Wish You Where Here

As Pink Floyd unleash their multi-sensory exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sam Rogg explores the kaleidoscopic past of one of the world’s greatest bands.

- Sam Rogg

Pink Floyd do not know what people mean by psychedelic pop, and are not trying to cause hallucinatory effects on their audience,’ announced their record company in 1967 as London’s radio stations raced to ban their debut single. In fact, it was just the kind of publicity that most bands of the Sixties could only dream of and, within a year, the little-known English rock group were on course to becoming one of the greatest bands of all time. Fifty years and more than 250 million record sales later, they’re back in the headlines – this time for their first major retrospective, The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains at the Victoria and Albert Museum. And just like their legendary live shows, it’s a multi-sensory spectacle that is sure to blow your mind.

Devised in collaboration with the remaining members of the band and featuring more than 350 objects and artefacts including instruments, handwritten lyrics, posters, a laser light show and unseen concert footage, this immersive and theatrical exhibition celebrates all that made Pink Floyd unique.

Not yet a fan? Take a trip to The Dark Side of the Moon – their extraordinary 1973 album exploring the human condition. As one of the best-selling records of all time, it’s thought that one in 12 people owns a copy. Not bad for a group of boys from Cambridge, whose sound was originally dismissed by some as ‘not even music’.

FOUR THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PINK FLOYD

1. They initially wanted to become architects