Pink Floyd tribute concert a virtual sell-out

Tomorrow's concert by The Australian Pink Floyd is expected to entice one of the biggest ever crowds for a live event in Malta - no mean feat for a tribute band!

About 15,000 tickets have been snapped up for tomorrow's concert at the Luxol Grounds, according to organiser Mario Camilleri of Pres International.

The Australian Pink Floyd has been hailed as one of the finest tribute bands in circulation, as evidenced by their sold-out tours, and their endorsement by David Gilmour.

Upon their arrival at the airport yesterday, the band was given the full rock star treatment. They exited via the VIP lounge, got into in a limousine and were escorted by a number of motorcycles to the hotel.

St Andrews will be reverberating to classic tunes like Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Us and Them and Another Brick in the Wall as the Australian Pink Floyd take to the stage for a two-and-a-half-hour concert.

When contacted, Mr Camilleri said there had been a sudden rush for tickets in the last few days, to the extent that most sections of the venue are now sold out. Only a few tickets will be sold at the door.

A satisfied Mr Camilleri was not surprised by the response from the fans:

"We were well aware of the popularity of Pink Floyd, we had our marketing machine working in overdrive and we knew it was going to work. Maybe I should have taken someone else's advice and switched the venue to Ta' Qali," he said.

The toilets and some of the retail outlets have been pushed towards the back of the Luxol Grounds to make space for more Pink Floyd devotees. Mr Camilleri said all the necessary safety precautions were being taken for what will be one of the biggest rock concerts ever staged in Malta.

Though no official statistics were released, some 20,000 are known to have thronged the Floriana ground to watch Tina Turner's farewell tour in 1990. It was, however, the first ever concert by a mainstream artiste in Malta.

Like Mr Camilleri, music critic Eric Montfort said the overwhelming response to the music of a band which influenced two generations was expected.

"Pink Floyd's music appeals to a wide span of audience. I know of 60-year-olds that would love to turn up."

Mr Montfort was one of a number of journalists who recently attended the Australian Pink Floyd's concert in Manchester. "Their show is impressive, both musically and visually. Though they play Floyd's music to perfection, they have their own unique style," he said.

Journalist and rock music buff Lou Bondì argued that the massive sale of tickets for tomorrow's gig showed the popularity of classic rock.

"That so many thousands of Maltese people are swarming to see a band which pays tribute to a band that reached its creative peak a quarter of a century ago proves one thing: classic rock of the 1960s and 1970s is timeless.

"I wonder how many of today's pop and rock stars will have a tribute band playing their music in 2030," Mr Bondì said.

Concert-goers are advised to go early since doors are likely to be closed after 8.30 p.m.

A shuttle bus service will be available from Pembroke.

To warm up for tomorrow's event, a Pink Floyd evening is being held at Spinola this evening, featuring Italian tribute band Euphonia. The gig starts at 9.15 p.m. and proceeds will go towards Eden Foundation.

The Pembroke terminus will tomorrow be temporarily relocated to St Andrews Road, opposite Wembley petrol station between 6 and 11 p.m. and not to the area near the Australia Hall in Triq Anzac as previously announced, the Malta Transport Authority said.