PINK FLOYD

Biography

All images © Pink Floyd

1965-1968 The Syd Barrett Era

Pink Floyd were formed in 1965 in Cambridge, UK. The original line-up was Syd Barrett (guitar, vocals), Roger Waters (bass), Richard Wright (keyboards) and Nick Mason (drums). The band were named after two bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

Their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was released in 1967. Barrett wrote most of the album as well as their first three singles. The first two singles especially, Arnold Layne and See Emily Play, did well in the UK charts and the album was commercially and critically successful. Moreover, it was Barrett's distinctive and innovative guitar-playing with its sonic explorations that made the sound of the band unique.

By 1968, Barrett's erratic behavior and deteriorating mental health was becoming unworkable for the other band members. Whatever the cause, Barrett left the band in 1968. Many saw this as the end of the band. How could they possibly survive the departure of the guy who so firmly shaped the formation of Pink Floyd? But the band brought in guitarist David Gilmour and prepared to continue.

1968-1983 The Waters Era

Roger Waters went about shaping the band in his vision, becoming the primary creative force. As the main lyrical contributor he led Pink Floyd through the 1970s to mighty success. Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979) were his concept albums.

The band's success was staggering. Dark Side of the Moon remained on the Billboard charts for over 900 weeks and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Today their record sales worldwide stand at over 250 million.

However, harmony has never been a word one could associate with Pink Floyd band members. By 1983, Waters' relationship with Wright was untenable and Wright was sacked. The Final Cut was released in 1983 but it was essentially a Roger Waters solo album.

Tensions between Waters and Gilmour were stretched to breaking point. Waters announced in 1985 that the band were no more. Gilmour disputed this, stating that he had the right to use the Pink Floyd name. A bitter legal battle ensued. Bizarrely, Gilmour won the right to use not only the name but most of the songs as well. Waters retained The Wall and the inflatable pig imagery.

1987-1994 The Gilmour Era

Thereafter, Pink Floyd could really be called The David Gilmour Band. Wright rejoined as a session musician. Two studio albums followed: A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994). While commercially successful, these albums divided critics and fans who noted the absence of Waters' conceptual vision.

2005-2008 The Reunion & Wright's Passing

2005 saw the legendary Live 8 reunion, with Waters, Gilmour, Mason, and Wright performing together for the first time in 24 years. Their four-song, 23-minute set was the highlight of the concert and was witnessed by their biggest audience ever.

Noises of a full-scale reunion were in the offing but these were declined by both Gilmour and Waters. Tragically, Richard Wright passed away in September 2008 from cancer, ending any possibility of a full reunion.

2014-Present The Endless River & Legacy

2014 saw the release of The Endless River, a primarily instrumental album based on recordings from The Division Bell sessions. Gilmour and Mason described it as a tribute to Wright. It became the UK's fastest-selling album of 2014 and topped charts in multiple countries.

2016-2019 saw the release of The Early Years 1965-1972 box set, documenting the band's formative period. In December 2019, Pink Floyd released their first new music in 25 years with the single Hey Hey Rise Up (2022), featuring Ukrainian musician Andriy Khlyvnyuk, to raise funds for Ukrainian humanitarian relief.

2023 Gilmour announced he was selling his guitars at auction, many used on classic Pink Floyd recordings. The sale raised over $21 million for charity, with his famous Black Strat guitar selling for nearly $4 million.

Syd Barrett passed away in 2006 from pancreatic cancer, living a reclusive life in Cambridge for his final decades. Despite only being with the band for three years, his influence on their sound and aesthetic remained profound throughout their career.

Pink Floyd's legacy as one of the most influential and innovative bands in rock history remains undisputed. Their exploration of philosophical themes, pioneering use of studio technology, and spectacular live performances forever changed the landscape of popular music.