Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Tour (1975)

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The Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here” Tour in 1975 was a significant event, marking the promotion of their ninth studio album, “Wish You Were Here.” This album, like its predecessor “The Dark Side of the Moon,” is widely regarded as one of the band’s masterpieces and a landmark in the history of rock music.

The tour was primarily in support of the “Wish You Were Here” album, which was released in September 1975. This album included notable tracks like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, and the title track “Wish You Were Here.” The tour included performances in North America and Europe. It began in April 1975 and continued through the album’s release, ending in October 1975.

Wish You Were Here Tour Setlist 1975

The concerts typically featured much of the “Wish You Were Here” album, including complete performances of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” The setlist also included tracks from “The Dark Side of the Moon” and other previous albums, showcasing the band’s extensive repertoire. The tour’s music was characterized by its thematic depth and complexity, dealing with topics like absence, the music industry, and nostalgia. The performances were not just musical events but also deeply emotional experiences for both the band and their fans.

WYWH Stage Design

In line with Pink Floyd’s reputation, the tour featured elaborate stage designs and innovative sound technology. The band used advanced lighting, sound effects, and visual projections to create a multi-sensory experience. The tour was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It played a significant role in solidifying “Wish You Were Here” as a critical and commercial success, following in the footsteps of “The Dark Side of the Moon.”

The “Wish You Were Here” Tour solidified Pink Floyd’s status as a major live act and further enhanced their reputation for creating complex, thematic music accompanied by sophisticated stage shows. The themes and performances from this tour have remained influential in the world of rock music. The “Wish You Were Here” Tour is remembered as a high point in Pink Floyd’s career, showcasing their ability to blend profound thematic content with innovative musical and stage production techniques. It highlighted the band’s continued evolution and reaffirmed their position at the forefront of the progressive rock genre.

Knebworth Festival

The tour, also referred to as the North American Tour, was divided into two legs in the United States, covering the West Coast and East Coast, and included a gig in the UK at the Knebworth Festival. The tour debuted the song “Have a Cigar,” and the “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” suite was divided into two parts with “Have a Cigar” in between. The last gig of the tour was as the headliner of the 1975 Knebworth Festival, which also featured the Steve Miller Band, Captain Beefheart, and Roy Harper, who joined Pink Floyd on stage to sing “Have a Cigar”. Knebworth was the last time the band would perform “Echoes” and the entire “The Dark Side of the Moon” album with Roger Waters. The band performed two sets for the tour. The first set included songs from “Wish You Were Here” and early versions of songs from “Animals” under working titles. The second set consisted of the entire “The Dark Side of the Moon” album with “Echoes” performed as an encore.

Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Tour Dates

April 1975

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

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

June 1975

1975-06-07 : Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1975-06-09 : Capital Centre (Landover), Landover, Maryland, USA
1975-06-10 : Capital Centre (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, Massachussets, 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

Pink Floyd Knebworth 1975

1975-07-05 : Knebworth Park, Stevenage, England

The concert promoter Freddy Bannister wrote an article for Neptune Pink Floyd Memories of Knebworth 1975 By Freddy Bannister

1975 Pink Floyd playing at Knebworth Park

1975 Pink Floyd at Knebworth Park ticket

Wish You Were Here Album Released

The album Wish You Were Here was recorded throughout 1975 and released on 12th September 1975 in the UK and 13th in the USA. During the mixing of the album, Syd Barrett turned up to the studio sessions. Here are some photos taken by Phil Taylor whom Pink Floyd treated to a new camera following the Knebworth concert in July 1975. Phil was not used to the camera and ended up with grainy shots because he was using film intended for outdoor high light use (low ISO I think?).