(Update 8/6/17: The order page for the book is again accepting pre-orders, with an estimated ship date of Aug. 24.)
A just-published memoir from a late friend of Pink Floyd has already sold out. “In the Pink (Not a Hunting Memoir)” by Nick Sedgwick covers the time he spent with the band during 1974-75.
There’s no word yet whether the title will be reprinted.
In a promotional piece for the book, Roger Waters calls Sedgwick “one of my oldest friends,” and explains the author traveled with the band throughout England during its “Dark Side of the Moon” tour, as well as into America during ’75.
“When Nick finished the work in 1975 there was some resistance in the band to its publication,” Waters explains, “not surprising really as none of us comes out of it very well.”
Sedgwick died of brain cancer in August 2011.
Proceeds from the book go to Sedgwick’s family.
I got mine at the Roger Waters concert in D.C. on Friday. Haven’t gotten into it yet, but the excerpts I have read sound really interesting.
I’d like to say a few things about Nick Sedgwick’s book here, as I try to find an appropriate place for a full-blown review. The book has an interesting architecture, bracketing a diary-like description of events following the band around their “Dark-side” concert tour of England, are a series of chapters centered on an extended vacation in Greece with Roger and Judy and a postscript about how the diary preview was received by the band members. It does all fit together, but I find Nick’s writing style a bit meandering. I can understand why the Floyd was divided on the diary – it really was more about Roger in the context of Floyd, rather than about Floyd in general. It’s easy to see why David and Rick felt rather attacked by it. And beyond that, I really have basic trouble feeling like Nick was even comfortable as a writer – at least in this venture. I can understand why he chose to distance himself from the whole project/band after their less-than-stellar response. It’s possible that Nick was being quite truthful when he talked about his delay in deciding what he wanted to do with his life. He seemed to be letting life take its course, rather than forging his future. That said, I got quite a bit out of the read, not the least of which is the impression that Roger cared – and still cares – about the world and his craft. Taken in the context of the recent tour, the new record (which I find to be brilliant), and events in general, that he (Roger) wanted to share this wart-filled expose’ just confirms to me that people are important to him. I really connect the Roger Waters of the late 60’s / Early 70’s with the man I see now on stage and in the studio, trying to help us see how together we can make this world a better place. If we can sit down together and hash out our differences in vision and air our grievances without fear of retribution, there is a chance that peace may come. I see all this reading Nick’s words. I’m sad that time does have its way with us, and Nick’s description of he and Rick Wright sitting in the back of a limo trying to talk was particularly poignant on that part, since both have now passed on. No one but the reader is left to wonder if things could have been worked out that day. If you count yourself among those who feel like Roger has tapped into something a little greater than all of us, you’ll want to read this book.