Knebworth - Don't Panic

[Matt H]

So I was up at 5AM this morning because my kids got up and it was my turn to get up with them.  I put in the Knebworth DVD, and at the beginning of the show when it is still a little light out I noticed a big sign in the background that says "Don't Panic" placed perfectly in the view of Brian.  Has anyone else ever noticed this before?  This is 1980 and between the 2 Landy periods.  Was this a standard thing that was done for Brian even when Landy wasn't around?

[c-man]

So I was up at 5AM this morning because my kids got up and it was my turn to get up with them.  I put in the Knebworth DVD, and at the beginning of the show when it is still a little light out I noticed a big sign in the background that says "Don't Panic" placed perfectly in the view of Brian.  Has anyone else ever noticed this before?  This is 1980 and between the 2 Landy periods.  Was this a standard thing that was done for Brian even when Landy wasn't around?

I noticed this back when the footage first aired as part of their 20th Anniversary Special in 1981.  I assumed it was a Knebworth standby fixture, to be used if there was a fire or soccer riot. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

The answer is, of course, 42. 

[Matt H]

The answer is, of course, 42. 

What does that mean? 

[TonyW]

So long and thanks for all the fish!

[The Shift]

It's the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything*.

With Andrew I never know whether it means he knows the answer and we don't, or he doesn't know the answer and we don't either!

* Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe

> oops, Galaxy, not Universe, of course.  "Don't Panic" was written on the front page of Douglas Adams' fictional guide.

[The Shift]

And Andrew, where's your top-hatted avatar gone? Mine (and I think one or two others) was a mere homage to yours (except mine's gone an exciting fragment of naughty skin in it!)

[Andrew G. Doe]

No idea. I certainly didn't remove it.

edit: ah, that's better.

[the captain]

The answer is, of course, 42. 

What does that mean? 

42 as "the answer to life, the universe, and everything," (it's the question nobody is quite sure of) as well as "Don't Panic" is from Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[carlydenise]

It was the sign from Hitchhikers, but maybe it was put in Brian's view stragetically?  I love that DVD, the only thing I was disappointed was, on the CD they included the part where the audience sang Happy Birthday to Brian, but it was not included in the DVD.  Carl singing Darlin is my favorite part.

[punkinhead]

that is my favorite live version of darlin, really upbeat and a good time.

only dissapointment for me was lack of the newer material presented. no I write the Songs, Santa Ana Winds, Some of your Love, good timin', etc.

[mikeyj]

I love that DVD, the only thing I was disappointed was, on the CD they included the part where the audience sang Happy Birthday to Brian, but it was not included in the DVD.

Alan Boyd explained why previously:

Regarding HAPPY BIRTHDAY, when it comes to licensing publishing rights for a CD, the royalty rates are pre-set (it's called a "Compulsory" Mechanical License) and no publisher can charge any more than that for release on a CD or vinyl album or tape cassette.... but when you include music on a video and synchronize the music to picture, that's an entirely different legal situation.  Those are called "Sync" licenses, and the publishers can charge any amount they see fit, and those get REALLY expensive.  If we'd included HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the Knebworth DVD, we probably would have had to drop one of the other songs from the DVD!

[Emdeeh]

It was the sign from Hitchhikers, but maybe it was put in Brian's view stragetically?

I don't think it had anything whatsoever to do with Brian or the other BBs -- Hitchhikers was quite popular in the UK at the time, IIRC. It was running in the US on PBS around the same time too.

[The Shift]

that is my favorite live version of darlin, really upbeat and a good time.

only dissapointment for me was lack of the newer material presented. no I write the Songs, Santa Ana Winds, Some of your Love, good timin', etc.

You need to check out the Stone Age Music boot, which has the entire gig in soundboard quality (though there are a few cut-outs). There's also a separate rehearsals set.

Of course, checking out such material is very naughty and rightly frowned upon.

[shelter]

About "Happy Birthday":

The documentary film The Corporation claims that Warner/Chappell charges up to US$10,000 for the song to appear in a film.

The song is currently set to pass in to the public domain in 2030.

[phirnis]

Looking forward to the extended Knebworth edition, this time containing Happy Birthday, in 2031. (Maybe we're going to hear I Write The Songs and Santa Ana Winds by then, too.)

[Jay]

Interestingly enough, the person who owns the copyright to the song Happy Birthday is Paul Mccartney.

[mikeyj]

Interestingly enough, the person who owns the copyright to the song Happy Birthday is Paul Mccartney.

That's apparently just a rumour....

http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/birthday.asp

[Pretty Funky]

Looking forward to the extended Knebworth edition, this time containing Happy Birthday, in 2031. (Maybe we're going to hear I Write The Songs and Santa Ana Winds by then, too.)

For what its worth, Wikipedia claims Happy Birthday rights expire in the E.U end of 2016. Hang in there!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You