LONDON - LIVE 66-67

Peter Whitehead's film Tonite Let's All Make Love In London focused on swinging London in the 60s. A friend of Syd Barrett's suggested that his band would be perfect for the soundtrack of the movie. Whitehead was already familiar with Pink Floyd from the days (1964) when they practiced in the cellar of the building he lived in.

This piece of history is now available for the first time from UK label Snapper Music. I was amazed watching this nugget of culture and music. It is hard to imagine that this happened forty years ago. It does not seem possible. Its comparable to jumping into some strange time warp when you get involved watching an absorbing film like this.

The focus of the film is the youth of London. The talk of the day was their literal lust for the good times found in the cities nightclubs, namely the thirst for sex. While Pink Floyds music was light-years ahead of its time so was Whitehead. He captured a time in the course of our history in culture and music that shaped the future. There is some shocking footage, considering it was 40 years ago. One the first scenes to open the film are a completely nude girl covered in paint and the British flag as she fondles her nipples. This is something you would expect to see today, not in 1967. While it did come as a surprise, it should not have. It was a time of free love and personal expression, which seemed to have no barriers.

The original lineup of Pink Floyd included Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Rick Wright. The DVD shows the band performing their freaked out psychedelic tripped out tracks, which I refer to as progressive or experimental rock, "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Nick's Boogie." What is nice about this package is that they included a CD you can play on your stereo as well.

Whilst I felt swept away by the images before me, I was equally astounded of how advanced Pink Floyd was in the pre-David Gilmour era. I realize the importance of some other bands that were traveling down the same road like The Beatles and The Pretty Things but I have to say that this was simply an outstanding recording and film while providing a great example of the future of music developing and taking hold right before your eyes. They were truly innovative and a pioneer of a genre. This is history in the making for film and music-an all together awesome combination and a marvelous dedication to the creative arts.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

November 9, 2005