For any band looking for stardom, they dreamed about performing in front of a roaring crowd at classic venues like the Ryman Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, The Fillmore, Madison Square Garden, and even the Hollywood Bowl. Recently, the Las Vegas Sphere became a new achievement for many groups. But back during the 1970s, Pink Floyd took a different approach when they performed a concert in the historic city of Pompeii. And they did it with not a single fan to cheer them on. Filmed for the Pink Floyd: Live a Pompeii special, the band produced a mesmerizing performance of “Echoes.”
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In 1972, director Adrian Maben wanted to film a concert with Pink Floyd. But having seen other bands do the same, the director wanted to set the group apart. That was when the idea of filming the concert in Pompeii started to intrigue Maben. Although jumping over a few hurdles for the local authorities to approve the concert, the band soon found itself standing in the famed Roman amphitheater.
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With no elaborate stage, Pink Floyd used the same instruments they traveled with on tour. Filming over the next four days, the concert became a legendary moment for the band. While originally released in 1972, the film was released once again just two years later. Due to the praise of the film, the new release added additional studio footage and even some interviews.
While Pink Floyd continued to expand their stardom, the film helped inspire other bands to film their concert without fans in attendance. As for Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, it received another release in 2025 when the footage was restored in 4K. Using the newest technology to usher the band into a new era, fans loved watching both the past and present become one.
Looking at what fans had to say, comments included, “Echoes, and especially the Live at Pompeii version, has my vote for the most fantastic piece of music ever.” One person added, “I remember when I was about 17 watching this and thinking it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. 20 years later and still the same feeling.”
Leaving an ongoing legacy in rock music, Pink Floyd released their final album in 2014 with The Endless River. But even with the band breaking apart, the group sold over 250 million albums and even landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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