Mark Blake (1) (1965–)

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/pigs-might-fly-the-inside-story-of-pink-floyd-by...

Inspired to get this by the V&A exhibition a few years back. Starts with an in-depth account of the Live 8 reunion, which I read while rewatching the actual event. It’s more comprehensive and detailed than Nick Mason’s book, but less funny; it does address some points that Mason doesn’t, notably how the band handled rapidly becoming rich but also looking at the importance of the Cambridge roots (which Mason wasn’t part of) and the art that went with the albums and concerts (which Mason wasn’t as interested in). Very detailed, but didn’t quite sing to me.… (mehr)

I'm coming to realize I hold Pink Floyd almost to the same level as the Beatles. They're easily in my top five, along with Bowie, Steely Dan, and Tom Petty (and yeah, that's a list that fluctuates almost daily).

Anyway, for all of that, while I know the basic history of Pink, I've never delved deeply into it.

Until now.

Blake does an amazing job of corralling all the names and places and events and the times of the various decades of Pink Floyd, from back when they were the Barrett-led The Pink Floyd Sound all the way up to the Gilmour-led Pink Floyd behemoth that they became in the late-90s/early-00s.

This is an incredibly readable, well-researched biography of one of the most incredible bands in the world. Highly recommended.… (mehr)

This one is, as it must necessarily be, largely a mostly Jimmy Page issue, as it's vital to understand him and his journey, before he ever invited Plant, Jones, and Bonham to play with him.

This is an interesting, if truncated, trip through the band's first five albums, as well as side trips for Peter Grant stories, and various stories of the band's debauchery, including the alcohol, the drugs, the groupies, and that famous night at the Hiatt "Riot" House.

Great photos, great music, good insights.… (mehr)

Once again, not a bad high level overview. Much space is given over to Bonham, which makes sense, as he was the biggest agent of change in ending the band in 1980.

But of course, they didn't really end, did they? I think that's what's annoyed me for the past 35ish years. "It's not Led Zep without Bonzo." But hey, let's give Phil Collins, Tony Thompson, and Jason Bonham a try.

Anyway, lots of time spent on the disastrous reunions, as well as the final triumphant one in 2007. And also about the Page and Plant No Quarter half-assed reunion, but nothing on Walking Into Clarksdale? Like it doesn't exist?

Nothing about Plant's Tall Cool One song that referenced so many Zep songs?

Weird.… (mehr)