Wall Trivia

Reprinted from the Echoes FAQ

In the movie "The Wall," there are a lot of scenes in the background of a WWII film called "The Dambusters." It's the story about 617 squadron, which attacked 3 Ruhr dams in 1943 flying specially converted Lancasters carrying Barnes Wallis's "bouncing bomb" and it is the film of this event featured in the Wall movie. The raid was lead by Wing Commander Guy Gibson who survived the raid and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in it. Guy Gibson died later in the war.
There are a number of uncredited session musicians on The Wall. Freddie Mandell plays Hammond organ on "In the Flesh," Lee Ritenour plays rhythm guitar on "One of My Turns" (Gilmour "couldn't think of a good part to play"), and there's some guy playing Spanish guitar on "Is There Anybody Out There?" because Gilmour couldn't play the part without a pick.
"Where the hell are you? Where the hell are you Tyler?" heard just before the song "Vera" is from the movie "Battle of Britain". The airplane that you hear crashing afterward is Tyler's.
Toni Tennille (credited on The Wall LP) is from The Captain and Tennille. Bruce Johnston is from The Beach Boys -- the original plan had been to have all the Beach Boys harmonize on "The Show Must Go On" and "Waiting for the Worms," but this was scrapped.
On "Gohill's Boots:" Gohill's is a shoe store in Camden, North London (UK). The boots referred to in The Wall would have been short ankle boots with an elasticated "gusset" (rather than laces). These were "de rigeur" in London in the late '60s and Gohill's was THE place to get them. A picture of Syd wearing a pair of yellow Gohills can be found in the Mick Rock Photo Sessions book.

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