Pink Floyd Member Richard Wright Dies at 65

Monday , September 15, 2008

AP

LONDON —
Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.

Pink Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. He says the band member's family did not want to give more details about his death.

Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.

The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was a hit.

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote songs and sang.

The band released a series of commercially and critically successful albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more than 40 million copies. Wright wrote "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them" for that album, and later worked on the group's epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother," "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."

But tensions grew between Waters, Wright and fellow band member David Gilmour. The tensions came to a head during the making of "The Wall" when Waters insisted Wright be fired. As a result, Wright was relegated to the status of session musician on the tour of "The Wall," and did not perform on Pink Floyd's 1983 album "The Final Cut."

Wright formed a new band Zee with Dave Harris, from the band Fashion, and released one album, "Identity," with Atlantic Records.

Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and Wright began recording with Mason and Gilmour again, releasing the albums "The Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" as Pink Floyd. Wright also released the solo albums "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996).

In July 2005, Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour reunited to perform at the "Live 8" charity concert in London -- the first time in 25 years they had been onstage together.

Wright also worked on Gilmour's solo projects, most recently playing on the 2006 album "On An Island" and the accompanying world tour.

Thats a shame. RIP

One of my favorite bands of all time--I didn't even know he was ill.

There goes any hope of a (far fetched) reunion.

Yeah, what a fucking shame.

Oh well, the dude was cool and contributed to some rather awesome shit to music.

Syd first, now Wright...

RIP


I guess he has become, Comfortably Numb

You know, Ronnie's probably going to shit on my face for this, but I never really liked that song all that much. The Wall is fantastic, but certain parts of it sound like psychedelia fused with elements of 1980s hair metal.

My daughter just bought the Dark Side of the Moon LP at a street fair last weekend. They were one of THE bands to get high to, back in the day.

They still are.

Great Band.

Were? Kids are always going to be eating full gallon cartons of ice cream to Floyd.

I still contend that Meddle is easily one of the most underrated albums of the era, though. "Echoes" is just genius. One of the best songs in their catalogue... I would have loved to hear it when I went to see Waters in 2006... Even still, it was one of the best shows I'll ever see.

Anyone here a fan of Live in Pompeii? I actually think it's a--very close, but ultimately--better watch than The Wall. There is an epic performance of "Echoes" in there, as well. And the interview material is about as hilarious as some snippets from This is Spinal Tap.

I love Echoes.

You know, back when I was young and we had to grow our own. As my daughter would say, in the days before the earth's crust cooled.

I know Pink Floyd of course, but for whatever reason don't own any of their music and, I am most familiar with Dark Side Of the Moon. I didn't know that Wright had been ill either. Too bad.

Let me add, I am pleasantly surprised at how open some of the young kids here are to appreciate "older" music. It kind of confirms what is classic from the good ol days no?? That's the thing about anything "classic". It takes years before it's officially classic. Then again, didn't some of us guess that certain groups/songs would go on to be classics in the end?

TIS

Oh, I love "Another Brick In The Wall" and maybe not quite as classic, but still it's one of my favorites "Money".

Wish You Were Here is my favorite Pink Floyd album.

Pink Floyd was an instant Classic, and anyone who doesn't like Pink Floyd is insane.


I mean they synced an Album (DSOTM) with a movie from the 30's (Wiz) COMPLETELY BY ACCIDENT (or so they say *shifty eyes*)

Actually, that description might actually have some merit to it.

As wanker-rag Rolling Stone once called THE WALL, the "ultimate self-pity opus."

Too bad the Emo Rockers pussified that sound. Fuck you Panic! at the Disco, you bastards.

Speaking of which LLC, what you think of THE WALL film?

Pink Floyd was a special group, and you could argue that they're the Aristotle of Rock in that each succeeding generation re-discovers their work from the psychedelic classic PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN to the underrated MEDDLE (you're right LLC) to DSTOM, ANIMALS, WISH YOU WERE HERE, and THE WALL, and sees that their music is still as damn good, if not better, than the contemporary hits.

I have to say, for the most part, I more or less despise what we tend to consider "classic" or "progressive" rock, but Pink Floyd is timeless. As are bands like Zeppelin, the Beatles, Hendrix, Big Brother and the Holding Company, etc. But there is a lot of nonsense in there, I think... Like Rush or Foghat or Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, who I find to generally be talented musicians, but not so talented at composing their own music. Not to say my generation has the best radio-friendly music either. I think that for the most part, with any generation, the music they play on the radio is going to be mostly crap... Then like, 20 years later or after a band member dies (whichever comes first), everyone will jump on and praise it, and pretend they followed the band when they were still making music. Just look at Sublime... They're a very good band, but their fans strike me as douchebags who like to smoke lots of weed and drink lots of alcohol because it's the cool thing to do or something like that.

That came out a tad cynical, actually, but you know... There is actually a specific smell I associate with certain classic rock bands, and it's not pleasant. That wasn't meant as a joke, I am serious, and Jethro Tull has one of the worst smells of them all.

I wasn't planning on a rant.

I love this song too, i would say ABITW is a classic

Astronomy Domine.

LLC,

I don't know that I despise what might be considered classic, although I don't agree with some and do agree with others. I agree with most of your choices as classic, and off the top of my head, would add the Stones (at least much of their music) There's more but I'm winging it here, speaking off the cuff

I too like Emerson Lake & Palmer, and although I don't know a lot of their music, I actually didn't mind Jethro Tull (my ex had some music by them), but wouldn't call either of their work "classic", but still good . Some music is classic in the sense of just great to listen too and some is classic because well.....it's just that classic. It totally "stands out."

I hate the thought of making it too easy to becmoe classic. Know what I mean? Just like nowadays every female singer is a "diva". I remember when it was reserved only for the best of the best, and then if I'm not mistaken, it applied mostly to female opera singers. Now......Miriah Carey, Madonna, and everyone else is a "diva." Even in the movie business...I don't know. It seems that mediocre actors get big bucks. Know what I mean???

JL, sorry for changing your thread. Hope you don't mind. Perhaps we should continue on the random thread.

TIS

Yeah, I think the best way to put it is that a lot of bands from that era are simply considered "classic" because of the years they were active, and that doesn't make sense. Plus there is something entirely self-indulgent about belonging to a genre that implies you're a classic, which probably angers me more than anything else.

The Rolling Stones are excellent, and most definitely a classic, but I think they're still prone to being slightly over-rated... I never really understood why they were the ones to be constantly held up in comparison to the Beatles, when there were so many bands out there doing much more experimental things; much more in the vain of what the Beatles were doing. I mean, I think Pink Floyd or the Velvet Underground serve as a much better friendly rival. The Beatles and the Stones are like apples and oranges.