Live Sound
The Australian Pink Floyd Show
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW
Having sold over four million tickets for concerts that have taken place in 35 countries, The Australian Pink Floyd Show is not your average tribute act. The band’s guitarist and vocalist explains why Austrian Audio’s OC818 microphone is rocking his world. Words Alice Gustafson
“Pink Floyd created their own universe of sound – no other band has ever sounded the same,” enthuses The Australian Pink Floyd Show’s (TAPFS) guitarist and vocalist, Stephen McElroy. “It’s so important to capture not just the sound, but also the feel and the emotion of their amazing music.” The band certainly succeeded in their mission to replicate their musical heroes as faithfully as possible, as they were once booked by Pink Floyd’s very own David Gilmour to perform at his 50th birthday celebration. One of the original founding band members of what went on to become TAPFS, McElroy has enjoyed seeing the band grow from the early days, through to headlining at the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, Hammersmith Apollo, and London’s O2 Arena for a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Dark Side Of The Moon in 2013. Although it took them a while to get to this level, using the years to perfect their sound and showmanship. It all started in 1988 in Adelaide, Australia. Lee Smith – a local
44 Headliner
guitarist obsessed with Pink Floyd – wanted to augment his band, which at the time featured drummer, Grant Ross, and bassist, Trevor Turton. He placed an advert in Allan’s Music store which read: ‘Vocalist and keyboardist required for band. Professional attitude expected. We only play Pink Floyd.’ McElroy and Jason Sawford (current keyboard player) each saw the ad, and before they knew it, the now five-piece band commenced a regular weekly practice – naming themselves Think Floyd. Fast forward to 1993 and the band were known as The Australian Pink Floyd Show, playing a three-hour show as part of a Pink Floyd fan convention at Wembley that is talked about by fans to this day. The tribute act finally got the recognition they deserved, and started to get booked on more shows, so much so that this ended with the departure of homesick founder, Smith, and ‘Bear’ Sutton. In September 1994 came a show which changed everything: Gilmour visited the band backstage after a show in Croydon, pointing out that he’d never had the chance to see Pink
Floyd perform. “He was very complimentary, posed for pictures, and invited the band to perform at Pink Floyd’s party to mark the end of their Division Bell tour!” remembers McElroy. Due to curfew restraints at the venue, this plan fell through, but when the phone rang not long after, the band found themselves being asked to perform a handpicked set for Gilmour’s 50th birthday. TAPFS have since played for Pink Floyd themselves, even performing with members of the real band, and have also played at Battersea Power Station (the iconic building which appeared on Floyd’s Animals album cover). McElroy is fiercely passionate about the authenticity of the band’s sound, and has carefully built up an elaborate replica guitar rig that incorporates much of the same equipment that Gilmour uses. (His favourite is his late 70s blue Fender Stratocaster, which Gilmour has actually played). Naturally, the mics the band use on stage must adhere to the same level of sonic perfection, which is why TAPFS chose to use Austrian Audio OC818s while on tour.