Back in 2018, Roger Waters revealed that Pink Floyd's conceptual 1977 full-length Animals would be reissued and remastered in 5.1 surround sound, but the release has yet to surface. Now, Waters has returned with an update on the package, sharing that the delay relates to a dispute over liner notes with former bandmate David Gilmour.
In a written statement shared through Waters' website — as he is reportedly still banned from posting through Pink Floyd's Facebook page — he stated that "there are new James Guthrie Stereo and 5.1 mixes" of Animals, which "have languished unreleased because of a dispute over some sleeve notes that [British journalist Mark Blake] has written for this new release."
Waters claimed that "Gilmour has vetoed the release of the album unless these liner notes are removed. He does not dispute the veracity of the history described in Mark's notes, but he wants that history to remain secret."
He further alleged that the veto is "a small part of an ongoing campaign" by Gilmour and wife and co-writer Polly Samson "to claim more credit for Dave on the work he did in Pink Floyd, 1967-1985, than is his due."
"Yes [Gilmour] was, and is, a jolly good guitarist and singer," Waters conceded. "But, he has for the last 35 years told a lot of whopping porky pies about who did what in Pink Floyd when I was still in charge. There's a lot of 'we did this' and 'we did that,' and 'I did this' and 'I did that.'"
Waters wrote that he is "agreeing to the release of the new Animals remix, with the sleeve notes removed," commending both Guthrie and Blake for their work.
The former Floyd member has shared the final draft of the liner notes, "fact checked and agreed as factually correct by me, [drummer Nick Mason] and Gilmour," which are available to read through his website.
An included video statement from Waters, in which he shares that he has been writing his memoirs, also reveals the Animals reissue's cover seen above. It features a new take on the original's artwork, with the LP's iconic inflatable pig flying over the Battersea Power Station in southwest London.
The hype sticker featured on the cover reveals the remixed Animals will arrive in vinyl LP, CD, DVD and Blu-ray audio formats, though a release date has yet to be revealed. The album was previously treated to a vinyl repressing in 2016 as part of the band's wider catalogue reissue campaign.
Waters recently rescheduled a North American tour for 2022 and signed a letter in support of Palestine. In April, Pink Floyd gave live album Live at Knebworth 1990 a standalone release.
In a written statement shared through Waters' website — as he is reportedly still banned from posting through Pink Floyd's Facebook page — he stated that "there are new James Guthrie Stereo and 5.1 mixes" of Animals, which "have languished unreleased because of a dispute over some sleeve notes that [British journalist Mark Blake] has written for this new release."
Waters claimed that "Gilmour has vetoed the release of the album unless these liner notes are removed. He does not dispute the veracity of the history described in Mark's notes, but he wants that history to remain secret."
He further alleged that the veto is "a small part of an ongoing campaign" by Gilmour and wife and co-writer Polly Samson "to claim more credit for Dave on the work he did in Pink Floyd, 1967-1985, than is his due."
"Yes [Gilmour] was, and is, a jolly good guitarist and singer," Waters conceded. "But, he has for the last 35 years told a lot of whopping porky pies about who did what in Pink Floyd when I was still in charge. There's a lot of 'we did this' and 'we did that,' and 'I did this' and 'I did that.'"
Waters wrote that he is "agreeing to the release of the new Animals remix, with the sleeve notes removed," commending both Guthrie and Blake for their work.
The former Floyd member has shared the final draft of the liner notes, "fact checked and agreed as factually correct by me, [drummer Nick Mason] and Gilmour," which are available to read through his website.
An included video statement from Waters, in which he shares that he has been writing his memoirs, also reveals the Animals reissue's cover seen above. It features a new take on the original's artwork, with the LP's iconic inflatable pig flying over the Battersea Power Station in southwest London.
The hype sticker featured on the cover reveals the remixed Animals will arrive in vinyl LP, CD, DVD and Blu-ray audio formats, though a release date has yet to be revealed. The album was previously treated to a vinyl repressing in 2016 as part of the band's wider catalogue reissue campaign.
Waters recently rescheduled a North American tour for 2022 and signed a letter in support of Palestine. In April, Pink Floyd gave live album Live at Knebworth 1990 a standalone release.
