2005

Pink Floyd’s classic lineup of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Rick Wright will perform for the first time in more than 20 years at the London Live 8 concert. The event, which aims to increase world awareness of African debt and hunger issues, will be held July 2 at the city’s Hyde Park.

Pink Floyd has not performed live since the 1994 tour in support of its last studio album, “The Division Bell.” Waters has not been a part of the band since 1983, and his dealings with Gilmour have been rancorous in the ensuing years. Waters even sued Gilmour, unsuccessfully, for touring under the Pink Floyd name without him following the band’s initial split after the album “The Final Cut.”

“Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and increased aid to the third world,” Gilmour writes on Pink Floyd’s official Web site. “It’s crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its GNP to the starving nations. Any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so petty in this context, and if re-forming for this concert will help focus attention, then it’s got to be worthwhile.”

Speculation about a Pink Floyd reunion has been rampant in recent months; 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of the band’s landmark album “Wish You Were Here.”

Source: billboard.com

Although details are still under wraps, singer/songwriter Neil Young will be the subject of a concert film to be taped in August at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Billboard.com has learned. The as-yet-untitled project will be directed by Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Philadelphia”).

As previously reported, Young has been recording a new album in Nashville with such collaborators as keyboardist Spooner Oldham, pedal steel guitarist Ben Keith and drummer Carl Himmel. A release date for the set is unconfirmed.

The album is the follow-up to Young’s 2003 effort “Greendale,” which was augmented by a feature-length film bringing to life the characters in the songs.

As for Demme, he previously dabbled in the concert movie medium with the 1984 Talking Heads project “Stop Making Sense,” which spawned a hit accompanying album.

Source billboard.com.

System of a Down will kick off their first major North American tour in three years on August 4th, at the Long Beach Arena just outside of Los Angeles.

With the addition of a screening of The Fearless Freaks and a Wayne Coyne hosted Zaireeka party, Xingolati promises to be an event that Flaming Lips fans won