S Poddar
Pink Floyd’s legendary concert film, recorded in the hauntingly empty amphitheater of Pompeii, is set to make a grand return to cinemas, including a release in Imax format. This historic performance, initially filmed in 1971 and released in 1972 under the title Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, has been meticulously restored from its original negatives. Accompanying this visual upgrade, the film’s soundtrack has been newly mixed by renowned progressive rock artist Steven Wilson.
This innovative concert film broke with traditional forms by having the band perform without a crowd, so the pure energy of their music could resonate off the ancient ruins. Catching Pink Floyd at a pivotal moment—just prior to the release of their seminal album The Dark Side of the Moon—the film provides a glimpse into their artistic process and musical development. Fans can see the remastered spectacle in theaters everywhere beginning April 24.
The film showcases Pink Floyd performing songs from their 1971 album Meddle, alongside earlier classics such as A Saucerful of Secrets and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. Interspersed with mesmerizing imagery of Pompeii’s historic ruins, the film also provides behind-the-scenes footage of the band crafting The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios. Songs like On the Run, Us and Them, and Brain Damage make appearances, offering fans a unique perspective on their development. Additional interviews with band members add depth to this cinematic time capsule.
The journey to restoring this film has been a long one. Lana Topham, Pink Floyd’s director of restoration, expressed her excitement over the rediscovery of the original 35mm negatives. *”Since 1994, I’ve been hunting for the missing film rushes of *Pink Floyd at Pompeii. So this latest find of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a real special moment,” she explained. With this discovery, viewers will get to see the movie in gorgeous 4K resolution.
The sound of the movie has been just as much given a fantastic makeover, with Steven Wilson taking the reins to make a new mix. *”Ever since my dad brainwashed me as a kid by playing *The Dark Side of the Moon* on repeat, Pink Floyd have been my favorite band. They are my Beatles, deeply ingrained in my musical DNA. I first saw Pompeii from a grainy print at a local cinema.”. It made an incredible impression on me with its untethered and exploratory rock music made by four musicians who seemed to epitomize the notion of intellectual cool,”* Wilson shared.
Although Pink Floyd at Pompeii has seen a number of DVD reissues over the years, the album itself had never been officially issued until it was included in 2016 in the company’s The Early Years box set. Now, it will be issued in a stand-alone version called Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, featuring Wilson’s new mix. Fans can get their hands on this long-awaited soundtrack on May 2 in multiple formats, including CD, vinyl, and streaming, with support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio. A Blu-ray and DVD edition of the film will also be released on the same day.
Decades after their original performance, Pink Floyd’s presence in Pompeii was revisited when David Gilmour returned to the site for a solo concert in 2016—this time, with an audience in attendance. The significance of Pompeii as a setting for these performances adds to the mystique of the original film, cementing its place in rock history.
Pink Floyd’s final studio release, The Endless River, was issued in 2014. Nonetheless, in 2022, Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason issued a new track as the band in the form of Hey, Hey, Rise Up as a pro-Ukraine statement, with Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk on vocals.
While the possibility of a full Pink Floyd reunion remains unlikely due to longstanding tensions among surviving members David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters, fans can still immerse themselves in the band’s legacy through this meticulously restored film and soundtrack. The return of Pink Floyd at Pompeii is more than a re-release—it’s a celebration of an iconic moment in music history, allowing both long-time fans and new listeners to witness the magic of Pink Floyd in an extraordinary setting.
