The Wall Live (2010–2013)
The Wall Live was a worldwide[1] concert tour by Roger Waters, formerly of Pink Floyd.[2][3][4] The tour is the first time the Pink Floyd album The Wall has been performed in its entirety by the band or any of its former members since Waters performed the album live in Berlin 21 July 1990. The first leg of the tour grossed in North America over $89.5 million from 56 concerts. It was the second-highest-grossing concert tour in North America in 2010 and the third-highest-grossing concert tour worldwide as of 2013.[5] In 2013, the tour held the record for being the highest-grossing tour for a solo musician, surpassing the previous record holder, Madonna (the record was later eclipsed by Ed Sheeran).[6] It is currently the 7th highest-grossing tour of all-time.
For the original Pink Floyd tour of The Wall, see The Wall Tour (1980–1981).Location
- North America
- Europe
- Oceania
- South America
15 September 2010
21 September 2013
6
- 98 in North America
- 91 in Europe
- 15 in Oceania
- 15 in South America
- 219 in total
US$ 458.6 million (US$ 834.2 million in 2023 dollars)
The tour opened on 15 September 2010 in Toronto, and moved through North America before ending the first leg of the tour in Mexico City, 21 December 2010. The European tour began 21 March 2011 in Lisbon, Portugal, and ended 12 July 2011 in Athens, Greece. In 2012, the tour included Australia, New Zealand, and South America, resuming 27 January in Perth, and ending 1 April 2012 in São Paulo.[7] It was confirmed by Waters during an interview with Jimmy Fallon that he would be returning to North America for yet another leg of The Wall tour, beginning 27 April 2012 in Mexico City and ending 21 July 2012 in Quebec City on the Plains of Abraham, a former battlefield.[8][9] This last show in Quebec City was the second largest outdoor production of "The Wall" ever – the largest being the Live in Berlin show in 1990.[10] The tour returned to European stadiums again in summer 2013.[11] After the 21 September 2013 Paris show he claimed on stage this to be possibly the last The Wall show, confirming rumours that there will be no further tour dates planned for 2014. Waters, a pacifist, incorporated an increased emphasis on the show's anti-war message, and he requested fans to send him pictures of loved ones who have died as a result of wars.[12]
Snowy White[13] (who was a session and tour musician with Pink Floyd in the 1970s, and was in the tour band for the original 1980–81 tour for The Wall) and Dave Kilminster[14] were the first musicians confirmed to be in Waters's touring band. Kipp Lennon, Mark Lennon and Michael Lennon of the band Venice were confirmed for backing vocal duties,[15] but Michael Lennon withdrew from the band due to rehearsal difficulties. He was replaced by cousin Pat Lennon, also of Venice. On 23 April, the full band line-up was announced on Roger Waters's Facebook page. Following a charity gig Waters performed with his former Pink Floyd bandmates on 10 July 2010,[16] he confirmed that David Gilmour would guest on "Comfortably Numb" at one show during the tour. Gilmour appeared at the 12 May 2011 show at The O2, London playing lead guitar on "Comfortably Numb" and mandolin on "Outside the Wall", on which they were also joined by Nick Mason on tambourine.
On 24 August 2010, The Times Leader newspaper of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, reported that Waters and company were in town rehearsing for the tour at the Mohegan Sun Arena. This venue previously hosted pre-tour rehearsals and pre-tour concerts for such performers as Elton John, the Simon & Garfunkel "Old Friends" Reunion Tour in 2003 and AC/DC rehearsals in 2008 before the band's world tour.[17] There were no rehearsals or performances; the crew used the occasion to work out technical details. On 12 September 2010, there was a rehearsal performance at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for invited guests.[18]
In 2014 Waters directed a documentary about the tour titled Roger Waters: The Wall. The film incorporated footage from the concerts in Quebec City and Athens. It premiered in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.[19]
The following musicians have played on the tour:[20]
with:
The "homeless guy" before the show in Denver, 23 November 2010.
Waters during in the Flesh?
In the Flesh?
Waters performing "In the Flesh?".
The Stuka diving at the conclusion of "In The Flesh?"
Performing "Another Brick in the Wall I"
The "Schoolmaster" puppet during "Another Brick in The Wall II".
"Mother" looms large over a 12-meter wall.
Playing an acoustic guitar during "Mother"
The "ex-wife" puppet during "Don't Leave Me Now"
The Wall is complete, during "Hey You"
During the climax of the guitar solo in "Comfortably Numb"
During the guitar solo to "Comfortably Numb"
In the Flesh
Performing "Run Like Hell"
During the extended "Run Like Hell"
"Waiting for the Worms"
Playing a fascist dictator
"Hammer!, Hammer!, Hammer!, Hammer!"
Performing "Stop"
The "Pink" doll falling from the top of the wall as "The Trial" begins
During "The Trial"
As the wall comes tumbling down at the end of "The Trial"
The epilogue, "Outside the Wall"
