Roger Waters @ NEC

May 9 2007 By Adam Fradgley, Birmingham Mail

THIRTY years ago Roger Waters spat at a crazed fan who was screaming at Pink Floyd whilst they performed in Montreal.

From this sparked the concept of building a barrier between the audience and the band. The album The Wall then followed.

Last night at the NEC, Waters' message was clear. Bring the boys back home from Iraq and demolish walls that divide nations.

Political messages did not detract from the gig, but merely heightened the performance's emotion.

The concert, served as two halves, was a tour through Pink Floyd's back catalogue featuring parts of Animals, complete with a giant inflatable pig flying around the NEC Arena.

Wish You Were Here extracts included Shine on You Crazy Diamond with a projection of recently departed Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett. Waters also managed to squeeze in a medley from the Final Cut and sections of his solo work Amused to Death.

But the highlight of the first act was an outstanding performance of Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun. After a short break Waters and his band performed the whole of Dark Side Of The Moon.

Then, not quite finished, he returned to the stage for an encore. He wrapped up with parts of The Wall, building from Another Brick In The Wall to Comfortably Numb.