And then one day you find five years have got behind you
Looking back at five years of Spare Bricks
It is hard for me to believe that Spare Bricks turns five years old in July. It seems like only a few months ago that Rick Karhu first asked if I'd like to be involved in a new kind of fanzine he was trying to get started, the concept for which he had been kicking around for some time. And it seems like only yesterday that I assumed an editorial role with the magazine. And now, out of the blue, I turn around and here we are publishing our twentieth issue!
But it comes as no surprise at all that Spare Bricks is still going strong at the ripe old age (by Internet standards) of five. Pink Floyd's fans seem to have an unending appetite for commentary, and opinions, and newly discovered insights into the band's creative processes. The music certainly bears repeated listens and careful attention. And the Spare Bricks staff of writers, graphic artists, and general 'idea men'--while always changing--always seems up to the challenge of whatever offbeat theme I assign them for any given issue. We always have far more ideas for interesting articles than we have staffers to write them.
Spare Bricks isn't the biggest or most complete Floyd fansite there is. There are far too many really good ones to compete with, and we don't even try. You won't find Yet Another Discography, or a catalog of interviews, or even a page of lyrics. Plenty of other sites do this, and do it well. Rather, by approaching the Floyd's body of work from a slightly different angle in each issue, Spare Bricks hope to shed new light on the music, and allow fans to gain a new perspective on the Floyd's legacy and history.
After all, we are all just Floyd nuts like the rest of you.
In this issue, Spare Bricks takes a look at the various ways that the Floyds have recycled their body of work. Whether it is a Deluxe Double Secret Collector's Edition of Dark Side, re-used sound effects and stage props, or Roger Waters' 'list lyrics', Pink Floyd has managed to get more mileage out of old material than most bands would ever dream of. This gives us a lot of ground to cover, and this issue contains several lengthy, detailed articles. Enjoy!
Sean Ellis examines the similarities between "Time" and "Childhood's End".
Patrick Keller and Sean Zloch ponder the new re-master of The Final Cut.
Thanasis Tsilderikis takes an exhaustive look at recycling throughout the Floyd's history.
Mark Reed discusses what makes Animals one of the Floyd's best records.
Echoes: the Best of Pink Floyd -- the Spare Bricks Retro-Review