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In 1977, Pink Floyd experienced a transformative period marked by the release of their album “Animals” and the “In the Flesh” Tour. Released in January, “Animals” was a critique of the socio-political environment in Britain, featuring extended compositions and darker themes. The album was both a critical and commercial success, reaching No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in the US.
The “In the Flesh” Tour ran from January 23 to July 6, 1977, covering Europe and North America with 55 shows. Known for its elaborate stage designs, the tour featured inflatable props, including the famous giant pig from the “Animals” album cover, and advanced quadraphonic sound systems. The concerts typically included most of the “Animals” album, along with songs from “Wish You Were Here” and the entirety of “The Dark Side of the Moon.”
A pivotal moment occurred on July 6, 1977, at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, where Roger Waters, frustrated by the rowdy audience, spat at a fan. This incident significantly impacted Waters and inspired the concept for their next album, “The Wall.” The tour highlighted internal strife within Pink Floyd, particularly Waters’ dissatisfaction with the stadium rock environment and perceived disconnection with the audience.
Despite these tensions, the tour was a commercial success, showcasing the band’s musical prowess and technical innovations. However, it also exacerbated the internal conflicts that would shape their future work. Waters’ increasing dominance in the band’s creative direction led to friction among members, contributing to the eventual creation of “The Wall.”
19 January 1977
Animals Press Launch at Battersea Power Station in London
On January 19, 1977, Pink Floyd held a press launch for their new album, “Animals,” at Battersea Power Station in London. The event featured a giant inflatable pig floating between the chimneys of the power station, which became the iconic cover image for the album. The album itself was released on January 21, 1977, and included tracks like “Dogs,” “Pigs (Three Different Ones),” and “Sheep.”
In the true Pink Floyd style none of the band members made an appearance at the event. The press launch was a significant event, showcasing the band’s innovative approach to both music and visual presentation. The album reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in the US, and was praised for its conceptual depth and musical complexity.
21 January 1977
Animals album released in the UK
“Animals” by Pink Floyd was released in the UK on January 21, 1977. This album is known for its scathing critique of societal structures and features a more guitar-driven sound compared to their previous works.
Here is the track listing:
Pigs On The Wing, Part 1
Dogs
Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Sheep
Pigs On The Wing, Part 2
The album reached No. 2 in the UK charts, solidifying its success both critically and commercially. The themes of “Animals” draw heavily from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” categorizing society into three classes: Dogs, Pigs, and Sheep, each representing different aspects of human behaviour and societal structures.
23 January 1977
Pink Floyd In The Flesh European Tour 1977 Begins
Pink Floyd’s 20-date European tour in 1977 was a significant event, starting at Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle and concluding at Munich’s Olympiahalle. The band was joined by additional musicians Dick Parry on saxophone and Terence ‘Snowy’ White on guitar and bass, enhancing their live performances with added layers of musical depth.
The stage show was a visual and auditory spectacle, featuring a giant inflatable pig suspended by a steel cable for indoor gigs, animated sequences designed by illustrator and satirical cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, and an inflatable ‘nuclear family’ of wife, husband, and 2.5 children on a sofa. This innovative design was created by Mark Fisher and Jonathan Park, who would later work on the iconic “The Wall” live production.
The setlist for the tour was a mix of tracks from their latest album “Animals” and previous hits, including:
Sheep
Pigs On The Wing, Part 1
Dogs
Pigs On The Wing, Part 2
Pigs (Three Different Ones)
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
Money
Discover – See tour management planning document and the Animals In The Flesh Tour Programme, see Pink Floyd In the Flesh Tour (1977) for tour dates and photo galleries: 1977-01-26 Festhalle, Germany,
12 February 1977
Animals album released in the USA ahead of In The Flesh American Tour 1977
Animals was released in the US and reached No. 3 in the charts.
To promote the release of “Animals,” Pink Floyd embarked on a significant tour known as the “In the Flesh” tour. This tour was a major promotional event for the album and featured elaborate stage designs, including the iconic giant inflatable pig suspended by a steel cable for indoor gigs. The stage show also included animated sequences designed by Gerald Scarfe and an inflatable ‘nuclear family’ designed by Mark Fisher and Jonathan Park.
15 March 1977
Pink Floyd perform two residencies in the UK of their new Animals Album
Pink Floyd’s nine-date UK tour in 1977 kicked off at Wembley Empire Pool and concluded with four nights at Stafford Bingley Hall. This tour was part of their larger “In the Flesh” tour, promoting their latest album, “Animals.”
The band were not particularly well rehearsed with Nick Mason noting in his book Inside Out A Personal History of Pink Floyd that songs were not very well synchronised with the visuals being projected on Mr Screens.
22 April 1977
Pink Floyd In The Flesh North American Tour 1977 begins
Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh” North American tour in 1977 kicked off at Miami Baseball Stadium and concluded at Portland Memorial Coliseum on May 12. The setlist remained consistent with their European tour, featuring tracks from their latest album, “Animals,” as well as previous hits. Occasionally, they included an encore performance of “Us and Them” and a one-off extra encore of “Careful With That Axe, Eugene” at California’s Oakland Coliseum.
15 June 1977
Pink Floyd Second Leg of In The Flesh Continues
The second leg of the In The Flesh tour commenced at Milwaukee’s County Stadium and concluded on July 6, 1977, at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. This segment of the tour included a notable four-night stand at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The setlist remained consistent with the European leg, featuring tracks from their latest album, “Animals,” as well as previous hits.
During the tour’s final night in Montreal, the crowd was particularly rowdy. Roger Waters, reacting strongly to the audience’s behaviour, began to reflect on the relationship between rock stars and their audience. This introspection led him to conceive the idea for “The Wall” project, which eventually became Pink Floyd’s next album.
See photo gallery: 1977-07-01 Pink Floyd Madison Square Garden and 1977-06-25 – Cleveland
6th July 1977
Roger Waters Spitting Incident in Montreal
The Roger Waters spitting incident occurred on July 6, 1977, during the final show of Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh” tour at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. Frustrated by the rowdy behaviour of the audience, Waters spat at a fan who was reportedly trying to climb onto the stage. This incident had a profound impact on Waters, leading him to reflect on the relationship between rock stars and their audience. This introspection inspired the concept for Pink Floyd’s next album, “The Wall”.
The incident highlighted the growing tension within the band and between the band and their audience. Waters’ dissatisfaction with the stadium rock environment and his feelings of alienation were becoming increasingly evident. This moment of frustration ultimately became a catalyst for one of Pink Floyd’s most iconic and ambitious projects.
See photo galleries: 1977-07-06 – Montreal Canada “Spitting Incident” Concert by Pink Floyd
Here are some of the biggest selling albums of 1977:
- “Bat Out of Hell” by Meat Loaf – Sold over 43 million copies.
- “Saturday Night Fever” (Soundtrack) by Bee Gees – Sold around 40 million copies.
- “Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac – Sold approximately 40 million copies and was the best-selling album of the year.
- “The Stranger” by Billy Joel – Sold over 12 million copies.
- “Out of the Blue” by Electric Light Orchestra – Sold around 10 million copies.
