early versions of songs from “Animals,” and the entire “The Dark Side of the Moon” album, with “Echoes” performed as an encore. The tour was characterized by its elaborate stage designs and innovative sound technology, creating a multi-sensory experience for the audience.

Links – See the Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Tour (1975),

1975-04-08: Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1975-04-10: Seattle Center Coliseum , Seattle, Washington, USA
1975-04-12: The Cow Palace , San Francisco, California, USA
1975- 04-13: The Cow Palace , San Francisco, California, USA
1975-04-17: Denver Coliseum , Denver, Colarado, USA
1975-04-19: Tucson Community Center Arena , Tuscon, Arizona, USA
1975-04-20: University Activity Center , Tempe, Arizona, USA
1975-04-21 : Sports Arena (San Diego) , San Diego, California, USA
1975-04-23 : Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , Los Angeles, California, USA
1975-04- 24: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , Los Angeles, California, USA
1975-04-25 : Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , Los Angeles, California, USA
1975-04-26 : Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , Los Angeles, California, USA
1975- 04-27 : Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , Los Angeles, California, USA

5 May 1975

1975 Syd Barrett at Abbey Road Recording Session Polaroid
1975 Syd Barrett at Abbey Road Recording Session Polaroid

Syd Barrett at Abbey Road Recording Session Polaroid

Pink Floyd reconvened at Abbey Road for a month-long recording session on Wish You Were Here. Their former lead singer and guitarist Syd Barrett showed up, unannounced, in the studio during one of these sessions.

There are several photos of the visit/s on two different photography film types. The photo above is a Polaroid. Phil Taylor also shared photos for the Have You Got It Yet? Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd documentary. His was on outdoor film on a regular camera. I have included those photos later in the timeline because he said the band gave him the camera as a gift after the Knebworth gig which happened in July 1975.

7 June 1975

1975-06 June Pink Floyd concert at Pittsburgh 20 June 1975
1975-06 June Pink Floyd concert at Pittsburgh 20 June 1975

North American Tour Leg 2

The North American Tour continued with a further 15 dates, beginning at Atlanta Stadium, Georgia, and closing at the Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario. The band’s crew detonated an extra amount of pyro at the end of the Hamilton show, damaging the sports arena’s scoreboard and blowing out glass in neighbouring houses.

1975-06-07: Atlanta Stadium , Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1975-06-09: Capital Center (Landover) , Landover, Maryland, USA
1975-06-10: Capital Center (Landover) , Landover, Maryland, USA
1975- 06-12: Spectrum Theater , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1975-06-13: Spectrum Theater , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1975-06-15: Roosevelt Stadium , Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
1975-06-16: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum , Long Island, New York, USA
1975-06-17 : Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum , Long Island, New York, USA
1975-06-18 : Boston Gardens , Boston, Massachusetts, USA
1975-06-20: Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
1975-06-22: County Stadium , Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1975-06-23: Olympia Stadium (Detroit) , Detroit, Michigan, USA
1975-06- 24: Olympia Stadium (Detroit) , Detroit, Michigan, USA
1975-06-26: Autostade , Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1975-06-28: Ivor Wynne Stadium , Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Here are a selection of printed materials, tour book and tour programs, from the 1975 Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here tour.

1975 Pink Floyd ‘Comic’ Tour Book Program
1975 Pink Floyd Columbia Promo Book History of Pink Floyd
1975 Pink Floyd First XI Promo Booklet for their back catalog
1975 Pink Floyd Knebworth Park Tour Book – 5th July

5 July 1975

1975 Pink Floyd live at Knebworth Park
1975 Pink Floyd live at Knebworth Park

Pink Floyd live at Knebworth Park

Pink Floyd headlined Knebworth Park in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Support came from the Steve Miller Band, Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Linda Lewis, and Roy Harper, who joined Floyd on stage as guest vocalist on a brand new song, Have A Cigar. The set list for the show was: Raving And Drooling; You’ve Got To Be Crazy; Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts 1-5; Have A Cigar; Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts 6-9; The Dark Side Of The Moon; Echoes.

Links – The concert promoter Freddy Bannister wrote an article for Neptune Pink Floyd 
Memories of Knebworth 1975 By Freddy Bannister, 1975 Pink Floyd Knebworth Park Tour Book – 5th July,

7 July 1975

1975 Syd Barrett with Roger at Abbey Road Wish You Were Here Sessions
1975 Syd Barrett with Roger at Abbey Road Wish You Were Here Sessions

Syd Barrett at Wish You Were Here Recording/Mixing Session

Pink Floyd continued three weeks of recording and mixing at Abbey Road studios. Syd Barrett turned up at some point in the sessions having been looking for Storm Thorgerson and was directed to Abbey Road where Storm was with Pink Floyd and photographer Jill Furmanovsky.

Syd’s hair seems to have grown back compared to the polaroid photo from 5th May 1975.

Links – See all the photos of Syd Barrett from the Wish You Were Here recording sessions that have been shared so far

12 September 1975

1975 Wish You Were Here Album Cover
1975 Wish You Were Here Album Cover

Wish You Were Here Released in UK

Pink Floyd’s new album, Wish You Were Here, was released in the UK. Track listing: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts 1-5; Welcome To The Machine; Have A Cigar; Wish You Were Here; Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts 6-9. The album reached No. 1 in the UK.

Wish You Were Here was released in the US the following day on 13th September, where it reached No. 1.

Here are some of the biggest selling albums of 1975:

  • “Elton John’s Greatest Hits” by Elton John
  • “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” by Elton John
  • “Rock of the Westies” by Elton John
  • “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
  • “Blood on the Tracks” by Bob Dylan
  • “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire
  • “One of These Nights” by Eagles
  • “Chicago VIII” by Chicago
  • “Red Octopus” by Jefferson Starship
  • “Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon