Today marks the 25th anniversary of Pink Floyd's concert in Venice. The 1989 concert, on the Canal di San Marco, was performed on a floating stage. It was broadcast live on TV to over 20 countries with an estimated audience of almost 100 million. 

Although the show was marred by only a few minor incidents, its legacy — mountains of trash, at least one damaged historic monument and dozens of others used as toilets by about 200,000 spectators — had the people of Venice up in arms.

Venice`s mayor, Antonio Casellati, told a packed public meeting that the concert had been a mistake. But he said his government had come under “unusual pressure“ from state-run television — which had sold the broadcast rights to more than a dozen countries — and other political interest groups to let the show go on.

But Casellati`s Venetian audience wanted blood.

"Fools, scoundrels," they shouted. "Resign, resign, you`ve turned Venice into a toilet."

Nonetheless, Pink Floyd's performance was flawless and beautifully set to the backdrop of the "city of canals."

-Spencer