Pink Floyd - The Story of Wish You Were Here

John Edginton

“Wish You Were Here”, released in September 1975, was the follow up album to the globally successful “The Dark Side Of The Moon” and is cited by many fans, as well as band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour, as their favorite Pink Floyd album. On release it went straight to Number One in both the UK and the US and topped the charts in many other countries around the world. This program tells the story of the making of this landmark release through new interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason and archive interviews with the late Richard Wright. Also featured are sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, guest vocalist Roy Harper, front cover “burning man” Ronnie Rondell and others involved in the creation of the album. In addition, original recording engineer Brian Humphries revisits the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios to illustrate aspects of the songs’ construction.


Joe Cocker: Mad Dog With Soul

John Edginton

This feature-length documentary portrays the turbulent life and extraordinary talent of soul and blues singer, the late Joe Cocker. A former gas fitter from Sheffield , Joe Cocker was catapulted to world stardom in 1969 at Woodstock with his legendary performance of the Beatles song, "A Little Help from My Friends". His 1970 “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour of America is now seen as a milestone in rock history. But as his stardom increased , the pressures mounted and , in the 1970s, Joe Cocker’s inner demons nearly killed him. The film documents how Joe overcame his struggles with alcohol and drugs to rebuild his reputation as "one of the great primal rock and roll vocalists of all time” (Billy Joel's description). The film mixes Joe Cocker's own words, with rare archive. His family, friends and the legendary songwriters and musicians he collaborated with, tell Joe Cocker's story. The film has raw, electric performance footage throughout.


Genesis: Sum of the Parts

John Edginton

“Sum Of The Parts” is the official authorised story of Genesis made with the full co-operation of the band members. It tells of the band’s formation at Charterhouse (where Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel and Mike Rutherford were all pupils) in the late sixties and the release of their debut album “From Genesis To Revelation”. The story then moves on through the departure of founder member Anthony Phillips and the arrival of Phil Collins and Steve Hackett in 1970 to form the 5-man line-up that established the band’s career with albums such as “Foxtrot” and “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”. Peter Gabriel’s departure in 1975 and then Steve Hackett’s in 1977 led to the release of the album “And Then There Were Three…” and a move towards shorter, more immediate songs. The eighties and nineties were triumphant decades for Genesis with hugely successful hit albums and singles around the world such as “Genesis”, “Invisible Touch” and “We Can’t Dance”. At the same time as they were recording and performing with Genesis, Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford (as Mike & The Mechanics) were all enjoying successful solo careers, as were departed members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett. “Sum Of The Parts” explores the dynamics of the group that has enabled them to survive changes of line-up, see their musical direction steadily evolve and maintain both group and solo careers along with their enduring popularity as evidenced by their hugely successful 2007 reunion tour.


The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story

John Edginton

The late Syd Barrett was a major cult figure and rock music legend. The charismatic and brilliant lead guitarist of the early Pink Floyd, he created a unique psychedelic sound and wrote wonderfully eccentric songs including the hits “Arnold Layne”, “See Emily Play” and “Bike”. Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968 when his increasingly erratic behaviour made his continued participation in the band impossible. After two extraordinary solo albums he disappeared from music altogether. “The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story” tells the full bizarre, tragic but also celebratory story of Syd Barrett with contributions from all the members of Pink Floyd plus friends, managers and lovers.


Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt?

John Edginton

This explosive film reopens the case on America's most "celebrated" death row inmate, fearlessly exposing a broken justice system that has confined Mumia Abu-Jamal to prison for over 25 years. Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt? dares to ask whether this radical journalist and Black Panther with no prior criminal record was treated fairly by the Philadelphia police and prosecutors for a murder he may not have committed. Biting, yet poetic, this powerful film blows gaping holes in the credibility of the case against Mumia while giving the man himself room to air his provocative political and social views. A film the authorities don't want you to see, Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt? is an unforgettably searing indictment of the death penalty and a criminal justice system tinged with racism.