Pompeii Takes a Trip to the Past with Pink Floyd

Over 45 years ago, David Gilmour stood in the ruins of Pompeii with the rest of his bandmates, making up the rock group Pink Floyd, to bring a live concert to their fans. The catch? There was no audience. With only the band, their equipment and a camera crew in sight the rock group recorded and played three songs for their concert film Live at Pompeii. 

In wake of the 45th anniversary, David Gilmour returned to Pompeii to recreate the influential musical scenes. The major difference this time being audience members. Only a select group of 3,000 were allowed in the amphitheater for the once in a lifetime event. This is the first time since those who walked among the streets of Pompeii for everyday life that audience members will sit within the amphitheater.

Audience members are some of the first to ever see a show in the arena since the desolation of Pompeii. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.
Audience members are some of the first to ever see a show in the arena since the desolation of Pompeii. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

In order for Gilmour to even reach the stage, he must walk through the underground tunnels that only Gladiators had ever used to enter the arena.  Within the arena audience members are not allowed to leave the central area in order to preserve the ruins. With a select group of only 3,000, audience members strict rules are put into place to ensure the structure of the arena stays intact.

David Gilmour enters to the stage through the same tunnels the Gladiators used to enter the arena. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.
David Gilmour enters to the stage through the same tunnels the Gladiators used to enter the arena. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

The venue for the concert isn’t the same one that was used in the film back in 1971 due to construction purposes, but all other aspects will follow the same intricacies. The sound equipment is a mixture of modern and vintage, featuring sound pedals from the 60s, to help bring the feeling of nostalgia to audience members.

Due to the lack of ceiling within the amphitheater, light spectacles were able to be created with the history of Mount Vesuvius in mind. With large fireworks streaming from all around to beams of golden yellow and crimson red passing the faces of audience members, the concert offers a brief glimpse into what a venue would look like filled back before the eruption of Vesuvius.

Fireworks and lights go off around the arena to bring the feeling of Mt. Vesuvius to the audience. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.
Fireworks and lights go off around the arena to bring the feeling of Mt. Vesuvius to the audience. Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

With a plethora of permissions needed and large number of regulations to be followed, Gilmour brings the breathtaking performance of Pink Floyd’s mesmerizing music to the ruins of Pompeii in a spectacle that brings back the importance of history and it’s role within our daily lives.

– Ashley Curtis
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