Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' exhibit

Pink Floyd's The Wall

Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

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Pink Floyd's 'The Wall': For The Record

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Find out how Roger Waters' critique of "education" journeyed from imaginative concept to the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Nov 23, 2017 - 8:15 am

"Teacher, leave them kids alone! All in all it's just another brick in the wall. All in all you're just another brick in the wall."

Although Pink Floyd's GRAMMY win at the 37th Annual GRAMMY Awards came without Roger Waters in the lineup, they all shared in The Wall's 2008 induction to the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame.

For The Record: Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'

Originally released on Nov. 30, 1979, the epic double album was nominated for Album Of The Year and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal at the 23rd Annual GRAMMY Awards, and was subsequently adapted into the 1982 film Pink Floyd: The Wall. Waters went on to also be nominated individually for the 2014 documentary Roger Waters: The Wall at the 58th GRAMMY Awards.

The high-concept appeal of Waters' imagination did not impress record executives initially, but over time it's caught on in a big way. The Wall has been certified 23-times platinum by the RIAA, trailing only the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 and Michael Jackson's Thriller.

The single "Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)" from The Wall became iconic in itself, partly thanks to obnoxious schoolmaster lines such as, "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" Many of the song's frills were added by Bob Ezrin, making itself a self-contained drama within the album's wider scope.

The main character Pink in The Wall was partially autobiographical for Waters but also partly based on former Pink Floyd bandmate Syd Barrett, who had originally named the band. The two friends struggled with similar psychological and substance-abuse issues, but Barrett's prevented him from being able to continue writing and performing. Waters was under immense pressure to step up and deliver creativity that could fill Barrett's big boots.

The result was The Wall.

The Making Of Pink Floyd's The Wall

David Gilmour

David Gilmour

Photo: JMA/Star Max/GC Images 

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David Gilmour Guitar Collection Heads To Auction In June

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Gilmour looks to the future as he parts with more than 120 guitars, to be auctioned by Christie's to benefit charity
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 29, 2019 - 5:01 pm

Auction house Christie's has announced The David Gilmour Guitar Collection will go under the hammer to benefit charity on June 20 in New York. Pre-auction displays of the more than 120 guitars will begin with the full collection at Christie's King Street in London March 27–31, followed by highlights shown in Los Angeles May 7–11 and finally the New York sale preview on June 14–19. 

David Gilmour's haunting guitar explorations with Pink Floyd can obscure his solo accomplishments, musically, as a producer and as a philanthropist. While influential releases piled up on Gilmour's discography, his collection of guitars also grew and grew. While it might seem drastic to leave himself a smaller collection of 20 guitars, Gilmour vows he's moving ahead with new music, so this is no liquidation sale.

"These guitars have been very good to me," Gilmour told Rolling Stone. "I just think it's time that they went off and served someone else. I have had my time with them. And of course the money that they will raise will do an enormous amount of good in the world, and that is my intention."

While all the instruments in the Christie's auction catalog have their own unique history, what's grabbing the most attention is the 1969 Fender Black Strat used by Gilmour on most of Pink Floyd's iconic studio recordings. "The notes for the beginning of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' fell out of it one day," said Gilmour. "It's on so much stuff, but Fender have made replica ones that they sell, and I have two or three of those that are absolutely perfect. One of those might be my future guitar of choice."

Green Day To Auction Instruments And Gear On Reverb

George Ezra

George Ezra

Photo: Mark Metcailfe/Getty Images

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Top 10 Vinyl Bestsellers Of 2018 Reflect British Tastes

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With the UK's own David Bowie, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Queen, and Amy Winehouse coming in strong, find out who else made the list
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 4, 2019 - 6:01 pm

The Official Charts Company announced 2018's vinyl album bestsellers on Jan. 4, and the results offer a quick trip to British taste — as David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Queen, and Amy Winehouse give the feeling that London is calling, Oasis' (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? gives a shout out to Manchester and Arctic Monkeys top the list at No. 1.

For The Record: Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black'

Many of the albums on the list present a tour of past peaks for the artists. Amy Winehouse's Back To Black won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 50th GRAMMY Awards. David Bowie and Queen both make the list based on recent greatest hits compilations.

Nirvana's 'Nevermind': For The Record

But not all of the top vinyl albums of 2018 came from England. The Seattle alternative sound of Nirvana made the list too, alongside British-American hybrid Fleetwood Mac. Nirvana's Nevermind brought the band its first nomination at the 34th GRAMMY Awards for Best Alternative Music Album. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours won Album Of The Year at the 20th GRAMMY Awards.

Newcomer George Ezra made a strong appearance on the list, with Staying At Tamara's punching in at No. 6.

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon has surrounded and shaped so many life experiences that it is sentimental to see it still in the UK top 10 for 2018.

61st GRAMMY Awards nominees making the Official Charts Company's 2018 bestsellers list include the aforementioned Arctic Monkey's Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino and the soundtrack to The Greatest Showman, including songs composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

With vinyl sales at a 25-year high, what's spinning on your turntable?

Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey & More Broke Big Music Records In 2018

Chrissie Hynde

Chrissie Hynde

Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty Images

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Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox, More Artists Come Out Against Brexit

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Artist signatories of the Music4EU petition join major UK music organizations, executives, managers, event organizers and more
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 12, 2018 - 3:35 pm

On Dec. 11 the UK organization Music4EU launched its petition and signature drive uniting leading British artists, executives and music community organizations to oppose Brexit, Britain's plan to exit the European Union. Billy Bragg, Paloma Faith, Chrissie Hynde, Annie Lennox, Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, and Nadine Shah are just a few among the many British artists who endorse the petition's statement, "Brexit represents a significant threat to the UK's music industry."

Exit from the EU was chosen by British referendum in 2016, but the problem with Brexit is the lack of details in the plan, and also the complexity of EU regulations that have harmonized systems such as travel and taxation, making life more convenient. Negotiations between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU have not resolved the need for agreed details governing an orderly departure.

As a result, the Music4EU petition's signatories believe, "Leaving the EU’s customs union, single market, VAT [taxation] area and regulatory framework (in whole or part) could devastate our global market leadership, and damage our freedom to trade, tour and to promote our artists and our works."

Music organizations endorsing the petition's warning include the Association of Independent Music; British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors; Featured Artist Coalition; Music Managers Forum; Music Producers Guild; and the Musicians Union. Rolling Stone has a useful summary, but the petition itself and its growing list of endorsements conveys its own special character.

"It is critical to find a way out of this mess," the petition concludes. "Therefore we ask you to examine alternative options to maintain our current influence and freedom to trade."

Why Trade Matters To Music Creators

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana

Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage

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Santana, 'Abraxas': For The Record

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Revisit the album that proved rock music's emerging ability to experiment could integrate diverse traditions and intoxicate young audiences
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Sep 28, 2018 - 5:42 pm

After their success at the summer rock festival Woodstock in Aug. 1969 and the contemporary release of their debut self-titled album, guitarist Carlos Santana and his band Santana put out their follow-up, Abraxas, in Sept. 1970. His lead guitar and the album's eclectic combination of rock, Latin rhythms and experimental creativity captured the spirit of the times, filled with a sense of potential new experiences.

For The Record: Santana's 'Abraxas'

By Oct. 1970, Abraxas reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. On the Hot 100 in early 1971, its single "Black Magic Woman" peaked at No. 4, and "Oye Como Va" reached No. 13 a few months later — reinterpreting the Tito Puente cha-cha as rock and helping to prove the flourishing genre's ability to bring new relevance to compositions from other musical traditions.

A San Francisco Bay local, Carlos Santana got his break from Fillmore promoter Bill Graham. An origin myth Santana doesn't remember the same way has Graham discovering the youngster after he snuck into the venue's office. "I was a kid right out of high school and nobody else was putting on shows like Bill did then," he remembered, explaining why he was always around.

As locals, they could fill in for missing bands on the schedule in a flash. Graham wrote in his autobiography, "To this day, Santana is still the only band ever to headline the Fillmore without having made a record."

Thanks to their excellence and reflecting the cultural moment, happenstance became legend. The band's second album was added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2016. Shortly before the close of the millennium, Abraxas was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, in 1999 — the year Carlos Santana's album Supernatural was released, taking him to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the third time, from a career-total of four times so far. At the 42nd GRAMMY Awards, he won in eight categories, including Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album.

Marvin Gaye 'Let's Get It On' | For The Record