Pullin’ ‘Tubes: Difficulties with the Cueball
When Roger Waters staged The Wall live in Berlin in 1990, it was easy to figure out the lingering moment would turn out to be the Van Morrison-infused Comfortably Numb that graced both The Departed soundtrack and the Sopranos scene in which Tony kills Christopher. But there’s a seldom-discussed performance that’s fairly interesting: Sinead O’Connor singing Mother backed by The Band’s Rick Danko and Levon Helm, with Garth Hudson on accordion.
The Band’s definitive online resource relays a cool footnote about the night:
According to Waters in an interview on the 2003 DVD release, there was a total power outage on stage during the live version of “Mother.” They had recorded the rehearsal the night before as a back-up because it was going live on the air all over the world. On the video you see Roger Waters standing by the Band, holding the lyrics to read. After the show Waters wanted to re-record the song but Sinead O’Connor refused, so it is the night before the concert that is shown on the video — if Waters’ version is correct. He also describes how unreasonable O’Connor was and suggests she is the most difficult person he has ever worked with.
In any event, let’s take a look at a performance worth resurrecting:
- Related: Van Morrison and the Band boys on Comfortably Numb
- Related: Rick Danko — When You Awake — solo acoustic
Slade Sohmer
In 2006 Slade Sohmer founded Hidden Track along with current EiC Scott Bernstein. Slade ran the site until 2008, establishing a scope of coverage and level of professionalism that still exists today. In 2010 Sohmer founded HyperVocal with Lee Brenner and the "purveyors of the vital and viral" have gone on to create a network of highly acclaimed sites that includes Headlines That Suck, Weeping Elvis, Distriction and Spike The Water Cooler.
Follow Me:
Um…thanks…not all of us have HBO so were not able to watch the last season of “The Sopranos” and were waiting for the DVDs.
Shit, sorry…never even crossed my mind. But do you really expect people to hold off on spoilers this far after the fact? As GOB Bluth would say, “C’mon!”
Speaking of Roger Waters, it’s his 64th Birthday Today! Happy Birthday Roger! Next time you tour, can you come to Colorado?
Disco Bret
really?? when i met sinead, i hung out with her for several hours (jammys). she was as sweet and accomodating as possible!! complained a bit about the lack of AC backstage at MSG (but granted, i was too!)
hola from peru!! keep up the good blogging… keeps me in the loop somewhat.
(note: this comment typed while Creed is blasting in the internet cafe… shudder)