![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ian-Brit-Floyd-by-Patrick-Kealey-Sr-scaled-e1783624288830-787x1024.jpg\")
Ian Cattell of Brit Floyd Credit: Patrick Kealey Sr.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s been more than three decades since Pink Floyd mounted their last tour. More than two since the classic quartet reunited to share the stage in London\u2019s Hyde Park at Live 8. And nearly that long since the death of keyboardist Richard Wright.<\/p>\n
Ian Cattell of Brit Floyd Credit: Patrick Kealey Sr.<\/p>\n
In the years since surviving members David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason have all mounted shows whose setlists have relied heavily on the Pink Floyd catalog\u2014though not often enough for the band\u2019s legions of fans.<\/p>\n
Filling that void have been two active units for whom the term \u201ctribute band\u201d doesn\u2019t seem to suffice.<\/p>\n
The Australian Pink Floyd Show (est. 1993) and Brit Floyd (est. 2010) have both gone full-out to not only reproduce a Pink Floyd show with accompanying lasers, films, balloons, visual\/special effects, and bombastic-ness, but amplify the experience. And since members of TAPFS actually left to form BF, they\u2019ve been circling each other somewhat warily out on the road.<\/p>\n
Well, Houston fans of Pink Floyd will either have cause for zealous celebration or face a saucerful of a Sophie\u2019s Choice when both groups visit the area within two days of each other: Brit Floyd on July 17 at the Bayou Music Center in downtown and the Australian Pink Floyd show on July 19 at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
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So like a sonic Switzerland of neutrality, the Houston Press spoke with members of both bands: vocalist Chris Barnes on the Aussie side, and vocalist\/bassist Ian Cattell for the Brits.<\/p>\n
Barnes says that the Aussie Floyd tour, titled \u201cThe Happiest Days of Our Lives,\u201d will be a sort of \u201cgreatest hits\u201d compilation of Pink Floyd\u2019s best-known numbers with the occasional deep cut thrown in.<\/p>\n
Cattell\u2014a founding member of Brit Floyd\u2014says his tour titled \u201cThe Moon, The Wall, and Beyond\u201d will feature The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety and a healthy sampling of The Wall, Pink Floyd\u2019s two most popular albums.<\/p>\n
As the \u201cRoger Waters\u201d of Brit Floyd, Cattell says he doesn\u2019t really try to force his own vocal or playing stamp on the material or improvise. He says audiences come wanting to hear the songs as they remember them from studio\/live albums or FM radio, and that\u2019s what he wants to deliver.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not playing a version that\u2019s unfamiliar to people. One that David Gilmour or Roger Waters might do in their own shows since it\u2019s their own material. We stick to a version that\u2019s out there,\u201d he says. \u201cBut we do put a bit of ourselves in there. And as the bass player, I probably get away with that more than most!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Similarly, Barnes handles most of the Roger Waters-sung tunes of Aussie Floyd. But he\u2019s not as keen to put himself out there. \u201cIdeally, I don\u2019t want to be Chris at all!\u201d he laughs. \u201cI don\u2019t want to listen to a gig and go \u2018Oh, that\u2019s sounds like me!\u2019 But the natural tone of my singing voice is like Roger\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps more than any other classic rock band, Pink Floyd is the one who then\u2014and now with the tribute bands\u2014lends itself more to a synthesis of sound and sight. And the people at the microphone, hitting the drums, or plucking the guitars are just part of the entire experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Barnes says he\u2019s \u201clucky\u201d in that respect. \u201cThere\u2019s 10 of us in the band. Pink Floyd didn\u2019t have a guy on his own singing. And it\u2019s not just about the performers, it\u2019s the music and the show,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to perform this music, but we\u2019re like an orchestra\u2014anonymous people playing the music. I only talk to the audience twice, and briefly. Or, as [band co-founder] Steve Mac says, we\u2019re like professors in a laboratory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some professor backstage is in charge of inflating \u201cSkippy,\u201d the giant inflatable kangaroo (a particular Aussie nod to Pink Floyd\u2019s trademark flying inflatable pig. And yes, it\u2019s a she.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Cattell has similar feelings about an onstage and behind the scenes balance. \u201cIt\u2019s an enormous group effort not only with musicians, but lighting designers and laser designers, and stage workers. A lot of work that goes on months before we start the tour,\u201d Cattell, who has his own background in lighting, offers. \u201cThese guys are geniuses and work very hard. And Damian [Darlington, co-founding vocalist\/guitarist] is very much involved with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for playing in Houston, Barnes says he\u2019s usually struck by a quote on a backstage wall at the Bayou Music Center, where they\u2019ve previously played.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s from one of my favorite films, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: \u2018We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.\u2019 I take a picture of that every time I play there,\u201d he says. \u201cOther than that, it\u2019s very, very hot. That\u2019s my memory of Houston!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Cattell\u2019s memories are also a bit sticky.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always seem to play there around August, and it\u2019s very, very hot! I get uncomfortable when it\u2019s over 82 degrees!\u201d he laughs. \u201cI try to bring my bike out on tour, or at least I used to. The trails that go along the Bayou Music Center is something I always enjoy doing. But it\u2019s hard to get it on the equipment truck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, perhaps they could add the earliest Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd tune \u201cBike\u201d to the set list and bring it along as a stage prop?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s great! I can say I need it because it\u2019s part of the show!\u201d he says. \u201cI always like to do \u2018Bike.\u2019 Because 95 percent of the audience doesn\u2019t know what it is. But the other 5 percent is stoked!\u201d<\/p>\n
When the same song is suggested to Barnes, he\u2019s equally enthusiastic. \u201cI\u2019d love to do that one! I\u2019ll have to suggest that We always do at least one number that\u2019s sort of a doff of the cap to Syd. He\u2019s so important to the Pink Floyd story.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brit Floyd plays at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 17 at Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas. For more information, call 713-230-1600 or visit BayouMusicCenter.com<\/a>. $53-$118 plus fees.<\/p>\n For more on Brit Floyd, visit BritFloyd.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Australian Pink Floyd Show plays at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, at the Smart Financial Centre, 18111 Lexington. For more information, call 281-207-6278 or visit ATGTickets.com<\/a>. $18.25-$69.50 plus fees.<\/p>\n