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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jonathan Geddes

Lanarkshire musician is feeling comfortably numb after joining Australian Pink Floyd Show

When he was growing up, David Parsons loved Pink Floyd records - now he's playing their songs in front of thousands of people across the world.

The Rutherglen musician has recently returned from his first tour as a member of the legendary Australian Pink Floyd Show, one of the most famous tribute acts in the world.

As the band's keyboardist, David found himself stepping out at arenas across North America, performing to huge crowds - including in some cases at venues members of the real Pink Floyd previously headlined.

It's a dream come true for David, who's a huge fan of the psychedelic and prog legends.

He explained: "It has been an absolute dream joining the band. I’d been a big Pink Floyd fan for a while, and it was actually something me and my dad always loved.

"My dad was a big football fan and that was never my thing, but Pink Floyd were a band we bonded over. We'd go and see Roger Waters or David Gilmour when they toured."

David played in various bands and also worked on cruise ships, before returning to Scotland where he joined the Scottish Pink Floyd tribute act. During the Covid-19 lockdown he uploaded various videos of himself playing classic Pink Floyd tracks, and that led to an unexpected message.

He recalled: "One day the musical director of the Australian Pink Floyd got in touch and said their original keyboardist, Jason Sawford, was wanting to slow down a bit. They're wanting to keep the band going and have been bringing in some younger faces.

David Parsons at home in his Motherwell studio (RGR)

"So they asked me out to France to see how I felt, and then asked if I wanted to play some stuff during the sound check. The problem is I was unprepared for this, so I didn't have any of my usual gear. To be honest, I thought I'd done terribly and I'd never see them again!

"However a couple of weeks later they got in touch and asked if I was interested in joining."

Jason Sawford is one of the original members of the group, who have transcended being imitators into an internationally recognised act in their own right. He is still continuing with the band, but cutting back on touring, which is where David comes in.

His first assignment was playing arenas across North America, which would seem a daunting prospect.

He said: "With the Scottish Pink Floyd I think the biggest crowds we played were about 400 and then I was playing to something like 4000 or 5000 people in Boston.

"The first show I was very nervous. We'd actually had a handover where I watched Jason for a few shows and then stepped in, and he was still there for a few shows - probably so if I was rubbish he could step back in!

"It was nerve-wracking, but it was fun too. Afterwards Jason said everything was in safe hands, so that was a real boost to hear that. There was this really warm atmosphere too in the crowd and that meant that I just went out the next night and went for it. After that I felt a lot more comfortable."

David Parsons onstage with the Australian Pink Floyd Show (RGR)

Jason will be back in the hot seat for the band's forthcoming UK tour, but the former Stonelaw High pupil will be called upon in the future. David, who now lives in Motherwell, admits that there were moments on the recent tour which felt surreal.

"They have a really big following in Canada, so we were doing these arenas where it was 6000 or 7000 people there - in Quebec we were playing a venue that Roger Waters had played three months previously.

"When I was younger I'd watch the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour from Pink Floyd, and one of the backing vocalists from that tour, Lorelei McBroom, now sings with the Aussie Pink Floyd.

"There were points where it hit me that I’m playing the same piano part with the same backing vocalist as I used to watch years ago.

"The most important thing though is that I'm working with really nice people, and I mean that with both the band and with the crew. There’s no divas, everyone feels equal and has such love for Pink Floyd."

More information on the band, including their upcoming UK tour, can be found here.

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