How Pink Floyd Cast and Contracted Local Children for 'Another Brick in the Wall' on The Wall Tour

The most interesting thing about hiring kids for The Wall tour wasn’t the singing — it was the paperwork. Because the tour moved city to city, Pink Floyd couldn’t bring the same children everywhere. Instead, production manager Robbie Williams (not that one) and local fixers would contact school music programs, church choirs, and drama clubs weeks in advance to find a dozen or so children aged 8–15 who could learn the song quickly and handle stage fright.

Selection was informal but strict. Kids had to match a certain look — mostly white, uniform height so they fit in the same simple grey school uniforms — and be available for multiple shows in that city. Parents had to sign a standard minor release form waiving liability and granting the band permission to film and photograph the performance. The contract also included a modest flat payment, usually around £50–100 per child for the run, and strict clauses about chaperones: at least one parent or guardian had to remain backstage during the show. No one wanted a repeat of the 1979 recording session where a few kids got overwhelmed by the noise.

Surprisingly, there was no non-disclosure agreement. Any child could tell friends what they saw, but few did — the onstage wall and giant puppets usually left them too stunned to talk. The real legal headache came later when some parents sued over uncredited vocal appearances on the live album Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81 — though those cases settled quietly.