A Pocketful of Stones

Today is the birthday of David Gilmour, vocalist and guitarist of the legendary British band Pink Floyd. Call it a stroke of genius or 'a momentary lapse of reason' (pun intended) but David is giving his fans a gift on his birthday by allowing them a free download for 48 hours of "A Pocketful of Stones", a single from his 2006 album, 'On an Island.'

The single, with lyrics by Polly Samson, was written by David Gilmour, who aside from doing the vocals, also played guitars, percussion, Hammond organ and bass on the track. The song also features Polish classical/jazz musician Leszek Mozdzer on piano and Alasdair Malloy on glass harmonica.

You can download "A Pocketful of Stones" in MP3 or WAV form HERE, and will be available until 11:59pm UK time on Wednesday, the 7th of March.

Total Eclipse: Pink Floyd founder Richard Wright dies at 65

RICHARD WRIGHT (1943- 2008)


LONDON (Reuters) - Pink Floyd keyboard player and founding member Richard Wright died on Monday after a short battle with cancer, his spokesman said. He was 65.

Wright, guitarist Roger Waters and drummer Nick Mason founded the band that became Pink Floyd in the 1960s when they were students. Pink Floyd went on to become one of the biggest names in rock.

"The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer," his spokesman said in a statement.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

Wright co-wrote five songs on the record "Dark Side of the Moon" which was released in 1973, spent 14 years on the Billboard 200 album chart and is one of the best selling albums ever.

Wright left Pink Floyd after falling out with Waters during sessions for "The Wall." He rejoined the band in 1987.


Here are two songs that were part of the seminal album "The Dark Side of the Moon" although I took these songs from another album, "Delicate Sound of Thunder"--

Us and Them--




The Great Gig in the Sky--

David Gilmour wants to say "Gdansk You!"

There will be a one- night showing in select movie houses across North America of Pink Floyd original David Gilmour's Live in Gdansk concert. This will coincide with the release of the live album itself.

Here's more from his website...





David's next album is Live in Gdansk, a double live album plus concert DVD to be released on Monday 22nd September 2008 (Tuesday 23rd in North America; Wednesday 8th October in Japan).

The last concert on David's 2006 Summer Tour was held in front of 50,000 people at the shipyards in Gdańsk, Poland, at the request of the Gdańsk Foundation.

The creation of the Solidarity movement, after Lech Walesa's sacking from the shipyards, led directly to the dismantling of the Soviet Union's control over the former Eastern Bloc, and to the reunification of Germany.

The concert was the only occasion on which David performed the tour material with an orchestra, using the 40-strong string section of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zbigniew Preisner, who was responsible for the On An Island album's orchestral arrangements.

Other unique features of the show included the special 6-screen design, created by lightmeister Marc Brickman to allow each band member his own dedicated screen for the edification of the audience; the performance of A Great Day For Freedom with the orchestral arrangement of the late Michael Kamen, and a guest appearance by prominent Polish pianist Leszek Mozdzer, who reprised his piano part from A Pocketful Of Stones.

Live in Gdansk will be available in versions to fit every pocket. The 2-CD audio-only version represents the August 2006 concert from the Gdańsk Shipyard, featuring David and his stellar touring band plus a 40-strong orchestra. The final concert of the On An Island tour in front of 50,000 people, it can be seen as well as heard on the 3-disc version, which includes an extra concert DVD (114 minutes long) and Gdańsk Diary, a 37-minute filmed documentary. All of the show is included on the CDs, except for Wot's... Uh The Deal?, which does however make an appearance over the concert end-credits on the DVD.

There is also a 4-disc version, packaged, like the 2-disc and the 3-disc, in a carbon-neutral cardboard wallet, with a 12-page booklet including credits and concert photos, plus a 5-disc package, presented in a cardboard box with bonus collectable extras. The 4-disc version is the same as the 3-disc version, but with an additional DVD of live performances from the Mermaid Theatre, the AOL Sessions, and Abbey Road. It also has three brand-new tracks performed as live jams by David with Richard Wright, Steve DiStanislao and Guy Pratt, filmed in David's barn. In addition, it also has the whole On An Island album in 5.1 surround sound audio, on Dolby Digital or DTS format.

As if that wasn't enough, the 5-disc version has all of the aforementioned discs, plus an extra audio CD of live tracks recorded on the Summer 2006 tour, and a 24-page booklet, reproduction concert memorabilia and a 2-sided poster.

Finally, for vinyl junkies, the entire concert will be available in a box of LPs: 8 sides will be the concert, including Wot's... Uh The Deal?, while the 5th disc holds two Barn Jams, On The Turning Away live from Venice, and two songs from the Live From Abbey Road sessions. You also get a 'Webpass', which allows one complete download of the whole five discs in MP3 format to a computer of your choice.

Another Brick in the Wall

Pink Floyd received the 2008 Polar Prize worth $157, 700 from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in honor of their contribution to popular music.


The Polar Prize, founded by Stig Anderson, (a.k.a. the manager of ABBA) is Sweden’s highest and biggest music prize and is usually given to pop artists and classical musicians. Some past winners were Paul McCartney, Pierre Boulez and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few, all successful artists in their own right.

The Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt cited Pink Floyd who was represented by Nick Mason and Roger Waters for "a monumental contribution ... and captured the mood and spirit of a whole generation in their reflections and attitudes."

Various Swedish artists performed their songs during the ceremony which were capped by the singing of their monstrous hit “Another Brick in the Wall.”

They shared the honors with soprano Renee Fleming who was also honored for her contribution to opera.