Archive: How one of Pink FLoyd's most controversial concerts went down (9 photos)

On July 15, 1989, one of the most controversial Pink Floyd concerts in Venice took place – a free performance on a floating stage in the lagoon, near Piazza San Marco. The show attracted over 200,000 spectators – more than the entire population of Venice – gathered on the water and on the shore, and the television broadcast reached nearly 100 million people in 20 countries.

The city had been wary of the consequences of such a large-scale event. To minimize the risk, the musicians agreed to reduce the volume on stage from 100 to 60 decibels, but peaks reached 92 decibels, and during the fireworks display, 107 decibels. This impressive, large-scale spectacle, captured with vibrant images, ended in disaster for Venice. The city was unprepared for such an influx of tourists: there were no toilets or garbage collection systems, and after the concert, approximately 300 tons of waste and 500 cubic meters of empty cans and bottles were left on the streets. Repairs and cleanup took weeks, monuments were damaged, streetlights fell, and facades were defaced with graffiti.

The scandal sparked a storm of public outrage and parliamentary proceedings. Under pressure, the situation escalated to the resignation of the city council and the mayor. A new council was later elected, virtually identical to the previous one, giving rise to the ironic nickname "copy council" in the local press. The concert became a symbol of the conflicts between cultural boldness and urban responsibility, leaving a lasting mark on the history of Venice.











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