This tour of Animals required a huge amount of precision and timing. Roger was particularly demanding about getting the cues right and actually made a comment in his terse way that night over the PA, which got the crew scurrying around in a panic. A large inflatable Pig appeared and went across the whole stadium. For me, he was one of the most menacing ones that they had created. At one moment the Pig became stuck. An announcer came on and asked, "If anyone has hold of the line on the pig, please let go. It is very dangerous. We are trying to bring it back in from over the audience. Please, please let go of the line." Despite it all, it was a "World Series of Rock show!" But it was not so for the band. When I finally got backstage, there were just arguments and tension. Roger was just not happy. He even treated the band as though they were hired hands. The Tick, Tick of the click track and the cues took over. Many times, I have felt that they had no idea how special, magical and full of Beauty the gigs were they had created. Even in the mistakes, Beauty can transcend. I suppose it got lost in the details of their own isolated experience. I am glad I had the memory of what they had achieved along with many others.
CHAPTER 26
A REUNION OF FAMILY
PHILADELPHIA
June 1977
We stayed in New York and traveled down for the Gigs at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. My dad and step-mum, Agnes, lived in Philly on the north side of town so we took our limousine to pay a visit. They hadn't seen Alice or even a Floyd show so it made their day when we arrived in our limo. Agnes recently told me that over the years Daddy never knew who the DJ Gilmour was that he was always posting my pressies and letters to in England. Until one day, I had sent him a signed album from the entire band. "Pink Floyd, what in the devil is that?" he exclaimed. "What is she getting into now?" That was in the beginning. He eventually showed the album to some of the neighborhood kids who exclaimed, "He's FAMOUS, Chuck!" Agnes said that my father's chest grew bigger and bigger with pride as the realization dawned. He was ever so popular with all the local children and even more so once they knew who his daughter was married to. So on the day we arrived they all appeared as our stretch limo came up in front of their house on Kirby Drive. Albums and pens in hand, hoping to meet their idol. However, they had to wait, as David would come the next day. Apparently, Daddy had no idea what was happening, but Agnes said he loved it.
There was also a family gathering in the custom of the "Hasenbeins." Uncle Tom, Aunt Marie and Aunt Anna arrived including Agnes's Mom, Elsie. Nannan and Poppop were still alive and made a special trip from New Jersey to see us as well. It was the last time that I saw them all for they passed over in the following years. It was a great and a lovely reunion with that side of my family from childhood.
***
Many summers as a child were spent walking the boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey with them. Uncle Tom especially used to spoil us with lots of cotton candy and funny jokes. The summer evenings were balmy with the sound of children squealing as they twirled on the rides above the crashing waves below. Aunt Anna and Aunt Marie and Elsie loved all the games, which there were lots of to place a few pennies on. The ding ding still plays in my ears.
In our recent phone conversation, Agnes told me that Wildwood was always a place they came during the Great Depression of her childhood. Their home was just on The Frankford Junction, which had a direct line to Wildwood. Her family often would hop on the train for a day out to walk on the boardwalk. Later, when the family could afford it, they went by car. Listening to her brought back so many memories for her and for me.
David came the next day, but had to leave early for sound check and we were to meet him at the gig later. Agnes recalls that David was extremely warm and gracious to them. In fact, she says that all her Pink Floyd memories were joyful and everyone they met were warm and gracious. She chuckled last night as she remembered their first concert. She said, "It was really exciting!" A rock concert was never something either of them would have ever dreamt to experience. She was surprised how much she enjoyed it. I could see the sparkle in her eyes from her voice. Gee, I am so glad to have asked her now. She said, "It was loud!" with a chuckle. In addition, she was amazed how much everyone enjoyed the music. "AND they knew all the lyrics!" she exclaimed. Their attention fascinated her. And my Dad was chuffed how popular he was with the people he sat next to, once they knew he was family.
As Daddy and Agnes got ready, I had the limo driver take Elsie, Uncle Tom and my two Aunts home. Agnes will never forget the look on their faces as they drove away, which was their first limo ride. They felt royal. And I shall never forget the smiles upon my Dad's and Agnes's faces when they saw the neighborhood children standing on the sidewalk saluting as we left the drive.
I don't recall much about the concert as they were beginning to be one of the same. The daily having a child on the road took more precedence, which at least added a flavor of humanity within the blur. Insuring that we didn't lose complete reality with daily life. Having said that, it was still special (though taxing), as the hours were long. Early mornings, even with a nanny, traveling with a private plane, unpacking, packing, hotel after hotel, food on the road, the gig and the late nights was not quite, what I thought the path of Love and motherhood would be.
However, as I have often said, there was something that made all of that ok - between the traveling, the gigs, the groupies, the alcohol, the sleeping pills, the uppers, and sometimes cocaine. We were a mule train linked together by a common experience. Somewhere amidst the chaos there was beauty and hope, which kept us, going. Perhaps it was the music or the beauty uniting us all. We just kept Those Doggies Rollin!
CHAPTER 27
A PARADE OF ANIMALS
NEW YORK CITY
1-4 July 1977
Next stop was New York, New York and it was over the Fourth of July weekend at Madison Square Garden. This would be the first time for the Floyd to perform at MSG and we heard that Columbia Records had staged a publicity stunt to promote the album. Apparently, they paraded live animals up 6th Avenue to Central Park behind a flatbed truck bearing a video camera and loudspeakers blaring the album. A few of Columbia's personnel walked behind with a pig, a sheep, a dog, along with a hundred or more fans. Quite, a stunt. Poor animals, but who are the animals really, I wonder? I am glad I was not there to see it. I might have thrown up a fuss.
***
As we entered MSG for rehearsals, I could feel its history within its walls. This place was where Marilyn Monroe sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." It was JFK's 45th birthday celebration on 19 May 1962, and I was thirteen. It was a special day for America to celebrate, the day the president was born. He was a president we loved. I remember just how much it meant to me as I watched it on the telly with my family. It is so powerful when a nation is held in honor together. It reaches beyond the telly. It touched my childhood heart that night with Love.
More memories emerged as I sat in the empty hall listening to David warming up. Roger walked back and forth across the stage giving directions to the road crew. Things must be right. It was here that John Lennon made his final live performance. It was 28 November 1974. Elton John was in concert, when Lennon walked onto the stage. The audience was silent as the surprise took hold. They had made a bet while recording "What ever gets you through the night." If it made it to number one, Lennon would join Elton in his Thanksgiving Concert, and it did.
It was the only single of John's solo career to hit number one. Therefore, he lived up to the deal and rocked out together with Elton. They also sang "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,"which further filled the hearts of the audience with Joy and the feeling of Miracles. With arms swaying in the air, the magic of the song came alive once again. Now it was our turn and it was another national celebration, 4th of July, Independence Day.
Juliette Wright and her children, Gala and Jamie, were to fly in from London for the shows. I was looking forward to spending time with them for we had become good friends ever since I arrived in the UK. I had spent a lot o
f time with Rick and Juliette in their London home watching their children grow up. Juliette was highly cosmopolitan and I met many creative and eccentric people who I found very inspiring. We always had a laugh and I can still hear the sound of Juliette's mirth, as we often sat together at the mixer.
During our time together, Rick and Juliette shared many stories about the early Pink Floyd, especially about Sid. It was all new to me. I had been carried like a feather on the wind into their history. I wanted to know more. Rick had been very close to Sid, trying hard to help him find balance towards the end of his time with the band. One of Sid's girlfriends would often be there at their dinnerparties or just over for a cup of tea with the girls for a chat. She was so beautiful and reminded me a bit of Jayne Mansfield.
We spent time together often walking down the Kings Rd. window shopping, appreciating all the London fashions. We had stopped in a café for a light lunch when she shared with me that Sid was a real challenge, as he was prone to being jealous. Their relationship was during the most difficult period when Sid was becoming rather unstable. He was possessive, controlling and prone to explosions.
I can see why he was that way due to his insecure and drug induced perspective. It seems he had reccurring concerns of the loss of his relationship with her. His insecurity stirred by the fact that she was extremely glamorous and men were very attracted to her. His concern was unfounded, but was real to him. As he was not of sound mind at the time, this characteristic rather dominated their relationship, which had to end sadly to safeguard her own sanity.
***
I hadn't been in the States during the 4th of July celebrations for many years, let alone, to be in New York for a Floyd gig at Madison Square Garden. There was such a buzz in the air as the essence of independence marked the moment. American flags came out of the closets and were waving in the breeze, hanging from the apartment buildings and windows. Huge flags were on metal poles everywhere. People were wearing red, white and blue everything. It was a party in the streets. My heart filled with such happiness being home once again in America in the atmosphere of jubilation. I loved Europe, but 4th of July weekend awakened something archetypal as I looked out of my taxi window. It was my national spirit. On that day, Juliette, Jenny McCreddie and I were going shopping, which was our custom. We always looked for something that was special and not found in London to take home. Jenny was Warwick's wife who was one of the first of David's friends that I had met way back when my journey began. They were part of my family across the waters. Now Warwick was our PA on tour and his sister, Winsome, and her husband, Peter, took care of our home and animals. Later they became surrogate Aunt and Uncle for our children.
The Floyd were always punctual. The gigs started at 8:00 p.m. sharp and the audiences were hyped up and ready. Tickets were hard to get, as they had to be purchased by mail order, so it was a precious evening for most. When the lights dimmed, the crowd went crazy with whistles and shouts of excitement. It was deafening, but you could still hear the music. It was during "Dogs" that the audience were taken to greater heights. David's guitar leads proved the best in the first half while the inflatables floated to the ceiling. The second half was oldies but goodies with "Us and Them" holding the audience silently spellbound. But "Money" as the encore got them to their feet again.
On the 3rd of July, the audience were more restless. It was getting closer to the 4th of July and the city, perhaps the country, was getting rather over-stimulated. Consequently, they set off fireworks in the hall several times during the show. This did alarm the band, the promoter and the NYPD. So much so, that on the 4th there would be stronger precautions and searches at the door.
Fireworks were not to be the only challenge in MSG during our time in NYC. It was the local union's insistence to do our lighting. UGH! The show was so dependent on its precision. There were so many elements to coordinate that only the band's trained team could do it. This was not the first time there was an issue with the unions. Steve O'Rourke was on call trying to find a compromise. Roger swore at them at the end of the show for their incompetence and inability to work together. Fortunately, the fans did not seem to notice. They loved the gig. The show went on despite the pops and the bangs.
In the morning of the 4th , I had the idea to take a horse drawn carriage from Central Park to the gig. Juliette and Jenny were up for it, though I did have to work hard to inspire them. We were dressed in our usual New York City finery and embarked upon our adventure in the open carriage. Rick and Juliette's son, Jamie, sat up front with the driver, exuberant as a young boy would be. It was super riding down the Manhattan streets and the weather was perfect. My favorite movie clips of couples in love, circling Central Park, sparked my imagination, as we rode along under the leaves of the trees. I just loved NYC.
As we got closer to the venue, the crowds started to build up towards the entrance. The NYPD were performing searches for fireworks and other unacceptable items. Of course! I hadn't thought about this situation the night before. Crowd control was keeping the tension checked. At least, we hoped. Unfortunately, it became more difficult to penetrate the crowd with our carriage. We found ourselves stuck amongst them, feeling a bit vulnerable as their agitation grew. Packed like sardines in the heat, worried they would miss the start of the show. Some started to whistle and make wise cracks as we inched along. The horse got nervous along with us. Gone was the security of our limousine. Our eyes reflected our concern behind a brave face and a smile.
We finally reached the backstage entrance all a tremble, still in the carriage, for we were too frightened to leave it amongst the crowd. Juliette and I both agreed that never again would we let our heart fantasy put us in such a situation. We were just grateful to have gotten to the gig safe and in one piece. I often wonder how the journey home was for the carriage man and his horse.
I sat at the mixer as usual, but could not stay long as my nerves were a bit shot. The audience seemed so on edge it sparked mine further. The mischief the night before and our carriage experience, left me unsettled. Feeling the fervor in the hall being between excitement and frustration, became too much. So I left to find sanctuary back stage. Brian Humphries, their sound engineer, told me later that just minutes after I had left, a mini-firecracker exploded close to where I had sat. The one firecracker that got away, Heh? What grace that was. Time and time again, I have been protected even from my own folly.
CHAPTER 28
IS THERE ANYONE LISTENING?
Montreal 6 July 1977
It was during the latter part of the tour that the sizes of the crowds were getting Roger down. In fact, in Montreal, he actually spat at the audience because he felt that they were only there to party and not listen. I have to agree with him up to a point. Sitting out at the mixer gave a different perspective. Most of the audience was there to listen and did. The Unruly ones up front made most of the commotion. During the recording of Animals, Roger started to act as if he was the sole writer and master of ideas for the band. In addition, he was the only reason that the band could keep going. Gone were the days of unity with the Dark Side of the Moon. He was starting to treat the others as hired musicians sadly forgetting how the Floyd came to be.
I always saw Roger's frustration, but he was becoming more narcissistic. I firmly felt that he did not realize the energetic and creative parts that David and the others contributed towards balancing his character traits. Or realize how much they were a gestalt and that their music formed through their alchemical process. It might just be his soul, calling him to leave the band. He was a tortured man. Our challenge was not to go down the slippery slope with him. Time would tell.
Roger had divorced Judy, his first wife, in 1975 and had fallen in love with Lady Caroline Christie. They married in 1976. Their bond seemed to reinforce Roger's ego trip or perhaps encouraged his path of his own creative realization. The process did stir the waters. All the wives stood behind their man but each had different ways to do that. As the families grew, the gestalt of the
Floyd had to adapt. Whether that was good or not, it was what it was. Roger was always taking much of his frustrations out on Rick and I slowly observed Rick's resolve breaking over the years. Somehow, I don't think he liked being a punching bag. Who would? I remember when each of them had been gifted Cartier watches. Later, we were all sitting by the pool, having lunch at Roger's house in the South of France, while the band was there to record The Wall. Some of us rented a home while the Floyd recorded their next creative cycle for the album. Roger was in one of his moods, and he asked if he could look at Rick's watch. As Roger was holding it in his hand, he leaned over the pool and dropped it in the water. Rick said nothing. Roger's expression on his face was one of silent satisfaction. He had won that round.
I think on that day, I began to lose my tolerance for the psychological games they often played between each other for fun. David often stayed quiet and even today his guitar is where he expresses the depth of what he feels. Unfortunately, our life together was changing, as the music changed its emphasis into transforming Roger's archetypical struggles. Or were they ours as well? In that last gig in Montreal, David held a silent, stubborn stance and walked off the stage because the band did not perform well. He refused to do an encore because he felt it was a lie of honor. The gigs were getting so technical. The music was becoming lost in the tension. He used to be in his creative world, sometimes standing with his back to the audience feeling. Now he had headphones. They all had headphones. And the freedom to feel the music was disappearing behind the click track. David had had enough that evening. Snowy White, the second guitarist hired as background support, had to take over during the encore as David had left. In fact, David went out to the mixer to access the situation. My heart leaped to see him standing there. I didn't know what to do, hug him or hold my distance. I chose to wait for I felt a storm brewing. Snowy remembers the moment that he was in the freedom of his guitar. Unfortunately, it was right when the road crew started to dismantle the gear. It was the same night that Roger lost his temper and spat at one of the obnoxious punters below.
Memoirs of the Brightside of the Moon Page 13