PINK FLOYD « Atom-Hühe and Nurejev », Pop Magazine, March 1971.
Interviewer: « Pink Floyd play very unconventional music - do you associate this interpretation with a particular concern? »
Roger Waters: « We try to make our music as interesting as possible so that people will listen to us. We don't convey a particular message ».
Interviewer: « But there is enough that needs to be improved and criticised! ? »
Roger Waters: « As I got older, I realised more and more how trivial it is to do unconstructive things. At the moment, most people waste their lives doing worthless activities. For example, when someone works ten hours a day in a factory making cars just for the money. That is wasted time. Labour should be used to really improve life - not just for profit - so the basis of life - not only in the West but also in the East - needs to be changed »
Interviewer: « But the main motive today is profit. Everyone knows it, but nobody does anything about it. After all, the power is in the hands of the profiteers! »
Roger Waters: « I want to try to change that. I do not identify myself with Soviet Russia, China or other communist states. Because although they have separated themselves from the capitalist system, they have not freed themselves from the coercion that I am against. Even in states with a communist ideology, you can't do what you want. The most important thing is that every person is given the chance to develop their personality freely. I have nothing against factories - some people certainly enjoy making cars. But at the moment, most of them have to work without any real understanding and are wasting their lives just for financial grinds. That's the bad thing about the capitalist system »
Interviewer: « You are in favour of everyone being able to do what they want. You are in favour of "the right understanding" at work. But what if someone can't use their talents successfully? »
Roger Waters: « This brings us back to the centre of the capitalist system. So when you talk about unsuccessfulness, you mean unsuccessfulness by the standards of capitalism! If someone climbs a mountain, for example, and enjoys the fresh air there, then they are certainly successful and happy in their own right. I wouldn't be satisfied with that because I have more energy and want to do other things. But for some people, inhaling the fresh air on a mountain is certainly enough »
Interviewer: « Do you think you can bring about change with music and lyrics? »
Nick Mason: « No - it would be wrong to try. You can't turn anyone around that way ».
Roger Waters: « A revolution is not the right way. I don't believe that violence can achieve anything lasting »
Interviewer: « What do you think drugs can do in this respect? »
Roger Waters: « Intoxicants can hardly create more understanding and harmony. LSD will not improve our situation ».
Interviewer: « How are the typical, often very complicated Pink Floyd songs created? »
Nick Mason: « We usually get the best results when we all work together. Of course, we respect personal freedom. On the studio side of « Ummagumma », for example, there are tracks by each of us individually. But on our new LP « Atom Heart Mother » we worked on all the songs together again, and I think these songs are the best we've ever written. pop: Does your music have a religious background? »
David Gilmour: « Our music is not directly influenced by any religion. However, some of the lyrics come from Chinese - from the poetry of the late Tang period »
Interviewer: « Have you already given your consent to « projects » for purely financial reasons that would otherwise not be so appealing to you? »
Rick Wright: « Actually, we only do what we like. If we also get paid for it, that's very pleasing. So we don't do anything just for the money. For example, we would never play in South America for political reasons - no matter what we were offered »
David Gilmour: « However, we sometimes give too many concerts. But that's down to our manager »
Interviewer: « What's new with Pink Floyd in the next few months? »
Roger Waters: « We want to start a theatre play in London, which we will then take on tour. The performance has nothing in common with the rock opera « Tommy » by the Who, in which only this group is on stage and sings. We don't just want to make music in our play - there will be actors and everything else that goes with a theatre play. We are also composing the music for a ballet that will be premiered in Paris in June this year with the participation of Rudolf Nureyev. Of course, we are also providing the musical framework ourselves ».
