Recommendations of the Editorial team
To mark the 50th anniversary of their album “Wish You Were Here”, Pink Floyd (we cover the creation of the masterpiece in our current cover story) and Sony Music are opening several pop-up stores. From December 12th to 15th, News & Coffee kiosks in London, Barcelona, Los Angeles and Paris will be transformed into immersive experience spaces. In addition, fan pop-ups are opening their doors in Milan and Berlin. The centerpiece of the campaign is December 12th – the publication day of the new anniversary edition – when each location will be transformed into a “Wish You Were Here 50 space”.
Fanzines, editions and strictly limited merch for fans worldwide
A central element of the pop-up series will be a “Wish You Were Here 50” edition of the “Brain Damage” fanzine. Originally founded in the mid-1980s by Pink Floyd historian Glenn Povey, the magazine is being reissued for this anniversary in collaboration with News & Coffee. Five versions will be released, with each of the four newsstand cities receiving 250 numbered copies. A global edition is also available through international retailers.
Each location carries a limited anniversary pressing of the album. There are matching merchandise collections that are only available locally.
Artistic Homages: Paintings, Poems and New Editions
The project is flanked by a series of new contributions related to “Wish You Were Here 50”. Artist Noel Fielding dedicated a series of paintings to Syd Barrett that visualize the full spectrum of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” The British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage also published his work “Dear Pink Floyd”.
Expanded pop-up locations in Milan and Berlin
In addition to the News & Coffee kiosks, two other locations are taking part in the global campaign:
- Milan – Dischi Volanti (December 12th-14th, 11am-11pm)
- Berlin – Dussmann the KulturKaufhaus (from December 12th, Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–12 a.m., Sat until 11:30 p.m.)
- Both carry exclusive WYWH50 items as well as a special pop-up vinyl version of the limited anniversary pressing.
Album new editions: From deluxe box to Dolby Atmos
The anniversary version of “Wish You Were Here 50” will be released as a 3LP, 2CD, Blu-ray, digital and deluxe box. The digital edition includes the original album with a new Dolby Atmos mix by James Guthrie and 25 bonus tracks, including nine rare studio recordings and 16 live tracks from the 1975 Los Angeles Sports Arena – officially released for the first time and restored by, who else: Steven Wilson.
The Blu-ray also contains concert films from the 1975 tour as well as a short film by Storm Thorgerson. The deluxe set also includes a fourth vinyl LP (Live At Wembley 1974), a replica of the Japanese 7″ single, a large format photo book, Armitage’s poem “Dear Pink Floyd”, a comic tour program and a historical Knebworth poster. Many of the anniversary products are also available through PinkFloyd.com.