CH Vintage Audio together with Allen and Heath original founder Andy Bereza have re-created Pink Floyd’s quad mixing console used between 1971-1974. Allen and Heath built the original mixer for Pink Floyd in September of 1971 and it can be seen in use in the film Live at Pompeii. 

During the design and build process of the 1971 Pink Floyd 28 into 4 mixer, Peter Watts who was Pink Floyd’s chief roadie at the time asked Andy Bereza to incorporate a large amount of coloured illuminated push buttons in a variety of colours for routing on the desk, in fact he brought Andy a 1 to 1 drawing of the proposed mixer layout using almost every colour of felt tip pen available. Peter, like a lot of late 60’s early 70’s people was into psychedelics and so he also wanted to see the mixing desk feature lots of bright coloured lights.

The desk was constantly modified between October 1971 and October 1974 including expanding the case and fitting Penny and Giles faders, changing the square layout of the quad pan pots to four in a vertical row, and adding extra meters in the middle of the desk.

The mixer tours Dark Side Of The Moon through until November 1974 when it is replaced with a new Allen and Heath mixer, neither Allen and Heath mixer seems to have survived. 

The Mod 1 custom quadraphonic mixer made for Pink Floyd. Seen in the film Live at Pompeii.

For fans in Spain, if you wish to see this recreated ‘Pompeii’ mixer and PA it is making an appearance at the ISE Exhibition in Barcelona from 30th January to 2nd February 2024. More information at the link here

Watch Chris Hewitt, Geoff Goddard and desk designer/builder Andy Bereza explain how they re-created the 1971 mixing console here:

Surging in popularity due to the film Saltburn, the pop tune Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor has entered the UK charts again coming in at No. 8! For those who don’t know Pink Floyd later years bassist/collaborator Guy Pratt played bass on this tune. In an article posted on MusicRadar.com Sophie Ellis-Bextor talks about the song and its resurgence in popularity and she goes on to say:

There’s a crucial musical element to consider, too: what Ellis-Bextor describes as a “really brilliant bassline. This was played by legendary British bassist Guy Pratt, who’s also recorded with the likes of Madonna (Like A Prayer), Pink Floyd (The Division Bell) and Michael Jackson (HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I)

“He’s got such flair for bringing melody to a bassline,” Ellis-Bextor says of Pratt. “With disco, if you haven’t got the rhythm section doing what they need to do, then it isn’t disco.” 

You can read the full article using this link: https://www.musicradar.com/news/murder-on-the-dancefloor-saltburn

Those familiar with Guy’s Youtube channel know that he posted a video playing the bassline on his Lockdown Licks video series, but if you haven’t checked it out we highly recommend you do!

We at AFG remember the late great Syd Barrett today on his birthday. Happy Birthday Syd, without whom none of us would be here if not for your contributions to the arts and pop culture. Shine on Syd, long live RKB.

Syd Barrett’s Official Youtube page has posted a new video, taken from Opel focusing on the track Clowns and Jugglers which became the Syd classic Octopus.

Released on the 1988 album “Opel”. “Opel” is a 1988 album compiled from recordings made by former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett between 1968 and 1970. The album is a compilation of unreleased material and alternate takes of recordings from sessions for Barrett’s solo albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. The album consists of eight previously unreleased songs and alternate versions of six already released songs. Video by ArtistontheBorder

For fans in the UK, the UK National Space Centre in Leicester is hosting two fulldome planetarium showings of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon on January 20th, 2024. This is an immersive experience set to the latest audio remastering by James Guthrie and Joel Plante of das boot recording. Fulldome film production is by the multi award winning NSC Creative, who worked with Aubrey Powell, Pink Floyd’s creative director. Video below of how the visuals will look in a 360° setting.

The show itself will be divided between the 10 tracks of the album, and in chronological order, each having a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgment to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a Planetarium can offer. In the modern parlance it’s truly immersive; an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.

For tickets and info you can click here: https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-january-2024/#book-tickets