The Wall Is Released

Setting the scene

Pink Floyd's 1977 tour for Animals was exhausting, and Roger Waters felt alienated from stadium crowds who screamed over quiet passages. He conceived a rock opera about isolation, war, and fame partly inspired by Syd Barrett's mental decline and his own marriage troubles. Production costs and egos strained the band.

What happened

The Wall was released on November 30, 1979, as a double album with Another Brick in the Wall Part 2, Comfortably Numb, and Hey You. Bob Ezrin co-produced the theatrical narrative of Pink, a rock star building a psychological wall. A tour featured Gerald Scarfe animation and a literal wall constructed on stage.

Why it still matters

The album sold over 30 million copies and spawned a film starring Bob Geldof, while its anti-authoritarian school anthem topped charts. Waters later toured The Wall solo for decades. Memorable detail: the famous school choir on Another Brick Part 2 was recorded at Islington Green School in London without the kids knowing the song would become a global hit.

Background

Another Brick in the Wall dominated MTV early days.