By Faith Bellieu
“It’s an extremely enjoyable tour, fantastically good fun and very, very satisfying,” David Gilmour said about his 2006 “On An Island” tour.
Gilmour, the guitarist and voice of Pink Floyd, premiered an 85-minute theatrical version of “Remember That Night – Live at the Royal Albert Hall” Sept. 15. The film was screened at 111 theatres throughout the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, including Regal Fenway at the Landmark Center.
The concert featured Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, new band member Steve DiStanislao on drums and Pink Floyd regulars Dick Parry, Guy Pratt and Jon Carin.
The show included songs from Gilmour’s No. 1 UK chart-topping album “On An Island” as well as Pink Floyd classics like “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” (to which guests David Crosby and Graham Nash lent vocals), “Time,” “High Hopes,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb” and the first filmed performance (since Pink Floyd’s “Live at Pompeii”) of the epic 20 minute tour-de-force, “Echoes.”
“I’ve brought someone for you,” Gilmour announced to the crowd just before David Bowie walked onstage to perform a rendition of the Pink Floyd tune “Arnold Lane.” All songs were complemented by a corresponding laser light show.
Immediately following the screening, fans had the opportunity to ask Gilmour questions during a special Q’A forum, live via satellite from London. Gilmour answered questions like what CD he currently has in his car stereo (Joan Jett performing “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” because his “five-year-old daughter loves to sing it”) to more personal inquiries.
Gilmour recounted a favorite moment with former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett: a hitchhiking adventure they shared around France, singing Beatles songs and buying books from Old Olympia Press that were illegal in England in 1965.
“Purely by chance, I happen to have some musicians in the audience with me,” Gilmour said jokingly, before his band mates started a ten minute, live jam session.
Classic rock fans that missed Gilmour’s 2006 tour and the theatrical screening have an opportunity to reminisce in “Remember That Night – Live At The Royal Albert Hall,” a double DVD commemorating Gilmour’s 2006 “On An Island” Royal Albert Hall concert.
Lasting more than five hours, the film features special guest appearances from David Bowie, Robert Wyatt, David Crosby and Graham Nash.
“Remember That Night” gives fans a virtual backstage pass allowing them to delight in musical highlights from the 2006 tour.
Among more than two hours of bonus features, the DVD includes “Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine.” Directed and filmed by Gavin Elder, “Breaking Bread” is a fly on the wall documentary, following the highs and lows of Gilmour and his band on tour. The DVD also includes a 20-page booklet featuring 80 photos selected from tours, studio recordings and leisure time.
“I hope the DVD captures the magic of the tour,” Gilmour said. “There is definitely a sense of excitement, isn’t there? It’s fantastic.”
