pink floyd tour 1989

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How a Pink Floyd Concert Brought Down Venice’s Government

Since its birth, rock music has been seen as a revolutionary force and an agent of social change. But Pink Floyd ’s show in Venice, Italy, on July 15, 1989, unintentionally resulted in the mayor and the entire city council resigning in the aftermath of their performance.

The city had arranged for a free concert to take place in Venice’s historic Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), which would be shown on television in more than 12 countries, according to the Washington Post . The council justified it by saying that Venice “must be open to new trends, including rock music,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Residents were up in arms even before a note was played, saying that the vibrations caused by the music had the potential to cause harm to ancient monuments. Venice’s clock tower, for example, was completed in 1499, and construction on the bell tower for the St. Mark’s Basilica began in the 9th century.

"Historic centers should not be used for performances that are incompatible with their historic nature," Augusto Salvadori, a former Venice commissioner for tourism told the New York Times . "If they want rock, let them do it in a football stadium, but not in the Piazza San Marco.”

The Stadio Pierluigi Penzo holds 7,450 people, however, and that wasn't nearly enough to accommodate Pink Floyd’s audience. Sympathetic to the city, the band agreed to reduce the volume of its performance from 100 decibels to 60, and performed from a floating barge in a lagoon 200 yards from the square.

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The audience, which numbered 200,000 (only 60,000 people live within the city limits), actually ended up doing the most damage. Officials said that they left behind 300 tons of garbage and 500 cubic meters of empty cans and bottles. And because the city didn’t provide portable bathrooms, concertgoers relieved themselves on the monuments and walls.

Most of the fans apparently were on their best behavior. The only major damage to the square had to do with some marble that had fallen off a group of statues known as “The Judgement of Solomon.” It was undetermined if this was the result of fans or the volume of the music.

Still, the outrage was immediate. "This wasn't a cultural event," former Rome mayor Renato Nicolini told Washington Post , "but a great commercial enterprise promoted by television and the record industry." At a public meeting two days later, Mayor Antonio Casellati took a similar defense, saying that there was “unusual pressure” from RAI, the state-run television network that profited from the concert.

His attempts at spin were drowned out with shouting: "Resign, resign, you've turned Venice into a toilet." The Venetians got their wish. Before the end of the week, the entire city council had stepped down, taking Casellati — who was elected by a coalition in the council — with them.

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Photos from Pink Floyd's iconic floating concert in Venice that forced the city council to resign, 1989

The city authorities had arranged for a free concert to take place in Venice’s historic Piazza San Marco which would be shown on television in more than 12 countries. The council justified it by saying that Venice “must be open to new trends, including rock music”.

The news was met with excitement by many but also with anger by many Venetians. Many older Venetians wanted to ban the concert. They felt that it would be a logistical nightmare that would potentially destroy the ancient facades and monuments.

Also, it would be eroding the cultural integrity of the event that was planned just around the same time as the concert, the Redenetore (The Redeemer Festival).

“Historic centers should not be used for performances that are incompatible with their historic nature,” Augusto Salvadori, a former Venice commissioner for tourism, told the New York Times. “If they want rock, let them do it in a football stadium, but not in the Piazza San Marco.”

An accord was finally reached when the band offered to lower the decibel levels from 100 to 60 and perform on a floating stage 200 yards from the square, which would join “a long history… of floating ephemeral architectures” on the canals and lagoons of Venice.

Filmed by state-run television RAI, the spectacle was broadcast “in over 20 countries with an estimated audience of almost 100 million.” Due to time restrictions of live TV, some songs were left out and others shortened in places.

Around the stage, you could see many traditional Venetian boats, classic Venetian rowing boats like the sandalo and other classic boats like the Sanpierotta .

San Marco square was loaded to full capacity. Many in attendance have said it was one of the greatest concerts they ever experienced.

Enraged afterward, residents shouted down the Mayor Antonio Casellati, who attempted a public rapprochement two days later, with cries of “resign, resign, you’ve turned Venice into a toilet.” Casellati did so, along with the entire city council who had brought him to power.

According to David Gilmour: “The Venice show was great fun, but it was very tense and nerve-wracking. We had a specific length of show to do; the satellite broadcasting meant we had to get it absolutely precise.

We had the list of songs, and we’d shortened them, which we’d never done before. I had a big clock with a red digital read-out on the floor in front of me, and had the start time of each number on a piece of paper. If we were coming near the start time of the next number, I just had to wrap up the one we were on.

We had a really good time, but the city authorities who had agreed to provide the services of security, toilets, food, completely reneged on everything they were supposed to do, and then tried to blame all the subsequent problems on us.”

(Photo credit: Open Culture / Wikimedia Commons / Classic Boats Venice / ultimateclassicrock.com / Pinterest).

Updated on: May 31, 2022

Any factual error or typo?  Let us know.

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Pink Floyd live in Venezia - 15/07/1989

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Pink Floyd: Delicate Sound of Thunder

A documentary of the tour for Pink Floyd's "delicate Sound of Thunder". A documentary of the tour for Pink Floyd's "delicate Sound of Thunder". A documentary of the tour for Pink Floyd's "delicate Sound of Thunder".

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• Trivia Although Dave Gilmour stated around the time of its release and on a radio interview in 1992 that the album contained no studio overdubbing whatsoever, he embellished the tracks during mixing with some extra acoustic guitar on "Comfortably Numb", according to engineer Buford Jones. In addition, some harmonies were replaced by studio re-takes: Richard Wright re-did his vocal on "Us and Them" and Sam Brown replaced Rachel Fury's part in "Comfortably Numb"but the rest of the album was what was played at the shows.
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• Aug 28, 2000
• June 13, 1989 (United States)
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• June 25, 1989 Setlist

Pink Floyd Setlist at Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany

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• Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V) Play Video
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18 activities (last edit by sicko , 25 Jul 2021, 11:01 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• A New Machine, Part 1
• A New Machine, Part 2
• Learning to Fly
• On the Turning Away
• Round and Around
• Signs of Life
• Terminal Frost
• The Dogs of War
• Yet Another Movie
• The Great Gig in the Sky
• Us and Them
• Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
• Comfortably Numb
• Run Like Hell
• Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V)
• Welcome to the Machine
• Wish You Were Here
• One of These Days

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• Jun 21 1989 Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany Add time Add time
• Jun 23 1989 Linzer Stadium Linz, Austria Add time Add time
• Jun 25 1989 Neckarstadion This Setlist Stuttgart, Germany Add time Add time
• Jun 27 1989 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris, France Add time Add time
• Jun 28 1989 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris, France Add time Add time

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Brit Floyd to return to Wilson Center as part of 2024 ‘P-U-L-S-E’ tour

W ILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Pink Floyd tribute Brit Floyd is scheduled to return to the Wilson Center Thursday, July 25, as part of the 2024 P-U-L-S-E World Tour.

According to Cape Fear Community College, the performance, set for 7:30 p.m., will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell album.

“Pink Floyd, an unparalleled pioneer in progressive and psychedelic rock, left an indelible mark on the music industry with their groundbreaking sound and captivating live performances,” the CFCC announcement states. “ The Division Bell , released in 1994, is a testament to their mastery, and three decades later, its enduring impact continues to resonate with fans old and new.

“Brit Floyd P-U-L-S-E is not just a tour; it’s a journey through time, a tribute to the timeless artistry of Pink Floyd. Known for their unwavering dedication to recreating the magic of Pink Floyd’s music, Brit Floyd is the perfect ensemble to honor The Division Bell. Audiences can expect a breathtaking audiovisual experience that pays homage to the original band’s unique music and visual effects blend.”

Tickets will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27 for Wilson Center Members. The public will be able to purchase tickets beginning Friday, March 29 at 10 a.m. Those interested may purchase tickets online through the Wilson Center website or by contacting the Ticket Central box office at (910) 362-7999. The box office is open for telephone and in-person sales from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“P-U-L-S-E will captivate fans with a stunning setlist featuring tracks from The Division Bell and the many beloved classics from Pink Floyd’s extensive discography,” the announcement adds. “Expect to be transported to the heart of Pink Floyd’s universe, complete with a state-of-the-art light show, immersive visuals, and the ethereal sounds that define a generation.”