Pink Floyd tribute band focus on Dark Side of the Moon for new tour (From Bucks Free Press)

Pink Floyd tribute band focus on Dark Side of the Moon for new tour

7:50am Saturday 12th January 2013 in Freetime By Rebecca Cain

IT'S a hard act to recreate. Pink Floyd are known across the world for their progressive and psychedelic music. But tribute band, Think Floyd, must be doing something right as they are beginning their tour for the 20th year. With audience numbers increasing each year Lewis Hall, who plays bass and sings in the stage show, speaks about his love for the band, the new scores of fans and the lasting appeal of their music.

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon became one of the best selling albums of all time and is well known for its prism album cover.

And it takes centre stage in Think Floyd's new show, as it celebrates 40 years since it was released. For Lewis, who is a huge Pink Floyd fan, it is his favourite album.

And he has been re-listening to the album with the other stage show members- Steve Farmer on drums, Richard Morse on guitar and Robert Gerrard on keyboard.

He said: "The Dark Side of the Moon is the main thing we are focusing on. We are listening in depth to the album. I have been doing it for ten years but you listen to the original recordings and you notice little things you have not noticed before- subtle little things."

Lewis is now the longest serving member as he joined in 2001. Think Floyd has been going for 20 years but the line up has changed over the years.

And essentially, he said, they don't pretend to be the band themselves as ultimately it is a stage show.

He said:"With Pink Floyd it is all about the music and the light show. We prefer to spend the time and money perfecting that rather than put on silly wigs and flowery shirts."

The band all practise in their respective home towns, with Lewis living in Peterborough, and perfect their performance listening to recordings and watching You Tube videos of live performances.

But unfortunately they have never met the band.

He said: "There has been lots of rumours that they have been at our shows. They have never officially introduced themselves to us."

He said they play at festival in Lindos in Rhodes every year, where Pink Floyd member David Gilmour lives and he likes to think he watches from his balcony.

And as Lewis is only 32 he didn't get to see them perform. He was invited to the Live 8 performance when the band reunited but he had another show that night where he was performing.

But he admits he was more of a fan of their 70s work and the golden year for him to see them perform would have been 1973.

Think Floyd continues to attract audiences to their shows, with numbers rising each year. Jackie Palmer Stage School will star in the production in High Wycombe during Another Brick In The Wall.

He said: "We have been really lucky. All the work has been done by Pink Floyd.

"Alongside Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and the Stones, Pink Floyd will always have a new group of fans with each generation. As long as that keeps happening people will keep coming to see us."

And they get great feedback from fans, with some saying it is better to see them than the real thing as it is in theatres and there is great sound and easy viewing.

Lewis added: "I think the best thing is when someone says if you close your eyes it is like you are at a Pink Floyd concert."

Think Floyd is at the Wycombe Swan on Thursday, January 24 at 7.30pm. Tickets range from £19-£22 from 01494 512000 or go to www.wycombeswan.co.uk

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