Pink Floyd
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Modèle:Infobox musical artist Modèle:Inline audio www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt RIAA], retrieved 22 April 2006</ref>and another 5.7 million in the UK.<ref name="BPI">[1], retrieved 24 December 2007</ref>//www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt RIAA], retrieved 22 April 2006</ref>and another 5.7 million in the UK.<ref name="BPI">[2], retrieved 24 December 2007</ref>
Pink Floyd had moderate mainstream success and were one of the most popular bands in the London underground music scene in the late 1960s as a psychedelic band led by Syd Barrett; however, Barrett's erratic behaviour eventually forced his colleagues to replace him with guitarist and singer David Gilmour. After Barrett's departure, singer and bass player Roger Waters gradually became the dominant and driving force in the mid-1970s, until his eventual departure from the group in 1985. The band recorded several albums, achieving worldwide success with The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). In 1985, Waters declared Pink Floyd defunct, but the remaining members, led by Gilmour, sued Waters for rights to the name; they continued recording and touring as Pink Floyd and enjoyed commercial success with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994), eventually reaching a settlement with Waters over the use of the name.
Waters performed with the band for the first time in 24 years on July 2, 2005 at the London Live 8 concert, playing to Pink Floyd's biggest audience ever.
musicbooksplus.com/guitar-worlds-presents-pink-floyd-p-4042.html Guitar-worlds-presents-pink floyd]</ref>, Genesis and Yeswww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//classicrock.about.com/od/bandsandartists/p/pink_floyd.htm ClassicRock Pink Floyd by Dave White]</ref>; and various modern artists such as Dream Theater<ref> Byrdtribute</ref>, Toolwww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.ticketnest.com/concert-tickets/Tool/index.php Ticketnest Tool]</ref>, Radioheadwww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/WTZZDHIOXEVN So you'd like to... know Pink Floyd and its children Pt. 1]</ref>,//musicbooksplus.com/guitar-worlds-presents-pink-floyd-p-4042.html Guitar-worlds-presents-pink floyd]</ref>, Genesis and Yeswww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//classicrock.about.com/od/bandsandartists/p/pink_floyd.htm ClassicRock Pink Floyd by Dave White]</ref>; and various modern artists such as Dream Theater<ref> Byrdtribute</ref>, Toolwww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.ticketnest.com/concert-tickets/Tool/index.php Ticketnest Tool]</ref>, Radioheadwww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/WTZZDHIOXEVN So you'd like to... know Pink Floyd and its children Pt. 1]</ref>, www.ministry-of-information.co.uk/sb/index.htm Ministry-of-information] </ref>, The Orb<ref> The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld</ref> and Nine Inch Nailswww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/2000/11.revolver.html Trent Reznor Meets Roger Waters]</ref>.//www.ministry-of-information.co.uk/sb/index.htm Ministry-of-information] </ref>, The Orb<ref> The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld</ref> and Nine Inch Nailswww.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/2000/11.revolver.html Trent Reznor Meets Roger Waters]</ref>.
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Band history
Syd Barrett–led era: 1964–1968
www.pinkfloydonline.com/history1.html Pink Floyd online]</ref>www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0760733.html Infoplease]</ref>, which was at various times called Sigma 6, the Meggadeaths, Tea Set and The Abdabs. When the band split up, some members — guitarists Rado "Bob" Klose and Matt Willmering, drummer Nick Mason, and wind instrument player Rick Wright — formed a new band called "Tea Set". After a brief stint with a lead vocalist named Chris Dennis,<ref>Mason, p. 21</ref> guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett joined the band, with Waters moving to bass.<ref>Schaffner, p. 25</ref>//www.pinkfloydonline.com/history1.html Pink Floyd online]</ref>www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.infoplease.com/ipea/A0760733.html Infoplease]</ref>, which was at various times called Sigma 6, the Meggadeaths, Tea Set and The Abdabs. When the band split up, some members — guitarists Rado "Bob" Klose and Matt Willmering, drummer Nick Mason, and wind instrument player Rick Wright — formed a new band called "Tea Set". After a brief stint with a lead vocalist named Chris Dennis,<ref>Mason, p. 21</ref> guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett joined the band, with Waters moving to bass.<ref>Schaffner, p. 25</ref>
www.uncut.co.uk Uncut, September 2006, p. 54]</ref> For a time after this they oscillated between Tea Set and The Pink Floyd Sound, with the latter name eventually winning out. The Sound was dropped fairly quickly, but the definite article was still used regularly until 1968. The group's UK releases during the Syd Barrett era credited them as The Pink Floyd as did their first two U.S. singles. David Gilmour is known to have referred to the group as The Pink Floyd as late as 1984.<ref>Schaffner, p. 276</ref>//www.uncut.co.uk Uncut, September 2006, p. 54]</ref> For a time after this they oscillated between Tea Set and The Pink Floyd Sound, with the latter name eventually winning out. The Sound was dropped fairly quickly, but the definite article was still used regularly until 1968. The group's UK releases during the Syd Barrett era credited them as The Pink Floyd as did their first two U.S. singles. David Gilmour is known to have referred to the group as The Pink Floyd as late as 1984.<ref>Schaffner, p. 276</ref>
The heavily jazz-oriented Klose left after recording only a demo,<ref name-"Mabbett">Modèle:Cite book</ref> leaving an otherwise stable lineup with Barrett on guitar and lead vocals, Waters on bass guitar and backing vocals, Mason on drums and percussion, and Wright switching to keyboards and backing vocals. Barrett soon started writing his own songs, influenced by American and British psychedelic rock with his own brand of whimsical humour. Pink Floyd became a favourite in the underground movement, playing at such prominent venues as the UFO club, the Marquee Club and the Roundhouse.
At the end of 1966 the band were invited to contribute music for Peter Whitehead's film Tonite Let's All Make Love in London; they were filmed recording two tracks ("Interstellar Overdrive" and "Nick's Boogie") in January 1967. Although hardly any of this music made it onto the film, the session was eventually released as London 1966/1967 in 2005.
As their popularity increased, the band members formed Blackhill Enterprises in October 1966, a six-way business partnership with their managers, Peter Jenner and Andrew King,<ref>Schaffner, p. 30</ref> issuing the singles "Arnold Layne" in March 1967 and "See Emily Play" in June 1967. "Arnold Layne" reached number 20 in the UK Singles Chart, and "See Emily Play" reached number 6,<ref name="Schaffner 320-321">Schaffner, p. 320–321</ref> granting the band its first national TV appearance on Top of the Pops in July 1967. (They had earlier appeared, performing "Interstellar Overdrive" at the UFO Club, in a short documentary, "It's So Far Out It's Straight Down". This was broadcast in March 1967 but seen only in the UK's Granada TV region.)
www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:5juk6j7h71t0~T2 | title=allmusic (((Pink Floyd > Discography > Main Albums))) | accessdate=2006-02-16}}</ref> and was generally well-received by critics at the time. It is now viewed as one of the best debut albums by many critics.<ref name="Rollingstone">Rolling Stone, 26 October 1968</ref> The album's tracks, predominantly written by Barrett, showcase poetic lyrics and an eclectic mixture of music, from the avant-garde free-form piece "Interstellar Overdrive" (Modèle:Audio-nohelp) to whimsical songs such as "The Scarecrow", inspired by the Fenlands, a rural region north of Cambridge (Barrett, Gilmour and Waters's home town). Lyrics were entirely surreal and often referred to folklore, such as "The Gnome". The music reflected newer technologies in electronics through its prominent use of stereo panning, tape editing, echo effects and electric keyboards. The album was a hit in the UK where it peaked at #6, but did not do well in North America, reaching #131 in the U.S.,<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co">Pink Floyd & Co. discography, retrieved 15 February 2006</ref> and that only after it was reissued in the wake of the band's state side commercial breakthrough in the 1970s. During this period, the band toured with Jimi Hendrix, which helped to increase its popularity.//www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:5juk6j7h71t0~T2 | title=allmusic (((Pink Floyd > Discography > Main Albums))) | accessdate=2006-02-16}}</ref> and was generally well-received by critics at the time. It is now viewed as one of the best debut albums by many critics.<ref name="Rollingstone">Rolling Stone, 26 October 1968</ref> The album's tracks, predominantly written by Barrett, showcase poetic lyrics and an eclectic mixture of music, from the avant-garde free-form piece "Interstellar Overdrive" (Modèle:Audio-nohelp) to whimsical songs such as "The Scarecrow", inspired by the Fenlands, a rural region north of Cambridge (Barrett, Gilmour and Waters's home town). Lyrics were entirely surreal and often referred to folklore, such as "The Gnome". The music reflected newer technologies in electronics through its prominent use of stereo panning, tape editing, echo effects and electric keyboards. The album was a hit in the UK where it peaked at #6, but did not do well in North America, reaching #131 in the U.S.,<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co">Pink Floyd & Co. discography, retrieved 15 February 2006</ref> and that only after it was reissued in the wake of the band's state side commercial breakthrough in the 1970s. During this period, the band toured with Jimi Hendrix, which helped to increase its popularity.
Barrett's decline
observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,804928,00.html The Observer], 6 October 2002</ref> In January 1968, guitarist David Gilmour joined the band to carry out Barrett's playing and singing duties, though evidently Jeff Beck was considered.<ref> Pinnell , B.
(1980) . Australian Radio Interview, David Gilmour
. Retrieved on 2007-08-24. </ref>//observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,804928,00.html The Observer], 6 October 2002</ref> In January 1968, guitarist David Gilmour joined the band to carry out Barrett's playing and singing duties, though evidently Jeff Beck was considered.<ref> Pinnell , B.
(1980) . Australian Radio Interview, David Gilmour
. Retrieved on 2007-08-24. </ref>
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F11%2F05%2Fdb0502.xml], 11 April 2003</ref>//www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F11%2F05%2Fdb0502.xml], 11 April 2003</ref>
After recording two solo albums (The Madcap Laughs and Barrett) in 1970 (co-produced by and sometimes featuring Gilmour, Waters and Wright) to moderate success, Barrett went into seclusion. Again going by his given name, Roger, he lived a quiet life in his native Cambridge until his death on July 7 2006.
Finding their feet: 1968–1970
This period was one of musical experimentation for the band. Gilmour, Waters and Wright each contributed material that had its own voice and sound, giving this material less consistency than the Barrett-dominated early years or the more polished, collaborative sound of later years. As Barrett had been the lead singer during his era, Gilmour, Waters and Wright now split both songwriting and lead vocal duties. Waters mostly wrote low-key, jazzy melodies with dominant bass lines and complex, symbolic lyrics, Gilmour focused on guitar-driven blues jams, and Wright preferred melodic psychedelic keyboard-heavy numbers. Unlike Waters, Gilmour and Wright preferred tracks that had simple lyrics or that were purely instrumental. Some of the band's most experimental music is from this period, such as "A Saucerful of Secrets", consisting largely of noises, feedback, percussions, oscillators and tape loops, and "Careful with That Axe, Eugene" (which went by a number of other names as well), a very Waters-driven song with a bass and keyboard-heavy jam culminating in crashing drums and Waters' primal screams.
Whilst Barrett had written the bulk of the first album, only one composition by him, "Jugband Blues", appeared on the second Floyd album. Barrett also played on the songs "Remember A Day" (recorded during the sessions for Piper) and "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun". A Saucerful of Secrets was released in June 1968, reaching #9 in the UK and becoming the only Pink Floyd album not to chart in the U.S.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> Somewhat uneven due to Barrett's departure, the album still contained much of his psychedelic sound combined with the more experimental music that would be fully showcased on Ummagumma. Its centrepiece, the 12-minute title track, hinted at the epic, lengthy songs to come, but the album was poorly received by critics at the time,<ref name="Rollingstone" /> although critics today tend to be kinder to the album in the context of their body of work.<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> Future Pink Floyd albums would expand upon the idea of long, sprawling compositions, offering more focused songwriting with each subsequent release.
Pink Floyd were then recruited by director Barbet Schroeder to produce a soundtrack for his film, More, which was premièred in May 1969. The music was released as a Floyd album in its own right, Music From the Film More, in July 1969; the album achieved another #9 finish in the UK, and peaked at #153 in the U.S.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> Critics tend to find the collection of the film's music patchy and uneven.<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> The band would use this and future soundtrack recording sessions to produce work that may not have fit into the idea of what would appear on a proper Pink Floyd LP; many of the tracks on More (as fans usually call it) were acoustic folk songs. Two of these songs, "Green Is the Colour" and "Cymbaline", became fixtures in the band's live sets for a time and were a part of their live The Man/The Journey suite, as can be heard in the many available bootleg recordings from this period. "Cymbaline" was also the first Pink Floyd song to deal with Roger Waters' cynical attitude toward the music industry explicitly. The rest of the album consisted of avant-garde incidental pieces from the score (some of which were also part of The Man/The Journey) with a few heavier rock songs thrown in, such as "The Nile Song".
www.bbc.co.uk/music/artist/mwdp/ BBC Music profile], retrieved 25 November 2006</ref> and reflects the attitude of the band at the time, as frustrations in the studio followed them throughout these sessions. The band was wildly experimental on the studio disc, which featured Waters' pure folk "Grantchester Meadows", an atonal & jarring piano piece ("Sysyphus"), meandering progressive rock textures ("The Narrow Way") and large percussion solos ("The Grand Vizier's Garden Party"). "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is a five-minute song composed entirely of Roger Water's voice played at varied speeds, resulting in a noise resembling rodents and birds. Large portions of the studio disc were previously played in their live The Man/The Journey concept piece. The live disc featured acclaimed performances of some of their most popular psychedelic-era compositions and caused critics to receive the album more positively than the previous two albums.<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> The album was Pink Floyd's most popular release yet, hitting UK #5 and making the U.S. charts at #74.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" />//www.bbc.co.uk/music/artist/mwdp/ BBC Music profile], retrieved 25 November 2006</ref> and reflects the attitude of the band at the time, as frustrations in the studio followed them throughout these sessions. The band was wildly experimental on the studio disc, which featured Waters' pure folk "Grantchester Meadows", an atonal & jarring piano piece ("Sysyphus"), meandering progressive rock textures ("The Narrow Way") and large percussion solos ("The Grand Vizier's Garden Party"). "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is a five-minute song composed entirely of Roger Water's voice played at varied speeds, resulting in a noise resembling rodents and birds. Large portions of the studio disc were previously played in their live The Man/The Journey concept piece. The live disc featured acclaimed performances of some of their most popular psychedelic-era compositions and caused critics to receive the album more positively than the previous two albums.<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> The album was Pink Floyd's most popular release yet, hitting UK #5 and making the U.S. charts at #74.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" />
1970's Atom Heart Mother, the band's first recording with an orchestra, was a collaboration with avant-garde composer Ron Geesin. One side of the album consisted of the title piece, a 23-minute long "rock-orchestral" suite. The second side featured one song from each of the band's then-current vocalists (Roger Waters' folk-rock "If", David Gilmour's bluesy "Fat Old Sun" and Rick Wright's nostalgic "Summer '68"). Another lengthy piece, "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast", was a sound collage of a man cooking and eating breakfast and his thoughts on the matter, linked with instrumentals. The use of noises, incidental sound effects and voice samples would thereafter be an important part of the band's sound. While Atom Heart Mother was considered a huge step back for the band at the time<ref>Rolling Stone, 2 December 1970</ref> and is still considered one of its most inaccessible albums,<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> it had the best chart performance for the band up to that time, reaching #1 in the UK and #55 in the U.S.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> It has since been described by Gilmour as "a load of rubbish" and Waters has said he wouldn't mind if it were "thrown in the dustbin and never listened to by anyone ever again."<ref>Schaffner, p. 154</ref> The album was another transitional piece for the group, hinting at future musical territory such as "Echoes" in its ambitious title track. The popularity of the album allowed Pink Floyd to embark on its first full U.S. tour.
Before releasing its next original album, the band released a compilation album, Relics, which contained several early singles and B-sides, along with one original song (Waters' jazzy "Biding My Time", part of The Man/The Journey recorded during the Ummagumma sessions). They also contributed to the soundtrack of Zabriskie Point, though many of their contributions were eventually discarded by director Michelangelo Antonioni.
Breakthrough era: 1971–1975
During this time, Pink Floyd shed their association with the "psychedelic" scene and became a distinctive band who are difficult to classify. The divergent styles of their primary songwriters, Gilmour, Waters and Wright, merged into a unique sound. This era contains what many consider to be two of the band's masterpiece albums, The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. The sound became polished and collaborative, with the philosophic lyrics and distinctive bass lines of Waters combining with the unique blues guitar style of Gilmour and Wright's haunting keyboard melodies and harmonic textures. Gilmour was the dominant vocalist throughout this period, and female choirs and Dick Parry's saxophone contributions became a notable part of the band's style. The sometimes atonal and harsh sound exhibited in the band's earlier years gave way to a very smooth, mellow and soothing sound, and the band's epic, lengthy compositions reached their zenith with "Echoes". This period was not only the beginning but the end of the truly collaborative era of the band; after 1973 Waters' influence became more dominant musically as well as lyrically. Wright's last credited composition and last lead vocal on a studio album until 1994's The Division Bell were in this period ("Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Time" respectively), and Gilmour's writing credits sharply declined in frequency until Waters left the band in 1985, though he continued to perform lead vocals and write songs throughout the whole time. The last ties with Barrett were severed in musical, as well as literal, fashion with Wish You Were Here, whose epic track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was written both as a tribute and eulogy to Barrett.
www.pink-floyd.org/artint/nmbbcj.htm here] 16 April 2006</ref> The album had the sound and style of the succeeding breakthrough-era Pink Floyd albums but stripped away the orchestra that was prominent in Atom Heart Mother.<ref>Schaffner, p. 163</ref> Meddle also included the atmospheric "One of These Days", a concert favourite featuring Nick Mason's menacing one-line vocal ("One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces"), distorted and bluesy lap steel guitar, and a melody that at one point fades into a throbbing synthetic pulse quoting the theme tune of the cult classic science fiction television show Doctor Who. The mellow feeling of the next three albums is very present on "Fearless", and this track displays a folk influence, as does the prominent lap steel guitar on "A Pillow of Winds". The latter track is one of the Floyd's very few acoustic love songs. Waters' role as lead songwriter began to take form, with his jazzy "San Tropez" brought to the band practically completed. Meddle was greeted both by critics<ref>Rolling Stone, 6 January 1972</ref> and fans enthusiastically, and Pink Floyd were rewarded with a #3 album chart peak in the UK; it only reached #70 in U.S. charts.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> According to Nick Mason, this was partly because Capitol Records had not provided the album with enough publicity support in the U.S.<ref>Mason, p. 182</ref> Today, Meddle remains one of their most well-regarded efforts.<ref name="AMG Reviews" />//www.pink-floyd.org/artint/nmbbcj.htm here] 16 April 2006</ref> The album had the sound and style of the succeeding breakthrough-era Pink Floyd albums but stripped away the orchestra that was prominent in Atom Heart Mother.<ref>Schaffner, p. 163</ref> Meddle also included the atmospheric "One of These Days", a concert favourite featuring Nick Mason's menacing one-line vocal ("One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces"), distorted and bluesy lap steel guitar, and a melody that at one point fades into a throbbing synthetic pulse quoting the theme tune of the cult classic science fiction television show Doctor Who. The mellow feeling of the next three albums is very present on "Fearless", and this track displays a folk influence, as does the prominent lap steel guitar on "A Pillow of Winds". The latter track is one of the Floyd's very few acoustic love songs. Waters' role as lead songwriter began to take form, with his jazzy "San Tropez" brought to the band practically completed. Meddle was greeted both by critics<ref>Rolling Stone, 6 January 1972</ref> and fans enthusiastically, and Pink Floyd were rewarded with a #3 album chart peak in the UK; it only reached #70 in U.S. charts.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> According to Nick Mason, this was partly because Capitol Records had not provided the album with enough publicity support in the U.S.<ref>Mason, p. 182</ref> Today, Meddle remains one of their most well-regarded efforts.<ref name="AMG Reviews" />
Obscured by Clouds was released in 1972 as the soundtrack to the film La Vallee, another art house film by Barbet Schroeder. This was the band's first U.S. Top 50 album (where it hit #46), hitting at #6 in the UK.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> While Mason described the album years later as "sensational,"<ref name="Schaffner 167">Schaffner, p. 167</ref> it is less well-regarded by critics.<ref name="AMG Reviews" /> The lyrics of "Free Four", the first Pink Floyd song to achieve significant airplay in the U.S., introduced Waters' ruminations on his father's death in World War II which would figure in subsequent albums. Two other songs on the album, "Wot's... Uh the Deal" and "Childhood's End", also hint at themes used in later albums, the former focusing on loneliness and desperation which would come to full fruit in the Roger Waters-led era, and the latter hinting much at the next album, fixated on life, death and the passage of time. "Childhood's End", inspired by the Arthur C. Clarke book of the same name, was also Gilmour's last lyrical contribution for 15 years.<ref name="Schaffner 167" /> The album was, to an extent, stylistically different from the preceding Meddle, with the songs generally being shorter, often taking a somewhat pastoral approach compared to the atmospheric use of sound effects and keyboard on sections of Meddle, and sometimes even running into folk-rock, blues-rock and piano-driven soft rock ("Burning Bridges", "The Gold It's in the..." and "Stay" being the best examples for each).
www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topalbums.asp], retrieved 3 July 2006</ref> and one of the best-selling albums worldwide, with more than 40 million copies sold.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> The critically-acclaimed album stayed on the Billboard Top 200 for an unprecedented 741 weeks (including 591 consecutive weeks from 1976 to 1988),<ref name="Schaffner 183">Schaffner, p. 183</ref> establishing a world record. It also remained 301 weeks on UK charts, despite never rising higher than #2 there,<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> and is highly praised by critics.<ref>Rolling Stone, 21 January 1997</ref>//www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topalbums.asp], retrieved 3 July 2006</ref> and one of the best-selling albums worldwide, with more than 40 million copies sold.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> The critically-acclaimed album stayed on the Billboard Top 200 for an unprecedented 741 weeks (including 591 consecutive weeks from 1976 to 1988),<ref name="Schaffner 183">Schaffner, p. 183</ref> establishing a world record. It also remained 301 weeks on UK charts, despite never rising higher than #2 there,<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> and is highly praised by critics.<ref>Rolling Stone, 21 January 1997</ref>
Saxophone forms an important part of the album's sound, exposing the band's jazz influences (especially that of Rick Wright), and female backing vocals play a key role in helping to diversify the album's texture. For example, songs such as "Money" and "Time" are placed on either side of mellow lap steel guitar sounds (reminiscent of Meddle) in "Breathe (Reprise)" and female vocal-laden song "The Great Gig in the Sky" (with Clare Torry on lead vocal), while minimalist instrumental "On the Run" is performed almost entirely on a single synthesiser. Incidental sound effects and snippets of interviews feature alongside the music, many of them taped in the studio. Waters' interviews started out with questions like "What is your favourite colour?" in an attempt to get the person comfortable. He would then ask, "When was the last time you were violent? Were you in the right?" The latter answer was played on the album. Other interviews would ask, "Are you afraid of dying?" The album's lyrics and sound attempt to describe the different pressures that everyday life places upon human beings. This concept (conceived by Waters in a band meeting around Mason's kitchen table)<ref>Schaffner, p. 171</ref> proved a powerful catalyst for the band and together they drew up a list of themes, several of which would be revisited by Waters on later albums, such as "Us and Them"'s musings on violence and the futility of war, and the themes of insanity and neurosis discussed in "Brain Damage". The album's complicated and precise sound engineering by Alan Parsons set new standards for sound fidelity; this trait became a recognisable aspect of the band's sound and played a part in the lasting chart success of the album, as audiophiles constantly replaced their worn-out copies.<ref name="Schaffner 183" />
Seeking to capitalise on its new-found fame, the band also released a compilation album, A Nice Pair, which was a gatefold repackaging of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets. It was also during this period that director Adrian Maben released the first Pink Floyd concert film, Live at Pompeii. The original theatrical cut featured footage of the band performing in 1971 at an amphitheatre in Pompeii with no audience present except the film crew and stage staff. Maben also recorded interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band during recording sessions for The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios; although the timeline of events indicate the recording sessions may have been staged after the recording, they provide a glimpse into the processes involved in producing the album. This footage was incorporated in later video releases of Live at Pompeii.
After the success of Dark Side, the band were unsure of their future direction and worried about how they would be able to top that record's huge popularity. In a return to their experimental beginnings, they began work on a project entitled Household Objects, which would consist of songs played literally on household appliances. Instruments consisted of old hand mixers, rubber bands stretched between two tables, wine glasses, etc. However, the planned album was soon shelved after the band decided that it was just easier and better to play the songs on actual musical instruments. No finished recordings of these sessions exist, however some of the recorded effects were put to use on their next album.
Wish You Were Here, released in 1975, carries an abstract theme of absence: absence of any humanity within the music industry and, most poignantly, the absence of Syd Barrett. Well-known for its popular title track, the album includes the largely instrumental, nine-part song suite "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", a tribute to Barrett in which the lyrics deal explicitly with the aftermath of his breakdown. Many of the musical influences in the band's past were brought together — atmospheric keyboards, blues guitar pieces, extended saxophone solos (by Dick Parry), jazz-fusion workouts and aggressive slide guitar — in the suite's different linked parts, culminating in a funeral dirge played with synthesised horn and ending with a musical quote from their early single "See Emily Play" as a final nod to Barrett's early leadership of the band.<ref>Mason, p. 213</ref> The remaining tracks on the album, "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar", harshly criticise the music industry; the latter is sung by British folk singer Roy Harper. It was the first Pink Floyd album to reach #1 on both the UK and the U.S. charts,<ref>Schaffner, p. 323</ref> and critics praise it just as enthusiastically as The Dark Side of the Moon.<ref name="AMG Reviews" />
In a famous anecdote, a heavyset man, his head and eyebrows completely shaved, wandered into the studio while the band was mixing "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". The band could not recognise him for some time, when suddenly one of them realised it was Syd Barrett. On being asked how he had put on so much weight, he retorted "I've got a big fridge in the kitchen and I've been eating a lot of pork chops".<ref>Miles, Pink Floyd unofficial biography </ref>
www.otmoorproductions.com/home.htm]), the story is told in full. Rick Wright spoke about the session, saying: "One thing that really stands out in my mind, that I'll never forget; I was going in to the "Shine On" sessions. I went in the studio and I saw this guy sitting at the back of the studio, he was only as far away as you are from me. And I didn't recognise him. I said, 'Who's that guy behind you?' 'That's Syd.' And I just cracked up, I couldn't believe it... he had shaven all his hair off... I mean, his eyebrows, everything... he was jumping up and down brushing his teeth, it was awful. And, uh, I was in, I mean Roger was in tears, I think I was; we were both in tears. It was very shocking... seven years of no contact and then to walk in while we're actually doing that particular track. I don't know – coincidence, karma, fate, who knows? But it was very, very, very powerful". In the same documentary, Nick Mason stated: "When I think about it, I can still see his eyes, but... it was everything else that was different". In that same interview, Roger Waters has said: "I had no idea who he was for a very long time". David Gilmour stated: "None of us recognised him. Shaved...shaved bald head and very plump". In the 2006 'definitive edition' DVD release of The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story in the UK/Europe//www.otmoorproductions.com/home.htm]), the story is told in full. Rick Wright spoke about the session, saying: "One thing that really stands out in my mind, that I'll never forget; I was going in to the "Shine On" sessions. I went in the studio and I saw this guy sitting at the back of the studio, he was only as far away as you are from me. And I didn't recognise him. I said, 'Who's that guy behind you?' 'That's Syd.' And I just cracked up, I couldn't believe it... he had shaven all his hair off... I mean, his eyebrows, everything... he was jumping up and down brushing his teeth, it was awful. And, uh, I was in, I mean Roger was in tears, I think I was; we were both in tears. It was very shocking... seven years of no contact and then to walk in while we're actually doing that particular track. I don't know – coincidence, karma, fate, who knows? But it was very, very, very powerful". In the same documentary, Nick Mason stated: "When I think about it, I can still see his eyes, but... it was everything else that was different". In that same interview, Roger Waters has said: "I had no idea who he was for a very long time". David Gilmour stated: "None of us recognised him. Shaved...shaved bald head and very plump". In the 2006 'definitive edition' DVD release of The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story in the UK/Europe
the director John Edginton's interviews with Barrett's former Floyd colleagues are included unedited, with far more detail of their feelings and actions during Syd Barrett's tragic breakdown and withdrawal from the band.
Roger Waters–led era: 1976–1985
During this era, Waters asserted more and more control over Pink Floyd's output. Wright's influence became largely inconsequential, and he was fired from the band during the recording of The Wall.<ref name="Wrights firing">Mason, p. 247</ref> Much of the music from this period is considered secondary to the lyrics, which explore Waters' feelings about his father's death in World War II and his increasingly cynical attitude towards political figures such as Margaret Thatcher and Mary Whitehouse. Although still finely nuanced, the music grew more guitar-based at the expense of keyboards and saxophone, both of which became (at best) part of the music's background texture along with the obligatory sound effects. A full orchestra (even larger than the brass ensemble from Atom Heart Mother) plays a significant role on The Wall and especially The Final Cut.
www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk/floyd.html batterseapowerstation.org.uk], retrieved 11 February 2006</ref> and in the end it was necessary to matte a photo of the pig balloon onto the album cover. The pig was created by Dutch industrial designer and artist Theo Botschuijver. The pig nevertheless became one of the enduring symbols of Pink Floyd, and inflatable pigs were a staple of Pink Floyd live performances from then on.//www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk/floyd.html batterseapowerstation.org.uk], retrieved 11 February 2006</ref> and in the end it was necessary to matte a photo of the pig balloon onto the album cover. The pig was created by Dutch industrial designer and artist Theo Botschuijver. The pig nevertheless became one of the enduring symbols of Pink Floyd, and inflatable pigs were a staple of Pink Floyd live performances from then on.
1979's epic rock opera The Wall, conceived by Waters, dealt with the themes of loneliness and failed communication, which were expressed by the metaphor of a wall built between a rock artist and his audience. The deciding moment in which to conceive The Wall was during a concert in Montreal, Canada in which Roger Waters spat on an audience member as he attempted to climb up on stage — it was this point where Waters felt the alienation between audience and band. This album gave Pink Floyd renewed acclaim and their only chart-topping single with "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)".<ref name="Schaffner 320-321" /> The Wall also included the future concert staples "Comfortably Numb" and "Run Like Hell", with the former in particular becoming a cornerstone of album-oriented rock and classic-rock radio playlists as well as one of the group's best-known songs. The album was co-produced by Bob Ezrin, a friend of Waters who shared songwriting credits on "The Trial" and from whom Waters later distanced himself after Ezrin "shot his mouth off to the press."<ref>Schaffner, p. 243</ref> Even more than during the Animals sessions, Waters was asserting his artistic influence and leadership over the band, using the band's perilous financial situation to his advantage, which prompted increased conflicts with the other members. The music had become distinctly more hard-rock, although the large orchestrations on some tracks recalled an earlier period, and there are a few quieter songs interspersed throughout (such as "Goodbye Blue Sky", "Nobody Home", and "Vera"). Wright's influence was completely minimised, and he was fired from the band during recording, only returning on a fixed wage for the live shows in support of the album. Ironically, Wright was the only member of Pink Floyd to make any money from the Wall concerts, which were only performed in several cities — including Dortmund, London, Los Angeles, New York — over multiple nights, the rest covering the extensive cost overruns of their most spectacular concerts yet.<ref>Schaffner, p. 236</ref><ref name="Wrights firing" />
However, in 1989, after the Berlin Wall came down in Germany, Roger Waters agreed to perform "The Wall" live in concert, at the site of the former Berlin Wall.
www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100 RIAA]</ref> The huge commercial success of The Wall made Pink Floyd the only artists since the Beatles to have the best-selling albums of two years (1973 and 1980) in less than a decade.//www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100 RIAA]</ref> The huge commercial success of The Wall made Pink Floyd the only artists since the Beatles to have the best-selling albums of two years (1973 and 1980) in less than a decade.
www.the-numbers.com/movies/1982/0PFTW.html The Numbers], retrieved 13 February 2006</ref> A song which first appeared in the movie, "When the Tigers Broke Free", was released as a single on a limited basis. This song was finally made widely available on the compilation album Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd and the re-release of The Final Cut. Also in the film is the song "What Shall We Do Now?", which was cut out of the original album due to the time constraints of vinyl records. The only songs from the album not used were "Hey You" and "The Show Must Go On."//www.the-numbers.com/movies/1982/0PFTW.html The Numbers], retrieved 13 February 2006</ref> A song which first appeared in the movie, "When the Tigers Broke Free", was released as a single on a limited basis. This song was finally made widely available on the compilation album Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd and the re-release of The Final Cut. Also in the film is the song "What Shall We Do Now?", which was cut out of the original album due to the time constraints of vinyl records. The only songs from the album not used were "Hey You" and "The Show Must Go On."
Their 1983 studio album, The Final Cut, was dedicated by Waters to his father, Eric Fletcher Waters. Even darker in tone than The Wall, this album re-examined many previous themes, while also addressing then-current events, including Waters' anger at Britain's participation in the Falklands War, the blame for which he laid squarely at the feet of political leaders ("The Fletcher Memorial Home"). It concludes with a cynical and frightening glimpse at the possibility of nuclear war ("Two Suns in the Sunset"). Michael Kamen and Andy Bown contributed keyboard work in lieu of Richard Wright, whose departure had not been formally announced before the album's release.
Though technically a Pink Floyd album, the LP's front cover displayed no words, only the back cover reading: "The Final Cut — A requiem for the post-war dream by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd: Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason". Roger Waters received the sole songwriting credit for the entire record, which became a prototype in sound and form for later Waters solo projects. Waters has since said that he offered to release the record as a solo album, but the rest of the band rejected this idea. However, in his book Inside Out, drummer Nick Mason says that no such discussions ever took place. Gilmour reportedly asked Waters to hold back the release of the album so that he could write enough material to contribute, but this request was refused. The music's tone is largely similar to The Wall's but somewhat quieter and softer, resembling songs like "Nobody Home" more than "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)." It is also more repetitive, with certain leitmotifs cropping up continually. Only moderately successful with fans by Floyd's standards (UK #1, U.S. #6),<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> but reasonably well-received by critics,<ref>Rolling Stone, 14 April 1983</ref> the album yielded one minor radio hit (albeit in bowdlerised form), "Not Now John", the only hard-rock song on the album (and the only one partially sung by Gilmour). The arguments between Waters and Gilmour at this stage were rumoured to be so bad that they were supposedly never seen in the recording studio simultaneously, and Gilmour's co-producer credit was dropped from the album sleeve (though he received attendant royalties).<ref>Schaffner, p. 257</ref> There was no tour for the album, although parts of it have since been performed live by Waters on his subsequent solo tours.
www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=9560 Prog Archives.com discography], retrieved 12 July 2006</ref> The band members then went their separate ways and spent time working on individual projects. Gilmour was the first to release his solo album About Face in March 1984. Wright joined forces with Dave Harris of Fashion to form a new band, Zee, which released the experimental album Identity a month after Gilmour's project. In May 1984, Waters released The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, a concept album once proposed as a Pink Floyd project. Waters had written this at the same time as The Wall and during proposal of both, the band selected The Wall. A year after his bandmates' projects, Mason released the album Profiles, a collaboration with Rick Fenn of 10cc which featured guest appearances by Gilmour and UFO keyboardist Danny Peyronel.//www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=9560 Prog Archives.com discography], retrieved 12 July 2006</ref> The band members then went their separate ways and spent time working on individual projects. Gilmour was the first to release his solo album About Face in March 1984. Wright joined forces with Dave Harris of Fashion to form a new band, Zee, which released the experimental album Identity a month after Gilmour's project. In May 1984, Waters released The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, a concept album once proposed as a Pink Floyd project. Waters had written this at the same time as The Wall and during proposal of both, the band selected The Wall. A year after his bandmates' projects, Mason released the album Profiles, a collaboration with Rick Fenn of 10cc which featured guest appearances by Gilmour and UFO keyboardist Danny Peyronel.
David Gilmour–led era: 1987–1995
Waters announced in December 1985 that he was departing Pink Floyd, describing the band as "a spent force creatively", but in 1986 Gilmour and Mason began recording a new Pink Floyd album. At the same time, Roger Waters was working on his second solo album, entitled Radio K.A.O.S. (1987). A bitter legal dispute ensued with Waters claiming that the name "Pink Floyd" should have been put to rest, but Gilmour and Mason upheld their conviction that they had the legal right to continue as "Pink Floyd." The suit was eventually settled out of court.<ref>Schaffner, p. 297</ref>
After considering and rejecting many other titles, the new album was released as A Momentary Lapse of Reason (UK #3, U.S. #3).<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" /> Without Waters, who had been the band's dominant songwriter for a decade, the band sought the help of outside writers. As Pink Floyd had never done this before (except for the orchestral contributions of Geesin and Ezrin), this move received much criticism. Ezrin, who had renewed his friendship with Gilmour in 1983 (as Ezrin co-produced Gilmour's About Face album), served as co-producer as well as being one of these writers along with Jon Carin who wrote the music for "Learning To Fly" and played much of the Keyboards on the album.<ref>Schaffner, p. 289</ref> Wright also returned, at first as a salaried employee during the final recording sessions, and then officially rejoining the band after the subsequent tour.
Gilmour later admitted that Mason and Wright had hardly played on the album. Because of Mason and Wright's limited contributions, some critics say that A Momentary Lapse of Reason should really be regarded as a Gilmour solo effort, in much the same way that The Final Cut might be regarded as a Waters album.<ref name="AMG Reviews" />
A year later, the band released a double live album and a concert video taken from its 1988 Long Island shows, entitled Delicate Sound of Thunder, and later recorded some instrumentals for a classic-car racing film La Carrera Panamericana, set in Mexico and featuring Gilmour and Mason as participating drivers. During the race Gilmour and manager Steve O'Rourke (acting as his map-reader) crashed. O'Rourke suffered a broken leg, but Gilmour walked away with just some bruises. The instrumentals are notable for including the first Floyd material co-written by Wright since 1975, as well as the only Floyd material co-written by Mason since Dark Side of the Moon.
1992 saw the box set release of Shine On. The 9-disc set included re-releases of the studio albums A Saucerful of Secrets, Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall, and A Momentary Lapse of Reason. A bonus disc entitled The Early Singles was also included. The set's packaging featured a case allowing the albums to stand vertically together, with the side-by-side spines displaying an image of the Dark Side of the Moon cover. The circular text of each CD includes the almost illegible words "The Big Bong Theory". The year also saw the release of Roger Waters' solo album Amused to Death.
www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4z320r8ar48b AMG], retrieved February 15 2006</ref> but was still heavily criticised as tired and formulaic.<ref>Rolling Stone, June 16 1994</ref> It was the second Pink Floyd album to reach #1 on both the UK and U.S. charts.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" />//www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4z320r8ar48b AMG], retrieved February 15 2006</ref> but was still heavily criticised as tired and formulaic.<ref>Rolling Stone, June 16 1994</ref> It was the second Pink Floyd album to reach #1 on both the UK and U.S. charts.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" />
The Division Bell was another concept album, in some ways representing Gilmour's take on the same themes Waters had tackled with The Wall. The title was suggested to Gilmour by his friend Douglas Adams. Many of the lyrics were co-written by Polly Samson, Gilmour's girlfriend at the time, whom he married shortly after the album's release. Besides Samson, the album featured most of the musicians who had joined the A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, as well as saxophonist Dick Parry, a contributor to the mid-70s Floyd albums. Anthony Moore, who had co-written the lyrics for several songs on the previous album, penned the tune by Guy Pratt "Wearing the Inside Out", Wright's first lead vocal on a Pink Floyd record since Dark Side of the Moon. Moore's writing continued on nearly every song on Wright's 1996 solo album, Broken China.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0007QS1VW Amazon.co.uk], retrieved 4 July 2006</ref> and quickly topped the charts. The 1994 CD case had an LED, timer IC, and battery which caused a red flash to blink once per second, like a heartbeat, as it sat in the owner's CD collection.//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0007QS1VW Amazon.co.uk], retrieved 4 July 2006</ref> and quickly topped the charts. The 1994 CD case had an LED, timer IC, and battery which caused a red flash to blink once per second, like a heartbeat, as it sat in the owner's CD collection.
Furthermore, in 1995, the band received their first and only Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Marooned".
Solo work and more: 1995–present
www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=168 Official Article]</ref> by The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. Roger Waters did not attend, still being antagonistic towards his former bandmates. At their acceptance speech, Gilmour said, "I'll have to grab a couple more of these for our two band members that started playing different tunes; Roger and Syd...". Although Mason was present to accept the award, he did not join Gilmour and Wright (and Billy Corgan) for their acoustic performance of 'Wish You Were Here'.//www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=168 Official Article]</ref> by The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. Roger Waters did not attend, still being antagonistic towards his former bandmates. At their acceptance speech, Gilmour said, "I'll have to grab a couple more of these for our two band members that started playing different tunes; Roger and Syd...". Although Mason was present to accept the award, he did not join Gilmour and Wright (and Billy Corgan) for their acoustic performance of 'Wish You Were Here'.
A live recording of The Wall was released in 2000, compiled from the 1980–1981 London concerts, entitled Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81. It reached #19 on the American album chart. In 2001, a remastered two-disc set of the band's best-known tracks entitled Echoes was released. Gilmour, Mason, Waters and Wright all collaborated on the editing, sequencing, and song selection of the included tracks. Minor controversy was caused due to the songs seguing into one another non-chronologically, presenting the material out of the context of the original albums. Some of the tracks, such as "Echoes", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", "Sheep", "Marooned", and "High Hopes" have had substantial sections removed from them. The album reached #2 on the UK and U.S. charts.<ref name="Pink Floyd & Co" />
www.brain-damage.co.uk/old/news/0507202.html brain-damage.co.uk], 20 July 2005, retrieved 10 July 2006</ref> Nick Mason's book, Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd was published in 2004 in Europe and 2005 in the U.S. Mason made public promotional appearances in a few European and American cities, giving interviews and meeting fans at book signings. Some fans claimed that he said he wished he were on a tour with the band rather than on a book tour.//www.brain-damage.co.uk/old/news/0507202.html brain-damage.co.uk], 20 July 2005, retrieved 10 July 2006</ref> Nick Mason's book, Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd was published in 2004 in Europe and 2005 in the U.S. Mason made public promotional appearances in a few European and American cities, giving interviews and meeting fans at book signings. Some fans claimed that he said he wished he were on a tour with the band rather than on a book tour.
www.neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk/news/?y=03&id=111501 neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk], 13 November 2003, retrieved 5 July 2007</ref>//www.neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk/news/?y=03&id=111501 neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk], 13 November 2003, retrieved 5 July 2007</ref>
Two years later, on July 2, 2005, the band reunited once again for a one-off performance at the London Live 8 concert. This time, however, they were joined by Waters - the first time all four band members were on stage together in 24 years. The band performed a four-song set consisting of "Speak to Me/Breathe/Breathe (Reprise)", "Money", "Wish You Were Here", and "Comfortably Numb", with both Gilmour and Waters sharing lead vocals. At the end of their performance Gilmour said "thank you very much, good night" and started to walk off the stage. Waters called him back, however, and the band shared a group hug that became one of the most famous images of Live 8.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4651309.stm Donate Live 8 profit says Gilmour] BBC News, 5 July 2005. Accessed 2007-04-07.</ref> and urged all the other artists and record companies profiting from Live 8 to do the same. On November 16, 2005 Pink Floyd were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by Pete Townshend. Gilmour and Mason attended in person, explaining that Wright was in hospital following eye surgery, and Waters appeared on a video screen, from Rome.//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4651309.stm Donate Live 8 profit says Gilmour] BBC News, 5 July 2005. Accessed 2007-04-07.</ref> and urged all the other artists and record companies profiting from Live 8 to do the same. On November 16, 2005 Pink Floyd were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by Pete Townshend. Gilmour and Mason attended in person, explaining that Wright was in hospital following eye surgery, and Waters appeared on a video screen, from Rome.
www.rogerwaters2006.com/popupvideopressjuinuk.html Video Interview with Nick Mason]</ref> Waters was joined on stage by Mason on the 29th of June 2006 for the second half of a show in Cork, Ireland where he performed the whole of The Dark Side of the Moon.//www.rogerwaters2006.com/popupvideopressjuinuk.html Video Interview with Nick Mason]</ref> Waters was joined on stage by Mason on the 29th of June 2006 for the second half of a show in Cork, Ireland where he performed the whole of The Dark Side of the Moon.
Waters and Wright are both reported to be working on solo albums, and there has been talk of Waters doing a Broadway musical version of The Wall, with extra music to be written by Waters. Waters also embarked on his worldwide The Dark Side of the Moon Live Tour; the setlist consisted of The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety along with a selection of other Pink Floyd favourites and a small number of songs from Waters' solo career. Waters also contributed the song "Hello (I Love You)," cowritten by Howard Shore, to the 2007 film The Last Mimzy.
Future directions
www.repubblica.it/2006/b/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/gilmo/gilmo/gilmo.html La Repubblica], 3 February 2006, translation here</ref> but the band have made it clear that they have no such plans. In the weeks after the show, however, the rifts between the members seem to have mostly healed. Gilmour confirmed that he and Waters are on "pretty amicable terms",<ref>Music Week, here</ref> but Waters has offered conflicting comments on the issue, with statements as varied as "I [can] roll over for one show, but I couldn't roll over for a whole fucking tour"<ref> Rolling Stone [3]</ref> and "I hope we do it again,"<ref>Word Magazine, October 2005</ref> although most recently, his statements indicate his desire to play together again, not for a whole tour, but for an event similar to Live 8.<ref>Guitar World, April 2006</ref><ref name="Waters Willing To Perform Together Again">Waters Willing To Perform Together Again, 1 March 2007</ref>//www.repubblica.it/2006/b/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/gilmo/gilmo/gilmo.html La Repubblica], 3 February 2006, translation here</ref> but the band have made it clear that they have no such plans. In the weeks after the show, however, the rifts between the members seem to have mostly healed. Gilmour confirmed that he and Waters are on "pretty amicable terms",<ref>Music Week, here</ref> but Waters has offered conflicting comments on the issue, with statements as varied as "I [can] roll over for one show, but I couldn't roll over for a whole fucking tour"<ref> Rolling Stone [4]</ref> and "I hope we do it again,"<ref>Word Magazine, October 2005</ref> although most recently, his statements indicate his desire to play together again, not for a whole tour, but for an event similar to Live 8.<ref>Guitar World, April 2006</ref><ref name="Waters Willing To Perform Together Again">Waters Willing To Perform Together Again, 1 March 2007</ref>
web.archive.org/web/20050317013907/http://www.pinkfloyd.com/home/20.html]</ref> Gilmour later stated in an interview with La Repubblica that he is finished with Pink Floyd and wishes to focus on solo projects and his family. He mentions that he agreed to play Live 8 with Waters to support the cause, to make peace with Waters, and knowing he would regret not taking part.<ref name="La Repubblica"/> However, he states that Pink Floyd would be willing to perform for a concert "that would support Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts".<ref name="Die Welt">Die Welt, 6 February 2006</ref> Then speaking with Billboard, Gilmour changed his "finished with Pink Floyd" sentiment to "who knows".//web.archive.org/web/20050317013907/http://www.pinkfloyd.com/home/20.html]</ref> Gilmour later stated in an interview with La Repubblica that he is finished with Pink Floyd and wishes to focus on solo projects and his family. He mentions that he agreed to play Live 8 with Waters to support the cause, to make peace with Waters, and knowing he would regret not taking part.<ref name="La Repubblica"/> However, he states that Pink Floyd would be willing to perform for a concert "that would support Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts".<ref name="Die Welt">Die Welt, 6 February 2006</ref> Then speaking with Billboard, Gilmour changed his "finished with Pink Floyd" sentiment to "who knows".
2007 saw the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd's signing to EMI and the 40th anniversary of the release of their first three singles "Arnold Layne", "See Emily Play" and "Apples and Oranges" and their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. This was marked by the release of a limited edition set containing mono and stereo mixes of the albums, plus tracks from the singles and other rare recordings.
On May 10, 2007, Roger Waters performed at the Syd Barrett tribute concert at the Barbican Centre in London. This was then followed by a surprise performance by the post-Waters Pink Floyd line-up of David Gilmour, Rick Wright and Nick Mason of "Arnold Layne" to a rapturous applause and standing ovation. However, hopes of a second reunion concert with the band's classic lineup were dashed when Waters did not perform with the group. Roger Waters took to the stage to screams of "Pink Floyd!" to which he responded, "Later." Gilmour, Mason, and Wright took to the stage to screams of "Roger Waters!" to which Gilmour politely responded, "Yeah, he was here too, now the rest of us." www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>
More recently, Waters has become more and more open to a Pink Floyd reunion. In a 2007 interview, he said “I would have no problem if the rest of them wanted to get together. It wouldn’t even have to be to save the world. It could be just because it would be fun. And people would love it.” www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/28288 Pink Floyd appear at Syd Barrett tribute gig]</ref>//www.viewauckland.co.nz/roger_waters_interview_3_dark_side_moon_concert_auckland_index.html Roger Waters Interview by Graham Reid: Dark Side of the Moon Concert Auckland]</ref>
www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/24/exclusive-david-gilmour-looks-darkly-at-the-future-of-pink-floyd/]</ref>//www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/24/exclusive-david-gilmour-looks-darkly-at-the-future-of-pink-floyd/]</ref>
www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyd-mini-vinyl-studio-box-set.html Pink Floyd Box Set Confirmed For Dec '07] 2007-10-13 Accessed: 2007-11-22</ref> containing all fourteen studio albums newly remastered with original vinyl artwork plus new artwork from Storm Thorgerson.//www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/pink-floyd-mini-vinyl-studio-box-set.html Pink Floyd Box Set Confirmed For Dec '07] 2007-10-13 Accessed: 2007-11-22</ref> containing all fourteen studio albums newly remastered with original vinyl artwork plus new artwork from Storm Thorgerson.
Live performances
Pink Floyd are renowned for their lavish stage shows, combining over-the-top visual experiences with music to create a show in which the performers themselves are almost secondary. They have always resisted the temptation of a large screen portraying band members because they "don't really do very much", preferring instead to show music videos to run alongside the songs.
Discography
| Year | Album | US | UK | RIAA Certification | BPI Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | 131 | 6 | - | - |
| 1968 | A Saucerful of Secrets | - | 9 | - | - |
| 1969 | Music from the Film More | 153 | 9 | - | - |
| 1969 | Ummagumma (also live) | 74 | 5 | Platinum | - |
| 1970 | Atom Heart Mother | 55 | 1 | Gold | - |
| 1971 | Meddle | 70 | 3 | 2x Platinum | - |
| 1972 | Obscured by Clouds | 46 | 6 | Gold | Silver |
| 1973 | The Dark Side of the Moon | 1 | 2 | 15x Platinum | 9x Platinum |
| 1975 | Wish You Were Here | 1 (2 weeks) | 1 | 6x Platinum | Gold |
| 1977 | Animals | 3 | 2 | 4x Platinum | Gold |
| 1979 | The Wall | 1 (15 weeks) | 3 | 23x Platinum | Platinum |
| 1983 | The Final Cut | 6 | 1 | 2x Platinum | Gold |
| 1987 | A Momentary Lapse of Reason | 3 | 3 | 4x Platinum | Gold |
| 1994 | The Division Bell | 1 (4 weeks) | 1 | 4x Platinum | 2x Platinum |
DVD and Video
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pink_Floyd#DVD_and_Video) and argue for the removal. Only the most essential Pink Floyd videos should be here (Pompeii and The Wall). No concert recordings should be here, unless they have a truly special position in the music history (such as Pompeii). Also write on the Talk page (See Archive 5: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pink_Floyd/Archive_5#DVD_and_Video) if you want any more videos in. Currently there are only consensus on three: Pompeii, The Wall, and Panamericana-->//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pink_Floyd#DVD_and_Video) and argue for the removal. Only the most essential Pink Floyd videos should be here (Pompeii and The Wall). No concert recordings should be here, unless they have a truly special position in the music history (such as Pompeii). Also write on the Talk page (See Archive 5: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Pink_Floyd/Archive_5#DVD_and_Video) if you want any more videos in. Currently there are only consensus on three: Pompeii, The Wall, and Panamericana-->
- Live at Pompeii (1972)
- The Wall (1982)
- The Delicate Sound of Thunder (1988)
- La Carrera Panamericana (1992)
- P•U•L•S•E (film) (1994)
Band members
| 1965 |
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|---|---|
| 1965–1968 |
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| 1968 |
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| 1968–1979 |
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| 1979–1985 |
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| 1985–1987 |
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| 1987–present |
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Notable or frequent contributors
Notes
References
- Beech, Mark. The A-Z of Names in Rock, 1998. ISBN 1-86105-059-3
- Blake, Mark. Pigs Might Fly - The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, 2007. ISBN 1-84513-261-0 and ISBN 978-1-84513-261-3
- Fitch, Vernon. The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd edition), 2005. ISBN 1-894959-24-8
- Jones, Cliff. Another Brick in the Wall: The Stories Behind Every Pink Floyd Song, 1996. ISBN 0-553-06733-8
- Mason, Nick. Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd, 2004. ISBN 0-297-84387-7 (followed in 2005 by the paperback edition (ISBN 0-7538-1906-6) which features an updated section on the band's Live 8 reunion)
- 'Miles' and Mabbett, Andy. Pink Floyd : the visual documentary, 1994. ISBN 0-7119-4109-2
- Palacios, Julian. Lost in the Woods: Syd Barrett and the Pink Floyd, 2001. ISBN 0-7522-2328-3
- Schaffner, Nicholas. Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey, 1991. ISBN 0-517-57608-2
- Mabbett, Andy; MacDonald, Bruno; Trueman, Ivor and Walker, Dave (Eds). "The Amazing Pudding", 1982–1992. (ISSN 0951-8304) (a fanzine)
See also
External links
Official sites
www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site] www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//www.pinkfloyd.com/ Pink Floyd's U.S. site] www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//www.davidgilmour.com/ David Gilmour official site] www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//www.roger-waters.com/ Roger Waters official site]
Other links
www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PFArchives/ The Pink Floyd Archives] www.pinkfloyd.co.uk/ Pink Floyd's UK site]//www.pink-floyd.com Another Link on the Wall] - A large collection of fan sites, news resources and other external links, updated regularly.
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