Pigs (Three Different Ones)

The Zoo Crew is spinning Pink Floyd’s “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” from the 1977 album Animals, a track packed with biting social commentary and wild stories. One of the most iconic tales tied to the song is the creation of the album’s cover, featuring a 40-foot inflatable pig named Algie, designed by Roger Waters and artist Jeffrey Shaw. During the photo shoot at Battersea Power Station in December 1976, the pig broke free from its moorings, soaring to 18,000 feet and drifting over southern England, causing chaos near Heathrow Airport. It eventually landed in a farmer’s field in Kent, and the crew had to sneak in at night to retrieve it. The final cover image was a composite of two days’ shots, blending the pig with a dramatic sky, as Waters insisted on no photo trickery. This runaway pig became a legendary stage prop, appearing during live performances of the song, often with provocative messages like “Impeach Bush” or “Obama” written on it during Waters’ solo shows.

Musically, “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” stands out for its innovative use of a Heil talk box by David Gilmour to mimic pig sounds during the guitar solo, marking Pink Floyd’s first use of this effect. Gilmour also played bass on the track, with Waters taking rhythm guitar, a rare role swap for the band. Lyrically, the song targets three types of societal “pigs” — corrupt businessmen, cold-hearted politicians like Margaret Thatcher, and morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse, explicitly named in the third verse. Roger Waters’ scathing delivery, paired with lines like “Ha ha, charade you are,” channels his frustration with Britain’s class system and power structures, drawing loose inspiration from George Orwell’s Animal Farm. During the 1977 In the Flesh tour, the song’s performance was accompanied by the inflatable pig emerging through smoke, but the tour also saw tensions, like the infamous Montreal spitting incident, where Waters’ frustration with rowdy audiences boiled over.

Pink Floyd’s journey began in 1965 in London, emerging from the city’s underground psychedelic scene. Formed by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and later joined by David Gilmour, the band cycled through names before settling on Pink Floyd, inspired by blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Barrett’s whimsical, experimental vision shaped their early sound, blending blues, music hall, and psychedelia, as heard on their 1967 debut, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Hits like “Arnold Layne” established them as a cornerstone of British psychedelia, but Barrett’s struggles with LSD and mental health led to his departure in 1968, with Gilmour stepping in. Under Waters’ growing influence, the band pioneered the concept album, achieving global fame with The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973, followed by Wish You Were Here and Animals. Their theatrical live shows and thematic depth made them rock legends, earning them a 1996 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fans can dive deeper into Pink Floyd’s world through their official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where updates on reissues, events like the upcoming Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII theatrical release, and band news are shared. For fan-driven content, A Fleeting Glimpse offers a comprehensive hub with news, animations, and community insights, endorsed by band associates like Guy Pratt. The Grantchester Meadows Discord, linked via Reddit’s r/pinkfloyd community, connects Zoo Freaks with other devotees for discussions and events. These platforms keep the spirit of Pink Floyd’s music and message alive for fans worldwide.