After thinking about light shows, I started to think about visual culture and began searching for images that had to do with Pink Floyd, particularly album artwork and posters. I found that images circa the early years of Pink Floyd were strikingly different than later images. The earlier images are more "psychedelic" looking. When I think "psychedelic," I think intricate patterns and vibrant colors. Here are a few examples of images that definitely make use of these psychedelic visual components:
"Pink Floyd in Concert," 1966
"Pink Floyd at the Whisky A-Go-Go," 1967
Compare these images to later photographic images that appear more simple, evocative and sophisticated:
I can't help but think that this visual change is perhaps reflective of the changing Pink Floyd sound. Earlier Pink Floyd songs like "See Emily Play," "Bike" and "Astronomy Domine" really do sound more psychedelic. As the group transitioned into progressive rock, however, the tone shifted a bit. Tracks from The Dark Side and The Wall commented on the social and political worlds of that time, which was different from earlier songs that celebrated the Summer of Love spirit. Does that mean that Pink Floyd totally shed their psychedelic roots? I'll delve more into this question in a later blog entry.
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