Why does Pink Floyd have a flying pig

 Animals was a politically charged album inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, with tracks like “Pigs (Three Different Ones),” “Dogs,” and “Sheep” offering biting critiques of capitalist society. To match its heavy themes, the band needed a cover that was just as bold and symbolic.

Enter Storm Thorgerson and the design team at Hipgnosis—Pink Floyd’s longtime collaborators. The original idea? A massive photograph of an inflatable pig floating between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station in London. The pig would represent greed, corruption, and the grotesque nature of power. Simple, right?

The Infamous First Attempt

On December 2, 1976, a 40-foot helium-filled pig was launched into the sky above Battersea Power Station. It was tethered to the ground with ropes and had a marksman on standby to shoot it down in case it broke free. What could possibly go wrong?

Well… someone forgot to tell the marksman to show up.

The pig slipped its moorings, broke free, and floated all the way into commercial airspace. Flights at Heathrow Airport were delayed. Pilots reported a giant flying pig passing by. Eventually, Algie crash-landed in a farmer’s field in Kent, scaring the livestock. A new rock legend was born.

The Second Shoot (and a Bit of Photoshop)

The next day, they tried again. This time, everything went smoothly—but the sky wasn’t dramatic enough. So, they used a composite of day two’s sky and day one’s pig. The final result? That striking image of the pig floating ominously between the towers—used as the Animals album cover.

From Album Art to Stage Prop

The flying pig became more than just album art. It made its live debut on the Animals tour, then reappeared throughout the decades—often customized with political slogans or eerie facial expressions. During The Wall and Division Belltours, and most recently Roger Waters’ solo shows, the pig returned again and again, symbolizing everything from government corruption to consumerism.

Why the Pig Still Matters

What began as a symbolic image tied to one album has grown into a cultural icon. The flying pig represents everything Pink Floyd stood for—rebellion, intellect, satire, and art. And fans still look skyward (and stageward) to see if Algiewill make another appearance.

So next time you see that snorting beast floating above the crowd—or printed on a t-shirt—you’ll know: it’s not just a pig. It’s a piece of rock history.

Rock on, always.

Sam