How a Giant Inflatable Pig Turned Pink Floyd into the Public Enemy in 1977

Few album covers are as famous as that of **"Animals"**, released by Pink Floyd in 1977. The image of a huge inflatable pig floating between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station, in London, has become one of the most iconic symbols in the history of rock. But what many fans don't know is that that pig ended up creating a huge problem for the band. During the cover photo shoot, the team used a gigantic pig-shaped balloon nicknamed "Algie". The plan was to photograph him held by cables above the plant. However, during one of the production stages, the pig escaped. The gigantic balloon took to the skies and began to cross British airspace without control. The incident generated immediate concern among aviation authorities, as the object posed a potential risk to planes using nearby routes. Pilots even reported sightings of the flying pig, while air control teams tried to follow its trajectory. The case quickly became national news. Although the episode was treated with some humor by the public, authorities were not satisfied with the situation. The incident generated criticism and placed Pink Floyd under strong attention from the press and bodies responsible for air safety. Ironically, all the controversy helped to further increase the fame of the "Animals" cover, which became one of the most recognizable images in music history.