Why Pink Floyd brought back 'Astronomy Domine' for the 1994 Australasian tour — and how often they played it

During the second leg of the 1994 Division Bell tour, Pink Floyd surprised crowds in Australasia by resurrecting “Astronomy Domine” for the first time since 1973. The song was chosen partly as a tribute to Syd Barrett — the band had just released the The Division Bell album and were in a reflective mood — and partly because the guitar sound fit nicely with the new gear. There’s no special Syd connection for Australia or New Zealand; it was simply the right moment to dust off an old favorite.

It wasn’t played every night. The band rotated it in and out of the setlist during the Australasian leg, performing it at seven of the nine shows — including the first gig in Auckland and the final one in Wellington, but skipping two dates (Perth and one other). Later in the tour’s European and US legs it was dropped entirely, making the Australasian run the only chance to hear it live in 1994.