Pink Floyd - Games For May (1967)

Fifty years ago, on 12th May 1967, The Pink Floyd performed their first conceptional-like concert named Games For May - Space Age Relaxation For The Climax Of Spring at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.
Set up by their (then) managers Andrew King and Peter Jenner (Blackhill Enterprises) and it was promoted by classical promoter Christopher Hunt.
It was also the first surround-sound rock concert ever. Thanks to their homemade proto-quadraphonic device, the 'Azimuth Co-ordinator'.



Next to their early songs and recent finished material off their first album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn,
the band also presented a totally new song specially written for this event: 'See Emily Play' (eventually then known as 'Games For May', hence its mentioning in the chorus).
Reportedly this song contained slightly different lyrics at that time. 'See Emily Play' was recorded at Sound Techniques in Chelsea not long after the concert and became the Floyd's first Top 10 hit in Great Britain.

Syd, Roger, Rick and Nick performed the following songs at the Games For May concert:
- Matilda Mother
- Flaming
- Scarecrow
- Games For May (See Emily Play)
- Bike
- Arnold Layne
- Candy And A Currant Bun
- Pow R. Toc H.
- Interstellar Overdrive
- Lucifer Sam (encore)




Roger Waters (source: sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com)

Before, during and after the performance a couple of sound effects could be heard.
Including 'Dawn' which was a sound collage of bird calls and other natural sounds, this was also played at the foyer of the Hall prior the gig.


Roger Waters (source: sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com)

Also, plastic ducks were used. Probably during the end part of 'Bike', as on the album.
Here's Syd preparing one of those ducks:



Besides Roger throwing potatoes at a large gong, the band (obviously Nick) also chopped up wood on stage while a man (dressed up as an admiral) was giving out daffodils to the audience.
Those lots of flowers and bubbles, produced from a machine (controlled by Rick), while the show was in progress, stained all the furniture in the hall.
Because of that, the band was banned from ever playing in the Queen Elizabeth Hall again. Also, the mentioned Azimuth Co-ordinator was stolen right after the show was ending.



Nonetheless this concert is an important chapter in the band's early history.
After Syd Barrett's departure and David Gilmour's arrival in 1968, the band did more exciting concert experiments:
The Man/The Journey (1969), Eclipse (Dark Side Of The Moon) (1972-74), The Wall (1980-81)


Syd Barrett (source: sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com)

Nick Mason (source: sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com)

Much later, rumours went round that the concert was taped via professional (multitrack) recording devices by EMI, but Peter Jenner denied this.
Though some visitors believed to have seen recording machines at the venue, no true evidence ever came up.

Happy 50th, Games For May! Let's still see Emily play!

 

Wow!! How great would it be if a tape popped up?
I can add this to the "Concerts I wish I went to" list.

 

One my biggest wishes as well. I was hoping for it while the Floyd's Early Years campaign came up but sadly nothing was mentioned about that.
And yeah, over the last few months I doubt that this spectacle was taped.

 

@andrewskyDE
BTW, great post!!!

 

Some more photos from the concert incoming.

Here's Arnold Layne


Another rehearsal photo...

Thank you very much! I was preparing that one since a week actually.

 

Ahhhhh, a young Floyd at work, with Syd at the helm.

 

thank you for this wonderful post - made my day!!! I sure would love to see a recorded version of this but that's a dream at this point - but just the photos conjure so much

 

Rick and Syd (my favorite members!) discussing details...

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you like it!

 

Plastic ducks up front. There were even two gongs next to Roger!

 

Nice hat, Rick!

 

Apparently, this was quite an event. There was so much chemical flowing that they probably imagined they saw recording equipment. Who knows? One of those legendary shows never to be repeated due to the authenticity of the moment and the combination of those who were able to attend.

 

One of those ducks wants to eat Roger!

 

Roger playing vibraphone(?).

 

Thanks for the thread, @andrewskyDE !

 

My pleasure! I was reminded of the concert's date a while ago so I prepared something for it.

 

Related to this, two Games For May posters are on that '67 pic collage.

 

Concert ticket and alternative poster(s).



(Unfortunately no higher resolution available.)

 

Absolutely Fantastic, thank you. Rick's & Syd's musical talents are often overlooked...

 

This is a huge celebration. Too bad it will go largely unnoticed by almost all music fans. Great pics! RIP Syd and Rick.....and The Pink Floyd (as we knew and loved them!).

 

Actually I was being reminded about this from myself. I recorded an album related to this concert last year and mentioned the gig date on the description.^^
I named this album after the event. Pure Syd/Floyd covers, recorded at my home studio. The tracklist's order is nearly identical.

Games For May [Album] (Early Pink Floyd Songs Covers) (rec. 2016)

 

How can they be overlooked when they were the most critical members of the band?

 

Those ducks remind me a little of the duck Neil Innes used to wear on his head!

 

Yes, this on my list of shows to see when I get my own time machine.

They didn't get better, I think they were always a great band . They were a fantastic improv band, and yet could play great catchy pop tunes. And the idea of killer light shows that synced with the music since they worked close with the lighting crew.

I'd love it if someone who went (with memory intact) was able to talk about what it was like hearing a surround sound concert for the first time, or the ambient sounds of the bird call when you walk into the venue.

 

Magnificent post and thread! What a supreme nugget it would be indeed.