Pink Floyd Goes Polka

Posted on Nov 5th 2008 10:00AM by James Sullivan
Comments

Every city has them: hardworking musicians who find that their only sure route to a paycheck is to interpret the music of bands more famous than themselves. There are countless Beatles cover bands, of course, and plenty more devoted to the music of the Ramones, U2 and AC/DC, to name a handful.

Few, however, mess with the original sound quite as much as a certain Pink Floyd tribute band based in Toledo, Ohio. They're called Polka Floyd.

Not surprisingly, the group started on a whim. While waiting for some members to arrive at a rehearsal a few years ago, guitarist and bandleader Ken Haas idly began playing 'Comfortably Numb' to a polka shuffle.

Now this rock-band-with-accordion makes its living traveling the Midwest, playing 'Another Brick in the Wall' and 'Hey You' reimagined for Oktoberfest. "I have original material that I poured my heart and soul into for 10 or 15 years, but no one wants to listen to that," says Haas.

He's not complaining: he's a huge fan. The band can, and sometimes does, perform the albums 'Dark Side of the Moon' and 'Wish You Were Here' in their entirety. And if they sense some skeptical Floyd fans in the audience, they'll pull out an obscurity like Syd Barrett's 'Jugband Blues,' just to mark their turf.

We're guessing they're partial to 'Brain Damage,' too.

Next: Blues Legend's Soul for Sale

More Wacked News

HP Nixes Glitter's 'Touch'

Brits Blacklist Winehouse

McCartney Loses His Head

Roman Bust Recalls Elvis

Bee Gees Keeping Patients 'Alive'

Colin Powell Busts a Move

All Wacked News