Pink Floyd Plans Concert To Help Topple the Wall Dividing the Two Koreas

Can music change the history of the world? Is it such a powerful force that it can demolish the wall of hatred and abomination, and even bring two divided countries together?

Rock group Pink Floyd, known for its own attack on "The Wall," believes that the power of music is capable of breaking down any kind of wall － real or ideological. According to Cha Jong-myun, director of the agency "Guesswho Entertainment," Pink Floyd is coming to Korea next June for a concert in collaboration with other popular musicians, which may include Sting and Eric Clapton.

"?he Last Wall Korea' will be held to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the landmark inter-Korean summit (June 15), in hopes of accelerating the unification of the two Koreas," Mr. Cha said.

The legendary rock group Pink Floyd now consists of David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason. Previous members include Roger Waters and Syd Barrett. The band was named after jazz artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council and first achieved worldwide recognition over 20 years ago, particularly for the album and tour titled "The Wall" (1979).

"The Wall" was born out of the discontent of Roger Waters, the group's lyricist and conceptual director, who felt Pink Floyd had lost its intimacy and power to communicate after the success of "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973), an album which sold over 25 million copies. "The Wall" became a smash-hit album , selling 20 million copies worldwide and spawning an anti-authoritarian anthem － the title song.

"?he Last Wall Korea' concert was conceived by Roger Waters and there is no doubt that Pink Floyd will perform in Korea," Mr. Cha said. "However, as far as the other musicians are concerned, we are not sure yet who else is coming. Sting and Eric Clapton are possibilities. The concert details will probably be set next month."

The power of music was witnessed on December 22, 1989 in Germany. Hundreds of thousands of Germans － from East and West － got together to celebrate their unification at a concert "Song of Joy," conducted by Leonard Bernstein with the Southern Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

"I personally believe that this concert will be able to enhance the mood of inter-Korean reconciliation and peace, and who knows if the wind of unification will blow and the wall of ideology between two countries will be broken down by this concert," said Mr. Cha.

by Kim Jae-seon