IN the music world, tribute acts are generally frowned upon. A dismissive eye is too often cast upon those that ignite the creative spark of others, for their own gain.

However, there are handful of exceptions that have been granted free reign to imitate, replicate and sometimes parody their heroes.

The Australian Pink Floyd are surely at the top of this pile.

Kicking off this year’s Summer Pops, the Antipodean progsters set the ECHO arena alight with a note-perfect rendition of the entire of the Floyd’s seminal 1979 rock opera, The Wall, complete with a huge projection, which although it couldn’t replicate the onstage spectacle of the real Floyd, The Wall Tour, still did enough to ramp the amps up to 11.

From the opening chords of In The Flesh the audience were captivated by every move of the ten-strong outfit.
The Wall (Part One) - complete with giant goose-stepping hammers, projected on the back wall - is the set’s obvious highlight, with its “Hey teacher, leave those kids alone” refrain striking a chord with everyone from teenagers to pensioners.