The Division Bell - Pink Floyd

Vinyl L.P - EMI Records - EMD 1055.

1994 - U.K.

Cover design: Storm Thorgerson.

Sculptures: Aden Hynes, John Robertson.

From drawnings: Keith Breeden.

Photography: Tony May, Rupert Truman, Stephen Piotrowski.

Graphics: Peter Curzon, Ian Wright.

Illustrations: John Whitely, Sally Norris.

Back cover

Gatefold

Inner gatefold

Inner sleeve

Inner sleeve

Labels

Vinyl L.P:

Pink Floyd Records - PFRLP14.

Europe - Reissue 2016.

Re-issue design: StormStudios.

Back cover

Gatefold

Inner gatefold

Inner sleeve

Inner sleeve

Labels disc 1

Inner sleeve

Inner sleeve

Labels disc 2

Cover sticker

Pink Floyd

Richard Wright, David Gilmour & Nick Mason

Memorabilia:

Poster

Poster

   About the artist and the album:

Pink Floyd is one of the most influential rock bands in history, formed in London in 1965. Initially part of the psychedelic underground scene, they gained attention with their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), largely driven by Barrett’s whimsical and surreal songwriting, they revolutionized music with concept albums that blended experimental soundscapes, philosophical lyrics, and striking visuals. The band’s classic lineup included Barrett, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason. Their work spans genres like art rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, and even symphonic rock.

Some of their most iconic albums include The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). These records not only achieved massive commercial success but also left a lasting cultural impact, influencing countless artists and shaping the sound of modern rock. Their live performances became legendary for elaborate light shows and immersive atmospheres.

Their music often explores themes of alienation, war, mental health, and societal critique. Songs like “Comfortably Numb,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and “Another Brick in the Wall” remain timeless classics. Even decades after their peak, Pink Floyd continues to resonate with new generations of listeners.

The Division Bell is their fourteenth studio album and the second post-Roger Waters era release led by David Gilmour, released on March 30, 1994. The title itself was suggested by author Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), referencing the literal bell used in the British Parliament to summon members for a vote.

The core lyrical concept focuses on a singular, powerful theme: communication. Throughout the tracks, the music explores how open dialogue can heal, while isolation, silence, and miscommunication inevitably break down relationships, societies, and personal lives.

Musically, the album features a massive return to collaborative writing between David Gilmour, keyboardist Richard Wright (marking his first lead vocal duties since 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon), and drummer Nick Mason.

Standout songs include "Keep Talking", a track that directly samples scientist Stephen Hawking’s synthesized voice to drive home the album’s ethos: "All we need to do is make sure we keep talking"; "Marooned", an instrumental piece that won Pink Floyd their only Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and "High Hopes" a melancholic, cinematic closer featuring a prominent church bell (the division bell itself) and a soaring lap steel guitar solo from Gilmour. It looks back wistfully at the band's early days in Cambridge.

The surrealist designer Storm Thorgerson didn't just design one set of monumental heads for the album art—he commissioned two completely different pairs. While the stone/polystyrene heads were used for the standard international CD release, the magnificent Metal Heads were photographed for the original vinyl LP release, the cassette version, and various tour programs.

Thorgerson wanted the sculptures to feel like modern, industrial versions of the ancient Moai (the monolithic human figures on Easter Island). He collaborated with designer Keith Breeden and builder John Robertson to construct the massive metal profiles. Standing over 20 feet tall—roughly the height of a double-decker bus—they were crafted from sheet metal and transported via flatbed trucks into the cold, empty fenlands of Cambridgeshire.