Take It Back

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! The Zoo Crew is spinning Take It Back by Pink Floyd from their 1994 album The Division Bell, and we’ve got some groovy trivia to share. Did you know David Gilmour used an E-bow on his Gibson J-200 acoustic for this track, creating that dreamy, sustained sound? Pink Floyd and Company notes this was a unique touch for the song’s vibe. On June 4, 1993, Pink Floyd’s X account posted about the UK single release of Take It Back, mentioning a CD single that came with a fold-out poster of the band rocking out in New Mexico, plus a quirky pic of the iconic Division Bell heads. During the Division Bell tour, which was a massive undertaking with daily costs over $752,000, the song was performed live, often accompanied by mind-blowing visuals like gold lasers, as described in a radio interview hosted by Redbeard. The tour itself was a spectacle, with a promotional airship called the “Division Belle” flying across North America, painted by artist Burt Dodge, only to be destroyed by a thunderstorm in June 1994.

Let’s dive into another tidbit: the Division Bell tour, which supported this album, was so ambitious it required over 50 trucks for equipment and a 161-strong crew. Rolling Stone reported that the stage setup recreated the Hollywood Bowl arch, and fans at a New Jersey Lego convention even built a replica of the Giants Stadium stage using 4,000 Lego pieces, as shared by Pink Floyd’s Facebook. The song’s lyrics, co-written by Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson, touch on themes of communication, a central motif of the album. Some fans speculate the song’s emotional pull reflects Gilmour’s personal reflections, possibly about moving forward from past conflicts, as hinted in interviews where he discussed “killing the past” in tracks like Coming Back to Life. The Division Bell itself sparked the Publius Enigma, a mysterious internet riddle starting in 1994, where an anonymous poster challenged fans to uncover a hidden message in the album, with clues like the word “enigma” projected at a London concert.

Now, let’s rewind to how Pink Floyd got their start. Formed in London in 1965, the band emerged from the British psychedelic scene, initially led by Syd Barrett on guitar and vocals, alongside Roger Waters on bass, Nick Mason on drums, and Richard Wright on keyboards. Their name came from two blues musicians Barrett admired, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Britannica details how they cycled through names like the Tea Set before landing on Pink Floyd. Their early sound, driven by Barrett’s whimsical songwriting, blended blues, music hall, and trippy psychedelia, leading to their 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Hits like “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play” made them darlings of the underground. By 1968, Barrett’s mental health struggles and LSD use led to his departure, with David Gilmour stepping in. Waters took over as the main lyricist, steering the band toward concept albums like The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973, cementing their progressive rock legacy.

Pink Floyd’s evolution wasn’t without drama. Waters left in 1985, sparking legal battles over the band’s name, but Gilmour, Mason, and Wright carried on, releasing The Division Bell in 1994. The band’s innovative live shows and philosophical lyrics kept fans hooked, selling over 250 million records worldwide. Pink Floyd’s Instagram keeps the legacy alive with throwbacks and updates, like their recent Pompeii film restoration. For more, check out their official site at pinkfloyd.com, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Zoo Freaks can also join fan communities like A Fleeting Glimpse, a fan site since 1998 endorsed by band associates, or The Pink Floyd Fandom. On Facebook, groups like Pink Floyd Fans are buzzing with devotees sharing stories and rare pics. Keep rocking, Zoo Freaks!