Young Lust

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild vibes as The Zoo Crew spins "Young Lust" by Pink Floyd from their epic rock opera The Wall. This track, a gritty, blues-inflected hard rock anthem, bursts with energy and tells the story of Pink, a jaded rock star diving headfirst into the hedonism of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. According to a 1979 interview with Roger Waters, the song was originally about a young man’s cautious curiosity with sex, hanging around outside adult theaters and bookstores, too timid to dive in. However, with collaboration from David Gilmour and producer Bob Ezrin, it transformed into a satirical take on the clichéd rock star lifestyle, mimicking the arena rock sound popular at the time. Waters even noted that the song’s vocals echo an earlier Pink Floyd track, "The Nile Song," as a nod to their own past.

One juicy tidbit about "Young Lust" is the infamous phone call at the end of the album version, where Pink tries to reach his wife only to discover her infidelity. This wasn’t staged—engineer James Guthrie recorded a real prank call to a friend in London, capturing an authentic American operator’s confusion when a man answers. In the 1982 film adaptation, Pink Floyd – The Wall, the song’s scene features groupies, including a young Joanne Whalley in her film debut, scheming to get backstage. Interestingly, the film tweaks the narrative: Pink only hooks up with a groupie (played by Jenny Wright) after learning of his wife’s affair, casting him in a slightly more sympathetic light than the album’s unfaithful rock star. Fans on Reddit’s Pink Floyd community have praised the song’s explosive transition from "Empty Spaces," with some calling it a perfect depiction of the fleeting high of partying to escape depression.

Another cool fact comes from Roger Waters’ 1990 The Wall – Live in Berlin concert, where Canadian rock star Bryan Adams took on Gilmour’s vocal parts for "Young Lust," delivering a high-energy performance that fans still rave about. Social media posts on platforms like X often highlight the song’s raw power, with users noting David Gilmour’s seven—yes, seven!—screams during the guitar solo, making it one of his most intense vocal performances. The song also got a quirky cover by Luther Wright and the Wrongs on their album Rebuild the Wall, reimagined as a loud, raucous rocker, showing its lasting influence. For more fan discussions, check out the Pink Floyd Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can join heated debates about the song’s place in the band’s discography.

Pink Floyd kicked off their journey in London in 1965, emerging as pioneers of the British psychedelic scene. The band, originally formed by Syd Barrett (guitar, vocals), Roger Waters (bass, vocals), Nick Mason (drums), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals), took their name from two American blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Under Barrett’s leadership, they blended blues, music hall influences, and trippy experimentation, scoring early hits with singles like "Arnold Layne," about a transvestite, and their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), a psychedelic masterpiece. Their early gigs in London’s underground scene, often accompanied by elaborate light shows, made them darlings of the counterculture. However, Barrett’s struggles with mental health and LSD use led to his departure in 1968, with David Gilmour stepping in as guitarist and vocalist.

Post-Barrett, Roger Waters became the band’s primary lyricist and conceptual mastermind, steering them toward the progressive rock sound that defined albums like The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and The Wall (1979). Their innovative use of sonic experiments, philosophical lyrics, and elaborate live performances—like building a literal wall during The Wall concerts—cemented their legacy as one of the best-selling and most influential bands ever, with over 250 million records sold worldwide. Fans can dive deeper into their history on the official Pink Floyd website, follow their latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or connect with fellow freaks at fan sites like Pink Floyd Fandom or the Pink Floyd – The Wall Facebook group.