The Australian Pink Floyd Show is presented as the most faithful tribute to Pink Floyd. How do you explain this?
Luc Ledy-Lepine (guitarist of the group): “I think this can be explained by the fact that the original Australians spent decades working on the sound of their instruments, their effects, meticulously listening to every little hidden detail in all the original albums (to the nearest frequency). The goal of Aussie Floyd is to reproduce as closely as possible what longtime fans (or not) could hear when they first listened to Pink Floyd’s vinyl or the overall body of work by Pink Floyd.”
Luc, how and when did you discover the world of Pink Floyd?
“I discovered Pink Floyd at a very young age thanks to my parents (around 7 or 8 years old) and I have always been fascinated by how this music made me feel physically. I remember listening to ‘Welcome to The Machine’ for the first time with headphones and feeling chills, anxiety, but also the impression of listening to something completely unique and special.”
How did you join the group?
“I saw the group for the first time in Marseille in 2013, and I was completely blown away by the music, the loyalty to the original work. It felt like seeing and hearing a love letter dedicated to Pink Floyd and their fans. Following this concert, I contacted David Domminney Fowler (guitarist) on Facebook and sent him a message along with a video of me playing a Floyd solo, asking for his opinion and advice. To my surprise, he responded by saying that I was doing very well for my age and that I should continue, maybe I’ll have his job later. (Laughs). Fast forward 9 years later, I received a call from David (with whom I had formed friendly bonds in the meantime) who informed me that Steve Mac, the Australian founder, the other guitarist, was retiring. In May 2022, I was told that I was the only one on the list, and in June 2022 I did my very first concert with them in Berlin.”
And what is it like to be the ‘frenchie’ of the group?
“To be honest, I sometimes forget that I am the only French member of the group! The atmosphere within this team is exceptional and I am fortunate to speak English well enough for everyone to understand me and for me to understand everyone. It’s funny because when we play in French-speaking countries, I sometimes have the opportunity to speak directly to the audience and my colleagues look at me in amazement saying ‘Oh, I forgot you were French, well done you speak well!'”
With the group’s global success, how does The Australian Pink Floyd manage to renew the show?
“The music of Pink Floyd will not change, it is timeless and part of history. What can change, however, is the staging, the setlist, the videos shown on the giant screen behind us, the laser show or lighting that is renewed every year. We make every effort so that the audience who comes to see us every year has a sense of renewal and freshness, even though the songs are between 30 and 60 years old.”
Is it difficult to establish the setlist with such a repertoire?
“It is difficult to choose a completely different setlist every year because Floyd has written so many classics that they must be played every year (otherwise the audience will revolt!), I think especially of Wish You Were Here, Money, Time, Bricks, Shine On, Comfortably Numb and so on. However, Pink Floyd is not known for making ‘short’ songs so each concert contains at least 1h15 or even 1h30 of absolute classics, which leaves us with a good hour to choose to include less known songs, or from a more sixties era, and even songs never interpreted by the group before (especially Marooned).”
How is the tour going? How does the group live on tour? A group of friends? A family? What do you do between concerts?
“It is literally a family of about 30 people, constantly on the road together, sharing meals, the stage, tour buses, hotels, and planes… I could not be more honest in saying that every day with them is a delight. The atmosphere is healthy and light, everyone knows what they have to do and they do it perfectly, regardless of the role, from the singer to the lighting engineer.”
“We have our small rituals after the concert, some go to bed very early, others stay up late and watch movies on the bus which is a hotel on wheels, some chat about everything and nothing, some play chess, in short, Rock ‘n’ Roll! An exceptionally normal and healthy atmosphere once again.”
Nick Mason and David Gilmour say you are the best ‘Tribute’ of PF. Are you considering a project, a concert, where you could perform together?
“This has already happened in the past, in 1996 the Aussies were invited by David Gilmour himself to celebrate his 50th birthday. They had the chance and the honor to take the stage and play together with Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and David Gilmour, in a festive atmosphere that each of them remembers fondly. We have also had the opportunity to play with other musicians closely linked to Pink Floyd, such as Lee Harris, Guy Pratt, or even the McBroom sisters (including Lorelei who has been a backup singer with Aussie Floyd since 2010, after touring with the real Pink Floyd in 1987 and 1989).”
“However, I doubt that any of the Pink Floyd members will take the stage with us one day, but nothing is ever impossible!”
Do you have a particular piece that you enjoy playing on stage? And why?
“Yes!! I love playing ‘Pigs Three Different Ones,’ as well as ‘Sheep’ and ‘High Hopes.’ The first two because their energy is exceptional, it’s impossible not to move in all directions when playing them. As for ‘High Hopes,’ mainly because the slide guitar solo at the end has always given me indescribable chills, and having the chance to play it myself is an absolute honor.”
The Australian Pink Floyd Show, the greatest Pink Floyd tribute, this Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 8:00 pm, at the Zénith de Pau. Tickets at €48.50, €59.50, €76, and €98; Information and reservations: 05 59 80 77 50.
