What a treat and how thoughtful it was of Richard Barbieri to invite me, my wife and Clementine 🐶(this was her 3rd concert ever) to his show with Porcupine Tree last night at the Greek Theatre in LA (watch Get Him To The Greek to see it). It was the first time we’d met in person, having only been pen pals on Facebook. And normally I’d stop the post there, but I realize that although many of you know Richard from Porcupine Tree, I thought I’d embarrass him and tell all of you what an influence Richard has been on me since the mid 70’s up until the present, even influencing the sonics on Pink Floyd’s Learning To Fly, Yet Another Movie, Marooned, Keep Talking, Cluster 1 etc. Hey, if you can’t show your appreciation in the present tense, what are we doing here? So here’s a shopping list for you to enjoy some truly beautiful music that Richard has been a part of that has altered the way I look at sound, opened my mind and given me a lifetime of enjoyment... Japan-Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Tin Drum, Oil On Canvas Rain Tree Crow (one of my favorite albums ever) David Sylvian-Brilliant Trees, Gone To Earth Dolphin Brothers-all of them Jansen/Barbieri/Karn-all of them And any of Richard’s solo records, especially his most recent one done under lockdown, Under A Spell. And it goes without saying that Richard was as lovely in person as his music. Here’s a photo of us by Brie, with a flying saucer. PS...also so great to catch up with my old friend, Simon Phillips. x @pinkfloyd