When Chris Barnes, lead singer of The Australian Pink Floyd Show, first listened to Pink Floyd’s 1971 compilation record, “Relics,” he wasn’t immediately mesmerized by the psychedelic and progressive music of the iconic English band.

“It was absolutely terrifying, actually,” Barnes said during a recent phone interview. “The second track was ‘Interstellar Overdrive,’ which is like this nine-minute space rock instrumental from the first album, and my brother turned the light off. Then all these beeps, squeaks, whistles, strange drums and weird noises were happening. I was about 5 or 6 years-old when this was happening, and it scared the hell out of me.”

While Barnes recalls the terror at his introduction to Pink Floyd, he also remembers being fascinated by the band. Decades later, that interest would blossom into an opportunity for him to front The Australian Pink Floyd Show, a tribute band formed in 1988 in Adelaide, South Australia, that has gone on to perform the music of Pink Floyd for audiences all over the world. For this outing, the band is playing Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” in full, since the album celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show features Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” album played in its entirety, in honor of the album’s 50th anniversary.

(Courtesy of Fantasy Springs Resort)

The show his making several Southern California stops including a gig at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula tonight, two shows at Humphreys Concerts By The Bay in San Diego on Wednesday and Thursday and final show on Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

“When you say the words ‘tribute band,’ you think of blokes wearing wigs in the corner of a bar somewhere, running through some Led Zeppelin or whatever the band might be that night, but this is a full-on show,” Barnes assured. “Even if you don’t like Pink Floyd, I think we’re going to entertain you because there’s so much happening on stage, with our big lavish production (which includes) a video screen, a big light show, inflatables, lasers and smoke.”

Barnes first heard about the tribute band in 1999 from his co-worker, who raved about their performance while working at a music store in the United Kingdom. He decided he’d give the band a chance and asked his co-worker’s sister, now Barnes’ wife, out on a first date to the show.

“I was blown away that this band was doing this material to such a high standard, and obviously, as technology is improving, they’ve got a bigger band and shows,” he said. “It’s a re-creation of a Pink Floyd concert every night, and to be part of that team is just a dream come true.”

Barnes was raised by his father, who had a regular day job, but by night performed in several cover bands that played the music of Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks. He would often go to his father’s rehearsals, and by the time he was 14, his father took him under his wing to tour around Northern England and show him the ropes.

“If you’ve seen ‘The Blues Brothers’ with Bob Country, it wasn’t as rough as that, but a few places were quite scary,” Barnes said. “But I got my apprenticeship under my dad playing ‘60s songs.”

Barnes took up several music jobs, including running a “School Of Rock”-style workshop where he taught kids how to play instruments and perform together in a band. One of his students was the daughter of The Australian Pink Floyd Show drummer, Paul Bonney, whom he recognized after attending a few of their shows over the years. One day, Bonney approached him and asked if he’d be interested in joining the group if a vacancy for a musician ever needed to be filled.

And when it was available, Barnes took him up on the offer.

“It took a few years, but eventually, the vacancy was there for a vocalist. I auditioned and here I am. Seven years later, I’m talking to you on the phone,” he said.

Since the band’s current tour is a deep dive into the 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Barnes said it’s definitely a masterpiece worth celebrating.

“Musically, it’s superb,” he said. “I think it’s where all the different components of what made Pink Floyd were at their peak. Roger (Waters’) lyrics were absolutely on point with the various topics he’s discussing … the pressures of modern life, growing old, the pressures of work and money and the fear of death.”

Barnes said the group is ready to perform one of the most iconic albums in rock history and can deliver what Pink Floyd fans crave.

“You’re getting a sonically well-designed, but huge, rock show,” he said. “We’re re-creating the album, and there’s equipment that people have spent years working on to make sure that it sounds exactly like the record, but presented in a Pink Floyd concert environment. We’re playing this music respectfully, and it’s an honor.”

The Australian Pink Floyd #DARKSIDE50 Tour

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Where: Pechanga Resort Casino, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula

Tickets: $199

Online: Ticketmaster.com

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

Where: Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego

Tickets: $67 for general admission, $166 for dinner show package and $179 for VIP

Online: Ticketmaster.com

Vargas writes for the Southern California News Group.