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Pink Floyd Rescues Famous Inflatable Pig; Auction Canceled

Fans of Pink Floyd will be happy to hear that Algie, the giant inflatable pig that graced the cover of the band’s 1977 album, Animals, is safely back under the care of the legendary band after the puffy porker was almost auctioned off.

According to the BBC, the inflatable swine became a cult icon in in the 1970’s. It was during this decade that the pig floated above a London power station. At one point, the pig broke free from its moorings and halted air traffic nearby Heathrow airport as it made its journey through the sky.

The pig was eventually found in the city of Kent, unharmed save for poor standing with a herd of cows who fled the scene when the pink balloon descended on their field.

Eventually the old pig landed in the hand of of Air Artists, a consortium who took the pig in even though it had a tear during transport.

Because of the tear, Air Artists had to create a new pig. The newest version of the porker was completed in 1987.

Air Artists employee Robin Harries said he was the one who made the newer version of Algie, but he didn’t want “to throw the old one away.”

I made the new pig and I thought I’m not going to throw the old one away, even though it’s been condemned, so I just kept it ever since.

Fast forward to earlier this year when Air Artists offered up a bevy of rock collectibles that included the newest pig. In their enthusiasm about the sale, auctioneers Durrants included the original pig in their listing.

When Harries saw the first pig on the list, he decided to ask the surviving members of Pink Floyd if they wanted to take the helium-filled pig.

Their answer, according to New York Daily News, was, “Yes.”

The surviving members of Pink Floyd—including Roger Waters, who designed the pig for the cover of its 1977 concept album “Animals”—decided they wanted Algie after all.

The auction of the newer pig as well as other bits of Pink Floyd memorabilia will take place on Sept. 15.

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