Pink Floyd’s 1973 album The Dark Side Of The Moon is arguably the most recognizable album in rock and roll history. Spending a record-breaking 741 weeks on the US top albums Billboard charts, the release cemented Pink Floyd’s reputation as the premiere art rock band of a generation.
While the album was released on March 1st, 1973, the band actually premiered The Dark Side Of The Moon live before ever entering the studio. After technical difficulties halted Floyd’s first performance on January 20th, 1972, the group took the stage one night later and delivered the first-ever, full-length performance of the album. They then recorded it at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London starting in May 1972.
The live set matches the album closely. With a handful of differences, including a spacey jam instead of “On The Run” and some church-like organ progressions instead of “The Great Gig In The Sky”, it’s interesting to see how the music evolved from a live performance in Portsmouth, UK to one of the most well-known albums of all time, just a little over a year later.
Also remarkable is that a full recording of the show exists! Not only that, but it’s on YouTube. Feast your ears on the first-ever full live performance on The Dark Side Of The Moon below:
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon (first-ever live performance)
[Video: Alberto Vannelli]
[Originally published 1/20/19]