Rock Epic Draws 200,000 to Wall

EAST BERLIN — Nearly 200,000 people crammed into the former “death strip” at the Berlin Wall on Saturday night for one of the most elaborate rock concerts ever staged--an all-star version of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.”

The two-hour show, televised around the world, was a spectacular feast of fireworks, lights, animation and special effects. A 100-strong Soviet army band took part along with British military helicopters, trucks, Hell’s Angels and two giant balloon figures depicting a ghoulish teacher and a fierce wild pig.

The $8-million show was so intricate that at times the special effects overshadowed the music, written and sung by former Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters with the help of stars including Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison.

The crowd roared in approval at the concert’s climax as the main character screamed: “Tear down the Wall! Tear down the Wall!” They then cheered wildly as the wall in the show, made from 2,500 polystyrene blocks, came tumbling down.

The audience stretched half a mile from the stage, along a stretch of land that until last year was cut off from the world, patrolled by border guards with machine guns.