Pink Floyd

Their performance bought tears to my eyes, and cemented their place again as the "greatest band in the world."

Performing "Money," "Wish You Were Here" and "Comfortably Numb," Pink Floyd was indeed the coolest band on the planet for those 20 minutes. Never has a reunion set been able to satisfy both hardcore and casual fans alike.

Roger Waters, who left the band over 20 years ago, was the mastermind behind classic Pink Floyd albums Dark Side of the Moon and the The Wall.

Some say Waters had a bit of a breakdown after completing Wish You Were Here, his 1975 tribute to previous Pink Floyd leader Syd Barrett, who quit the band after suffering a mental breakdown.

Waters' triumphant return to the band was complete as he stepped up to the microphone to sing "Comfortably Numb," a classic favourite from The Wall. In response, many in the Hyde Park audience held up their lighters and cell phones to create a sea of sparkling light.

Some say that the only reason Pink Floyd reunited was because of an ultimatum given by Bob Geldof: if they didn't get back together, the Spice Girls would become Live 8's reunion act.

From the "official blog"

A synthesiser hums from the unlit stage, smoke emanating skywards and Pink Floyd are onstage without an introduction. None needed. Reformed especially for Live8, they begin their set with “Breathe” the first track from “Dark Side Of The Moon”, David Gilmour, looking remarkably like Frank Black from the Pixies rocking the house alongside Roger Waters who looks remarkably like Richard Gere!

The cc-ching of the cash register rings out and we name that song in one note. “Money” is an apt track for the occasion and the words lit up on the stage above read NO MORE EXCUSES.

Waters speaks into the microphone “This is quite emotional, standing up here with all these guys after all these years, being counted with the rest of you. This is for those who aren’t here, particularly Syd”, referring to the original band member who has been a recluse for years. They play “Wish You Were Here”.

Vocal duties are shared by the recently estranged Gilmour and Waters for the classic and haunting “Comfortably Numb”, which whirls and trails across London’s legendary park in nightfall. The band hug each other before exiting stage right.

Did anyone else get the feeling that NO MORE EXCUSES might also aptly describe the Pink Floyd's scenario? And, what does that "official blog" mean by recently estranged. Its going on 20 years, and while this was show sounded like it could have taken place in 1984, it sadly doesn't sound like we will hear them together again.

Despite the wealth of celebrities present, the big topic backstage was the PINK FLOYD reunion.

NICK MASON revealed how the band 'eyeballed each other' as they prepared for their first gig in 24 years 'in a slightly alarming way' but compared the reunion to 'riding a bike'. DAVE GILMOUR, meanwhile, said it was 'a bit like sleeping with your ex-wife'. Both ruled out any further reunions.

From my perspective, it certainly seemed like Roger was trying hard to mend fences, but considering it really all was the fault of his ego, I can't say I blame Nick or David. Its sad, it really is, thoguh with any luck, the almight dollar will talk some sense into these guys. If a 13 fold increase in record sales can't, I don't know what will (even if they do have all the money in the world)

You can watch it all here, thanks to AOL.