I like to equate this discussion to sports because of the parallels. A big ballyhoo in the sporting world is telling an athlete when he or she should retire. I understand it is sad when we see an athlete fade that was once so great, but we only have to do one thing:
Don't watch.
I know that it sounds simple, and impossible, but it's the only way. Who are we to tell someone when to stop? Just simply turn your attention to something else.
Also, it will enhance the enjoyment of today's stars. I am a big sports fan, and know far more than I should about a lot of things in sport (in high school I seamlessly went from the "jock" to "head" crowd...consult your 70's dictionary
).
I watched Roger Federer dismantle his opponent today on TV at Wimbledon. I have learned to appreciate the beauty and grace of an incredible performance, and not to be stuck in the past. It's hard not to fall into the trap of "nothing can match such and such" so everything else is 2nd rate. That thinking would inhibit me from appreciating today's competitors.
Now back to music - Jethro Tull and Rush are my favorite bands. Tull is not nearly the band they were in their prime. I used to get pissed off when they changed their set lists and would play stuff like "Budapest"....I think that tune's bloated, yet they play it every concert. But it's better to enjoy the other stuff and take a pee break or watch the women (oh yeah it's a Tull concert, sorry) than stew over it. And it's the artists right to play what they want. There's already enough audience pressure, because they play Aqualung and Locomotive Breath every fucking time. Like Rush with Tom Sawyer. I'd be happy never to hear that again.
Rush was difficult to reconcile for me in the 80's. They would play most of whatever record was released on the tour. That in itself was OK, but they would combine older songs. Xanadu and Superconductor sould NEVER be even played near each other, yet Rush would put them in a MEDLEY. That used to royally piss me off. Combined with the fact that the late 80's early 90's Rush period was not as good as the earlier stuff, it was hard for awhile. But now they get it. It's always better to go with it and enjoy as much as you can.
I guess I never canonized an artist. Awed, astounded, moved..yes they're words that apply. But lionized, put on a pedestal..no way.
I look at concerts like Floyd did as what they are, not any presursor of future projects nor a great epiphany. I only saw Floyd on the Division Bell tour, and I agree with Kirk. It was Floyd, but only seemed like them when they played the more recent material.
I saw my first show in 1977, so I missed what I consider the greatest peiod in rock history 1970-1975. Even though I never saw Gentle Giant, I would not be interested in seeing them reform, even if possible. But if they did, and I see them, I would enjoy it for what it is.
At Nearfest, Nektar, Camel, Caravan, Happy the Man, etc. all re-formed and played shows. They all were outstanding, mainly because they played what they could and wanted. Getting upset that Camel played a lot of "newer" material just isn't worth it.
This year IQ is playing (again). They record, but don't spend much time together physicially. I'd be very interested how this will work. I hope they stretch out and do some different things, make it seem like a band playing a show, not a "let's play the hits" thing (a prog band with "hits"...sorry that is a weird concept!)
So I agree the most effective and enjoyable way if Floyd went forward would be to experiment and be fresh. But if it's the reverse, well that's their preogative. I don't have to buy it, I have a choice.