Progressive metal titans DREAM THEATER delivered a truly unforgettable moment during their July 2 concert at the historic Anfiteatro degli Scavi in Pompeii, Italy, when they performed a full cover of PINK FLOYD‘s iconic 25-minute epic, “Echoes.”
Drummer Mike Portnoy shared his deep excitement and emotion shortly after the show on social media, posting a photo of the night’s setlist with the heartfelt message: “So many emotions tonight… will share photos and stuff tomorrow…but just want to leave this here for now. This was tonite’s setlist here at Pompeii. Yes indeed: PINK FLOYD‘s ‘Echoes’ performed in its entirety (all 25 minutes of it!) on the same hallowed ground that PINK FLOYD performed it over 50 years ago!! It was indeed one for the books… a night I’ll always cherish! Wow…”
Earlier that day, Portnoy had reflected on the significance of playing in such a legendary venue: “Throughout my teenage years in the 80’s, I worshipped the film Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii. I wore out my VHS… (and then my Laserdisc of it, and then my DVD & Blu-rays… and as recent as a few months ago, now have added the newly restored and remixed version that was just released to the collection). Today I check off a MAJOR Bucket list venue for myself playing on the same exact hallowed ground that PINK FLOYD filmed that psychedelic masterpiece over 50 years ago… Tonight is going to be EPIC and I am going to soak in every moment of it!”
PINK FLOYD’s original 1971 performance at Pompeii is legendary. The band’s haunting set was filmed over four days in October 1971 at the ancient Roman amphitheater and released the following year as the groundbreaking concert film Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii, directed by Adrian Maben. The film was later re-released in 1974 with additional studio footage of the band working on The Dark Side Of The Moon and interviews at Abbey Road Studios, solidifying its place as a psychedelic and progressive rock milestone.
“Echoes,” the centerpiece of PINK FLOYD’s 1971 album Meddle, is a sprawling, atmospheric journey that runs over 23 minutes, occupying the entire second side of the LP. DREAM THEATER’s decision to honor this monumental track by performing it live, in full, on the very stage where the original was immortalized, resonated deeply with fans and critics alike.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.