Some fans of the iconic British band Pink Floyd have expressed anger over the band’s new “woke” rainbow logo, which was used to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the band’s legendary album “The Dark Side of the Moon”.
If you are complaining because Pink Floyd is using a rainbow to celebrate Dark Side of the Moon, you were never an actual fan, and now everyone knows you're an idiot too. #PinkFloyd pic.twitter.com/CMhyYXwJK6
— Cyndi Borowski💙🇺🇲 (@BorowskiCyndi) January 21, 2023
The album, which was released in 1973, features a glass prism on the cover that converts light into color. See below:
Who owns a copy of "The Dark Side Of The Moon" pic.twitter.com/91j7u9vWF8
— The 'Ronster' (@BerisfordRon) November 15, 2022
Despite the rainbow being featured prominently on the original album cover, some fans took to social media to express their disapproval with the band’s new logo.
One fan wrote “Get woke, go broke,” while another asked “What is the connection between Pink Floyd masterpiece [sic] and LGBT? WTF?”
Pink Floyd updated their profile picture to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dark Side of the Moon, and the replies are… something. pic.twitter.com/e4zNZ2KGOS
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) January 20, 2023
However, many others have come to the band’s defense, pointing out that the rainbow is a natural part of the album cover and a nod to the theme of light and color on the album.
One commenter joked “Can’t believe Pink Floyd have gone woke. From now on the only classic British artists I’m listening to are Queen, David Bowie, Elton John [and] George Michael,” while another wrote “It rained the other day and the sky forced a rainbow on me. Stupid woke sky.”
Pink Floyd has a history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights, with Forbes reporting that during a concert in Chicago, the band projected the words “trans rights” onto a video screen.
The band’s anniversary celebration of “The Dark Side of the Moon” also includes a deluxe box set, an animation competition and a special planetarium event, which will be held in planetariums around the world in March. See below:
The 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' is celebrated with a new box set available March 24th. Pre-order here: https://t.co/0rNiQP2K8I#pinkfloyd #unboxing #unboxingvideo #tdsotm #tdsotm50 #DarkSide pic.twitter.com/EDQ6bSLrDS
— Pink Floyd (@pinkfloyd) January 21, 2023
The band formed in London in 1965. The original members included Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Roger Waters.
Their experimental and psychedelic sound, paired with their elaborate live shows, quickly established them as one of the most popular and influential bands of their time.
Pink Floyd’s early albums, such as “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” and “A Saucerful of Secrets,” were heavily influenced by Syd Barrett’s songwriting and guitar work.
However, after Barrett’s departure from the band in 1968, Roger Waters took over as the primary songwriter and the band’s sound began to evolve.
The band’s breakthrough album, “The Dark Side of the Moon,” was released in 1973 and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
The album’s themes of mental illness, greed, and the passage of time resonated with audiences and the album spent over 15 years on the Billboard 200 chart.
Its iconic cover, featuring a prism refracting light into a rainbow, is considered one of the most recognizable album covers of all time.
Pink Floyd’s next album, “Wish You Were Here,” was released in 1975 and was a tribute to Syd Barrett, who had by then left the band.
The album features the hit single “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” which was written in tribute to Barrett. The album’s cover featured a man with a paper bag over his head, which was a symbol of the band’s disillusionment with the music industry.
Pink Floyd’s next album, “Animals,” was released in 1977 and was a concept album that focused on the class struggles in England.
The album’s cover featured a giant inflatable pig floating above London’s Battersea Power Station.
Their next album, “The Wall,” was released in 1979 and was a rock opera that dealt with themes of isolation and mental breakdown. It was turned into a movie in 1982 and was also adapted into a stage musical in 2010.
Pink Floyd continued to release albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but the band’s original members began to drift apart.
Roger Waters left the band in 1985 and was replaced by David Gilmour.
Richard Wright passed away in 2008. Despite these changes, Pink Floyd continues to be one of the most enduring and influential bands in rock music history.
Their music continues to be celebrated and their live shows still attract large crowds. The band’s music continues to be popular and their albums continue to be remastered and re-released and their live shows still attract large crowds.