Audience Erupts in Applause for Pink Floyd's Pompeii Performance

Pink Floyd's Iconic WEM P.A. System Resurrected for Special Screening

Barnsley, U.K. - A truly legendary piece of music history made a triumphant return to the stage, with the original Sound Reinforcement System (WEM P.A.) used during Pink Floyd's groundbreaking film, "Live at Pompeii," gracing a recent special screening at the Parkway Cinema in Barnsley.

The WEM P.A., an audacious and innovative system for its time, played more than just a supporting role at the event—it provided the soundtrack for the concert experience, having been used during the 1971 filming to deliver the performance to the band and the audience. Originally used in the ancient Roman amphitheater, the 4K digitally remastered film, complete with a new Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos audio mix, now allows modern audiences to relive the concert with the same sonic authenticity.

Chris Hewitt, author and audio historian of CH Vintage Audio, was instrumental in bringing back the classic sound system. Meticulously tracking down, restoring, and reassembling the intricate setup that Pink Floyd utilized at Pompeii, Hewitt undertook an extensive investigation to retrieve every part of the WEM P.A. system. The system includes noteworthy components such as 10 SL100 secondary amps, four-by-twelve and two-by-twelve WEM P.A. columns laden with Celestion and Goodman twelve-inch speakers, and a WEM Festival stack.

"I began by acquiring six WEM Audio Masters that formerly belonged to Pink Floyd," Hewitt explained, as offers from collectors flooded in once they learned of his project. The resulting system now stands as a complex assembly of period-specific WEM equipment, replete with authentic Celestion G12, G10, and MH1000 drivers.

In addition to recreating Led Zeppelin’s sound for a new documentary, Hewitt set out to recapture the unique characteristics of the 1971 Pink Floyd setup. After finding that some vintage Celestion G10s and G12s were damaged, Hewitt successfully replaced them using original speakers from his extensive collection.

Hewitt asserted that the British manufacturing background of the drivers, made in places like East Anglia and Ipswich, lent a distinctive sound to the WEM speakers used in "Live at Pompeii." In contrast to American speakers made in sunny California during the same era, Hewitt believed the damp climate in England imparted tonal characteristics with a "totally different sound." This sentiment was echoed by the crowd, who filled the 200-seat cinema, as the returned system earned a standing ovation. Even three Pink Floyd enthusiasts traveled all the way from the south of France to be a part of the historic moment.

With the success of the special screening, the WEM P.A. system has proven that it truly is a musical legend, standing the test of time and captivating audiences even today.

During the special screening of Pink Floyd's "Live at Pompeii" at the Parkway Cinema, the original sound system, WEM P.A., provided the audio that immersed the audience in the concert experience, just as it did during the 1971 filming.
In his quest to recreate the unique sound of Pink Floyd's Iconic WEM P.A. System, audio historian Chris Hewitt meticulously sourced period-specific components, including Celestion and Goodman speakers, to ensure a sonic authenticity that modern audiences could appreciate.
The success of the special screening demonstrated that the WEM P.A. system, with its distinctive British manufacturing background, remains a musical legend, capable of captivating audiences and earning standing ovations even today.