The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking Tour (1984) Roger Waters

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The “Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking” European Tour in 1984 was a significant event in Roger Waters’ career, marking his first solo concert tour. This tour featured the celebrated guitarist Eric Clapton and included performances of some of Waters’ songs from Pink Floyd, as well as a full performance of his first solo album, “The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking”.

1984 Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking Tour Roger Waters with Eric Clapton

The tour began in Stockholm on June 16, 1984, and included a nine-concert European run with stops in cities like Paris, Birmingham, London, Rotterdam, and Zurich. Following the European leg, the tour moved to North America, starting on July 17, 1984, with performances in various cities including Hartford, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Rosemont, Toronto, and Montreal.

The setlist was extensive and diverse, featuring Pink Floyd classics from several albums such as “Wish You Were Here,” “The Wall,” “Animals,” and “The Dark Side of the Moon.” A noteworthy addition was “The Gunner’s Dream,” a rare live performance from “The Final Cut.” The second set of the concert was dedicated to performing “The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking” in its entirety, complemented by visuals from Nicolas Roeg and animation by Gerald Scarfe.

Despite the star power and elaborate performances, the tour faced challenges. Ticket sales were underwhelming, and the tour reportedly cost Waters nearly half a million dollars. The tour’s reception was mixed, with some critics describing “The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking” as “bleak, meandering, and mediocre” and a “colossal failure” in its record form. In contrast, other critics appreciated the theatrical and technological aspects of the shows, describing them as a “multimedia spectacle” and praising the atmosphere of “theatricalized paranoia and alienation”.

Overall, the “Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking” European Tour was a landmark event in Roger Waters’ solo career, showcasing his musical prowess post-Pink Floyd but also highlighting the challenges of transitioning to a solo act.