Pink Floyd World Tour (1968)

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The Pink Floyd World Tour of 1968, spanning February to December, marked a significant period in the band’s history. The tour, which covered Europe and North America, began under challenging circumstances due to the departure of lead guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Syd Barrett in April 1968. Despite this, the band, steered by bassist Roger Waters, successfully navigated through a series of live concerts, including performances at music festivals and the UK university circuit.

Pink Floyd Surprise Partie Paris 1 November 1968 Let There be More Light

The typical set list during this tour included iconic tracks such as “Astronomy Domine,” “Interstellar Overdrive,” “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” “Pow R. Toc H.,” “Let There Be More Light,” and early versions of “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” and “A Saucerful of Secrets” (then known as “The Massed Gadgets of Hercules”). Songs like “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” evolved over the tour, extending in length and intensity, while “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” featured enhanced guitar and organ work, becoming a staple in their performances.

The personnel for this tour consisted of David Gilmour on guitars and vocals, Roger Waters on bass, vocals, and occasionally playing cymbals and gong, Rick Wright on keyboards and vocals, and Nick Mason on drums

The Pink Floyd World Tour in 1968 was a significant chapter in the band’s history, characterized by both challenges and notable developments in their music and performances.

Overview

Duration: February to December 1968
Regions Covered: Europe and North America
Starting Point: The tour began on February 17 at the Patronaatsgebouw, Netherlands.
End: Concluded with a final performance in the Netherlands on December 28.
Circumstances: The tour commenced amidst the challenging departure of Syd Barrett, the band’s lead guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter, in April 1968. Barrett had played with the band only in January of that year, briefly making Pink Floyd a five-piece band with the addition of David Gilmour, who soon replaced Barrett entirely.

Set List

During the tour, Pink Floyd’s set list typically included a mix of old and new compositions, some of which remained in their repertoire until 1971:

“Astronomy Domine”
“Interstellar Overdrive”
“Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”
“Pow R. Toc H.”
“Let There Be More Light”
“The Massed Gadgets of Hercules” (an early title for “A Saucerful of Secrets”)
“Flaming”
“Keep Smiling People” (an embryonic version of “Careful with That Axe, Eugene”)

Notably, “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” had been performed with Barrett in late 1967 but was extended to feature more guitar and organ work. “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” evolved over the year, starting as a four-minute piece and growing to over eight minutes, with Roger Waters’ vocalizations and climactic screams becoming a focal point.

Personnel

The lineup for this tour consisted of:

David Gilmour: Guitars, vocals
Roger Waters: Bass, vocals, cymbals on “A Saucerful of Secrets,” gong on “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”
Rick Wright: Keyboards, vocals
Nick Mason: Drums

Significance

Transition Period: This tour represented a transitional phase for Pink Floyd, as they adapted to the absence of Syd Barrett and began to develop a new musical direction.
Audience Reception: Across Europe and the UK, especially in university settings, Pink Floyd was received with respect, often playing to audiences who remained silent until the last note of their performances.
Musical Evolution: The tour saw the evolution of several key pieces in Pink Floyd’s repertoire, setting the stage for their future sound and style.

This period was pivotal for Pink Floyd, marking the beginning of a new era in their music and performances, influenced by changes in their lineup and the evolving landscape of rock music in the late 1960s