Barrett with his Floyd colleagues in 1968 See Emily Play Released in March 1967, Pink Floyd’s first single reached Number 20 on the UK chart. It seems tame now – but Syd Barrett’s whimsical tale of the moonlit clothes thief was considered transgressive by broadcasters, and its airplay soon dwindled. Trippy follow-up was less contentious, released in June 1967 and peaking at Number 6 the following month.
“We were convinced we’d go higher,” told in 2010. “We were sure would drop out week to week. But of course it didn’t – it just stuck there!” As reported in a 2023 rundown of , had been written by Barrett for a 1967 show billed as Games For May, and shared that title in its earliest form.
The event at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall was described as “a space age relaxation for the climax of spring – electronic composition, colour and image projection, girls, and the Pink Floyd.” What was not to like? The performance included “more or less what was to become , and premiering .” At one point “someone dressed as an admiral gave out daffodils to the audience, while a bubble machine stained the seats – allegedly resulting in a lifelong ban at the venue for the group.
” Alan Freeman introduced the band for their first appearance on . “I suppose we expected more out of it than it could deliver,” the drummer reflects. “It was a bit like going through sheep dip: you’re brought in, you do the rehearsal, then mime rather than actually play live.
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