Today is Patti Smith’s birthday, Happy Birthday to her! She is one of the most fascinating artists iI know, and has been around on the music scene for more almost fifty years since her debut album Horses in 1975. Most … Continue reading
Tag: concerts
Let’s celebrate Marianne Faithfull
Today is Marianne Faithfull’s birthday, and it is an occasion for looking back on her career that started almost 60 years ago in 1966. From there it was a bumpy road for her for several years. But after a dark … Continue reading
My favorite photos from 2023, part 2
Here is the second part of my personal favorite photos from 2023. They are not ranked, but all of them are special to me in one way or another. You will see 30 photos from different settings and genres. They … Continue reading
My favorite photos from 2023, part 1
2023 has been a special year for all of us. The continuing war in Ukraine and the atrocities in Gaza plus the clear signs of the climate crisis overshadows much of what happened during the year. But in spite of … Continue reading
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets – Italy 2024 dates!
Some (hopefully) great news for our friends in Italy – an early Christmas present? Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets have just revealed that they are coming to your country for a string of concerts in July 2024! Details of the dates and venues are below. Tickets for these six shows go on sale TOMORROW (Thursday, December 21st) at 11am local time (10am UK), through TicketOne (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/) and we anticipate that they will sell very quickly. One of the venues (Milan) they’ve performed in before, another – Vicenza – was the scene exactly one year earlier than the newly announced date, when an incoming bad storm caused the last minute cancellation of the open-air gig, just as the band were ready to head on stage. There’s also some beautiful looking venues new to the Saucers. Obviously, should further dates be announced for elsewhere, we’ll let you know – so there’s NO need to email us asking if they’ll be playing in your local town or city, or have any plans to play particular countries. We get asked this an awful lot. If it’s not showing below, we have no idea! We also don’t yet know if there will be any changes to the set list, or anything else. Due to the incredible reaction that Echoes received over the last couple of years, it is likely (although not guaranteed, of course) that they will include this during the show. We’ll all have to wait and see what they decide to play! Here are the dates, with the venue for Rome still to be advised: 18 July – Teatro Arcimboldi, Milan, Italy (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/july-18th-teatro-arcimboldi-milan-italy.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
19 July – Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza, Italy (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/july-19th-piazza-dei-signori-vicenza-italy.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
20 July – Sequoie Music Park, Bologna, Italy (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/july-20th-sequoie-music-park-bologna-italy.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
22 July – Rome, Italy (venue TBA) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
23 July – Belvedere San Leucio, Caserta, Italy (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/july-23rd-belvedere-san-leucio-caserta.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
24 July – Teatro al Castello, Roccella Ionica, Italy (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2024/july-24th-teatro-al-castello-roccella-ionica.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
Pink Floyd 1973 live recordings on streaming services
Over the last couple of years, and in what could be almost seen as a bit of a Christmas present to the fans, Pink Floyd have quietly released a number of 1973 live recordings on the various streaming services, such as Spotify (https://www.spotify.com), Apple Music (https://music.apple.com), YouTube Music (https://music.youtube.com), Amazon Music (https://music.amazon.co.uk) and also the band’s official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/pinkfloyd). The quality is rather variable – by the very nature of the unofficial, audience recordings – but the shows give a fascinating look at the concerts performed at the time of release of The Dark Side Of The Moon. The 1973 recordings released are listed with dates and venues as per the original bootlegs, and show as: – March 6th: Kiel Opera House, St Louis
– March 7th: Chicago International Amphitheatre
– March 8th: University of Cincinnati
– March 10th: Kent State University
– March 11th: Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
– March 14th: Boston Music Hall
– March 17th: Radio City Music Hall, New York
– May 18th: Earls Court, London
– May 19th: Earls Court, London
– June 17th: Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs
– June 18th: Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City
– June 20th: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia
– June 28th: Sportatorium Hollywood Florida
– October 12th: Olympiahalle Munich
– October 13th: Vienna Stadthalle
– November 4th: Rainbow Theatre (Early Show)
– November 4th: Rainbow Theatre (Late Show) As with the batches released the last couple of years focused on 1971 and 1972, these are not expected to be around for long, and won’t be released physically on CD or LP, so make the most of them over the holiday and new year period before they disappear! Our thanks to those who emailed to let us know about these.
Pink Floyd Hakone/Atom Heart Mother special edition release announced
Just announced is the worldwide release – housed in a 7″ gatefold sleeve – of a special edition of Atom Heart Mother, originally sold only in Japan in August 2021. This is a very interesting package celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s pair of concerts at Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone, Japan – the band’s first in that country. This special edition will be available from December 8th, 2023. The background to the release is this: an original 16mm film of Atom Heart Mother from the 1971 Hakone Aphrodite shows was recently discovered in a fan’s garage. A long time was spent digitizing, restoring and remastering, and to mark the 50th anniversary of the ’71 Hakone Aphrodite event, a special edition (a two disc set of a CD and Blu-ray) of the Atom Heart Mother album was released in Japan. Now, finally, this enhanced video will be released outside of Japan. The Blu-ray disc contains the restored footage of Atom Heart Mother, showing the band on stage performing the song, and travelling around Japan, together with some additional bonus footage of Pink Floyd’s crew, setting up the show, dealing with issues, etc., which hasn’t been seen before. The pack comes with a 60-page photo book with never-seen-before photos, a reproduction programme, venue map flyer, Osaka show poster and Hakone Aphrodite ticket reprint which all looks great! ORDERING INFO:A very nicely put together package – and orders are now possible through a number of retailers. Ordering any item after entering Amazon through our links helps with BD’s ongoing running costs as we participate in their affiliate programme, at no extra cost to yourselves, and we really appreciate it: Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CLPKK7CL/braindamage-21), Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CLFSNB5M/braindamage-20), Amazon Canada (http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CLFSNB5M/braindamageon-20), Amazon France (https://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CLPKK7CL/braindamageon-21), Amazon Germany (https://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CLPKK7CL/braindamage0f-21), Amazon Spain (http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B0CLPKK7CL/braidama01-21) and Amazon Italy (http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0CLPKK7CL/bradamonl-21). You can also order through HMV.com (https://hmv.com/store/music/cd/atom-heart-mother-hakone-aphrodite-japan-1971-spec). If you want to see a quick comparison of a short part of the footage, comparing the newly restored film with what many of us will have been familiar with for many years, here’s something that Sony Music Japan put together in 2021:
Roger Waters starts TINAD tour of Americas
visit the Brasilia, Brazil show page for more information on the setlist and events as we get to hear them (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/2023-tour-zone/october-24th-arena-brb-mane-garrincha-brasilia-b.html), or click on the thumbnail. Roger, the band, and crew now travel to Rio de Janeiro for the next show on the tour schedule… If you are going to any of these concerts, please get in touch!
Nick Mason featured in German Drums & Percussion Magazine
Our friend Michael Nickel has been in touch with some information about a newly published issue of a German language magazine, which should be of interest to visitors to Brain Damage. The July/August 2023 issue of Drums & Percussion (What Moves Drummers) Magazine (issue 4 of 2023) (https://www.sticks.de/heftinhalt-artikeldetail?tx_news_pi1%5BactbackPid%5D=343&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13517&cHash=e12a9539a6bedafa8a852ee1c39116e9) has an eye catching cover featuring a very happy looking Nick Mason, in the midst of one of his Saucerful Of Secrets concerts. The cover story – “Time travel to the beginnings of Pink Floyd” – with Nick interviewed, is accompanied by a potted history of the band. On their website, they give an extract from the magazine feature: “With his new band Saucerful Of Secrets, the drummer who made music history with Pink Floyd is going way back in time. Here, Nick Mason tells us how this special time travel feels. However, the new band is not the only thing on the mind of the now 79-year-old… “This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the über-album The Dark Side of the Moon, and then there’s also a traveling exhibition about Pink Floyd called Their Mortal Remains – not to mention that Pink Floyd, by the way, has even released a new song after decades of abstinence in protest against the war in Ukraine. More than one topic for a conversation with a legend of our guild. “Nick, at the Roundhouse in London you played in 1966 and 2019 with at least partly the same songs. Where were the similarities and differences between then and now? Nick: “That was quite interesting. Of course there were similarities, but also differences: The main ones were on the technical side, because in 1966, for example, there was no stage, but an old trailer and a very small PA or very little electronics. So the whole thing was pretty quiet [laughs]. I mean, at the end of the evening the PA would have been completely destroyed. But musically it was pretty similar in parts, which I found very pleasant.” Our thanks to Michael for the information. The magazine can be purchased online through Sticks.de (https://www.sticks.de/heftinhalt-artikeldetail?tx_news_pi1%5BactbackPid%5D=343&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=13517&cHash=e12a9539a6bedafa8a852ee1c39116e9).
Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets 2023 Echoes Tour starts tonight!
Well, the day is now here! Tonight, in Loreley, Germany, Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets start their 2023 Echoes Tour. They will be taking in a number of European countries this month (July) – Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and no less than six shows in Italy, including a return for Nick to the ancient ruins of Pompeii for a concert to be held in the Teatro Grande (after he receives an honorary citizenship from the mayor of Pompei on the day of the concert – the same honour that David Gilmour received back in July 2016 when he played in the ruins located in the city). Then, in September, they will be playing six shows in Australia. As those of you who were fortunate enough to have seen the band on their quite extensive 2022 Echoes Tour, which took in shows in the UK, Europe, the US and Canada, presenting another incredible set list and upgraded staging to thrilled audiences across the board. One of many highlights of the set was of course the piece that the tour is named after – Echoes – each night a tour de force which is sure to be replicated again this year. As ever, we’d love to hear your thoughts about any of the concerts you might be going to, as we’d love to add your comments, reviews, pictures, or whatever else you kindly share with us, onto the respective show pages elsewhere on this site within the Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets 2023 tour zone (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/index.php). Please get in touch if you’d wish to contribute anything! There are still a few tickets left for the upcoming European shows – and for sold out shows it is always worth checking for last minutes returns – and here are the dates and places where you can catch Nick, Gary, Guy, Lee and Dom in action this month: July 14th – FREILICHTBUHNE, LORELEY, ST GOARSHAUSEN, GERMANY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-14th-freilichtbuhne-loreley-st-goarshausen-ge.html) – TICKETS (http://www.wiv-ticket-shop.com/en/night-of-the-prog-festival/2/dayticket-friday-notp-xvi?c=48)
July 16th – SUMMER FOG FESTIVAL, SPODEK, KATOWICE, POLAND (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-16th-summer-fog-festival-spodek-krakow-p.html) – TICKETS (https://www.eventim.pl/eventseries/summer-fog-festival-23-3320721/)
July 17th – FORUM KARLIN, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-17th-forum-karlin-prague-czech-rep.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketmaster.cz/artist/nick-mason-s-saucerful-of-secrets-vstupenky/1008937)
July 19th – PIAZZA DEI SIGNORI, VICENZA, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-19th-piazza-dei-signori-vicenza-italy.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
July 20th – PIAZZA GRANDE, PALMANOVA, UDINE, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-20th-piazza-grande-palmanova-udine.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
July 21st – ARENA DELLA REGINA, CATTOLICA, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-21st-arena-della-regina-cattolica.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
July 23rd – SONIC PARK MATERA, CAVA DEL SOLE ARENA, MATERA, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-23rd-sonic-park-matera-cava-del-sole-arena-matera.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)
July 24th – TEATRO GRANDE / GRAND THEATRE, POMPEII, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-24th-teatro-grande-grand-theatre-pompeii.html) – TICKETS (http://www.dalessandroegalli.com/events/769/nick-masons-saucerful-of-secrets)
July 26th – TENER-A-MENTE FESTIVAL, ANFITEATRO DEL VITTORIALE, GARDONE RIVIERA, ITALY (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/nick-mason-s-sos-2023/july-26th-tener-a-mente-festival-anfiteatro-del-vittoriale-gardone-riviera.html) – TICKETS (https://www.ticketone.it/artist/nick-mason/)