Pink Floyd
In 1965, four architecture students gathered in a tearoom basement at the London Polytechnic to play music under the name Sigma 6. Roger Waters and Nick Mason met while studying there, and Richard Wright joined them shortly after. They performed private functions and rehearsed in that cramped space before evolving through names like the Meggadeaths and the Tea Set. Syd Barrett arrived in September 1963, bringing a new energy that transformed their sound from rhythm and blues covers into something far more experimental. By late 1965, they rebranded as Pink Floyd Sound, taking inspiration from two American blues musicians named Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Their early performances at the Countdown Club near Kensington High Street stretched into three sets of ninety minutes each, forcing them to extend songs with lengthy solos to avoid repetition. Peter Jenner noticed them playing at the Marquee Club in March 1966 and became their manager along with Andrew King. They secured a £5,000 advance from EMI on the 15th of February 1967, and released "Arnold Layne" ten days later. The single faced radio bans due to its cross-dressing references but still reached number twenty in the UK charts. "See Emily Play" followed in June 1967, peaking at number six. Barrett's mental state began deteriorating by early 1967, with Mason describing him as completely distanced from everything going on. His LSD use grew regular, and he eventually refused to mime during BBC appearances. In December 1967, David Gilmour joined as a fifth member to cover for Barrett's eccentricities. By January 1968, it was clear that Barrett could no longer perform live. He introduced a song called "Have You Got It Yet?" which changed structure every time they played it, making it impossible to learn. On the 6th of April 1968, Blackhill Enterprises announced his departure. The band then focused on Waters and Wright material like "It Would Be So Nice" and "Careful with That Axe, Eugene."
Pink Floyd recorded The Dark Side of the Moon between May 1972 and January 1973 using engineer Alan Parsons at Abbey Road Studios. The album title alludes to lunacy rather than astronomy, reflecting themes of madness and societal pressure. Hipgnosis designed the packaging with George Hardie's iconic refracting prism showing white light splitting into colors. Released in March 1973, it became an instant chart success across Western Europe. Every member except Richard Wright boycotted the press release because a quadraphonic mix was incomplete. Melody Maker described side one as utterly confused but praised side two for its solid rhythms and saxophone hits. The album reached number one in the US and stayed on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart for more than fourteen years during the 1970s and 1980s. It sold over 45 million copies worldwide, becoming the world's third best-selling album. Waters and Wright bought large country houses while Mason collected expensive cars. Disenchanted with Capitol Records, they negotiated a new contract with Columbia Records offering a reported advance of US$1,000,000. In January 1975, they began work on Wish You Were Here after touring extensively with Dark Side. Brian Humphries replaced Chris Thomas as producer since Parsons had moved on to his own project. Gilmour composed the opening four-note guitar phrase purely by chance, which reminded Waters of Barrett. During sessions, Barrett made an impromptu studio visit, sitting around talking but appearing not really there. He looked so changed that the band did not initially recognize him. Waters felt deeply upset by the encounter. Most of Wish You Were Here premiered at Knebworth on the 5th of July 1975, before being released in September. It reached number one in both the UK and the US. Animals followed in January 1977, based loosely on George Orwell's Animal Farm. The cover featured Battersea Power Station with a pig superimposed above it. Royalties became a source of conflict because members earned money per song rather than equally. Gilmour contributed "Dogs" but received less credit than Waters for the shorter "Pigs on the Wing." Wright commented that he didn't push his material enough while Waters believed he was the sole writer keeping them going.
In July 1978, Roger Waters presented two ideas for Pink Floyd's next album during a financial crisis caused by negligent investments. One idea later became his solo album The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking; the other evolved into The Wall. Bob Ezrin co-produced and wrote a forty-page script inspired partly by Syd Barrett's decline. During recording, the band grew dissatisfied with Richard Wright's lack of contribution and fired him. Gilmour stated that Wright had not contributed anything of value whatsoever to the album. Wright accepted the ultimatum to leave quietly after completion. The Wall topped the Billboard chart in the US for fifteen weeks and reached number three in the UK. It sold 23 million certified units in America alone. Gerald Scarfe created animations for the tour featuring large inflatable puppets representing characters like Mother and Schoolmaster. Relationships within the band hit an all-time low as their four Winnebagos parked in a circle with doors facing away from each center. Waters used his own vehicle and stayed in different hotels from the rest of the group. The tour lost about $600,000 despite Wright returning as a paid musician who was the only member to profit financially. In March 1983, The Final Cut went straight to number one in the UK and number six in the US. Waters wrote all lyrics and music while Gilmour felt excluded from creative decisions. Arguments intensified over whether to recycle old songs or create new material entirely. After a final confrontation, Gilmour's name disappeared from credits reflecting what Waters saw as his minimal songwriting contributions. By 1984, Waters publicly insisted Pink Floyd would never reunite. He contacted manager Steve O'Rourke to settle future royalty payments but then terminated that contract. He employed Peter Rudge instead and sent letters to EMI and Columbia announcing his departure. Waters declared Pink Floyd a spent force creatively and sought legal dissolution at the High Court. Gilmour responded with a press release affirming the band would continue existing without him.
In 1986, David Gilmour began recruiting musicians for a project initially intended as his third solo album. By late 1986, he decided to make it a Pink Floyd release without Roger Waters. Legal obstacles prevented Richard Wright's immediate return until a meeting in Hampstead invited him back. Pink Floyd employed Wright with weekly earnings of $11,000 to strengthen their position legally and musically. Recording sessions started on Gilmour's houseboat named Astoria moored on the River Thames. The group found it difficult working without Waters' creative direction so Gilmour collaborated with several songwriters including Eric Stewart and Roger McGough before choosing Anthony Moore. A Momentary Lapse of Reason released in September 1987 reached number three in both UK and US charts. Storm Thorgerson designed the cover featuring only Gilmour and Mason in a group photo since Waters had left. Waters called the songs poor in general and labeled them a clever forgery. Early rehearsals were chaotic with Mason and Wright out of practice. Gilmour asked Bob Ezrin to assist after realizing he had taken on too much work. During the North American tour, Waters ran a competing K.A.O.S. On the Road tour often playing smaller venues nearby. He issued a writ demanding copyright fees for Pink Floyd's use of the flying pig logo. Pink Floyd responded by attaching male genitalia to its underside to distinguish their version from Waters' design. They reached an agreement on December 23 allowing Mason and Gilmour to retain perpetual rights to the name while giving Waters exclusive rights to The Wall. In January 1993, they began working on The Division Bell at Britannia Row Studios where all three members improvised material together. After two weeks they had enough ideas to start creating songs. Michael Kamen arranged orchestral parts while Dick Parry returned as well. Polly Samson helped write High Hopes which pulled the whole album together according to producer Ezrin. The Division Bell reached number one in both countries and spent fifty-one weeks on the UK chart. Rehearsals took place over two weeks at Norton Air Force Base before opening in Miami on the 29th of March 1994.
On the 2nd of July 2005, Roger Waters rejoined David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright for a performance at Live 8 in Hyde Park London. It marked their first appearance together in more than twenty-four years. Bob Geldof arranged the reunion after asking Mason who then contacted Waters. About two weeks later Waters called Gilmour ending a two-year silence between them. At the start of Wish You Were Here, Waters told the audience it was emotional standing with these three guys after all those years. He dedicated the song to everyone not present particularly Syd. Images of the embrace became favorites among Sunday newspapers following the event. Waters admitted regretting his part in negativity during the years from 1985 onward. Pink Floyd turned down a contract worth £136 million for a final tour though Waters did not rule out future charity performances. In February 2006, Gilmour stated publicly that Pink Floyd were over citing advancing age and preference for working alone. No members attended Barrett's funeral held at Cambridge Crematorium on the 18th of July 2006. On the 10th of May 2007, they performed at Madcap's Last Laugh tribute concert at Barbican Centre playing Bike and Arnold Layne. Wright died of cancer on the 15th of September 2008 aged sixty-five. His former bandmates paid tributes calling his soulful voice vital magical components of their sound. A week later Gilmour performed Remember a Day written originally by Wright on BBC Two Later with Jools Holland. In November 2013, Gilmour and Mason revisited recordings made with Wright during Division Bell sessions to create The Endless River. They recruited session musicians to record new parts while harnessing studio technology. Waters was not involved in this process. The album debuted at number one in several countries becoming the most pre-ordered release ever on Amazon UK. It sold fastest vinyl edition since 1997 in Britain. Gilmour declared it would be Pink Floyd's last album saying there is no supporting tour possible without Wright.
In March 2022, David Gilmour and Nick Mason reunited as Pink Floyd alongside guitarist Guy Pratt and keyboardist Nitin Sawhney to record Hey Hey Rise Up. The single protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine that February featuring vocals from BoomBox singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk taken from an Instagram video of him singing Oh the Red Viburnum in the Meadow in Kyiv. Proceeds went directly to Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief. Gilmour described Khlyvnyuk's performance as powerful making him want to put music to it. Released April 8, he called the war inspiring enough to release new music as Pink Floyd though calling it a one-off event. Pink Floyd removed their music from streaming services in Russia and Belarus though speculation arose whether Waters had blocked removal. He refused to condemn Russia's invasion criticizing the song instead. Shortly afterward Gilmour and his wife Polly Samson condemned Waters online labeling him lying thieving hypocritical tax-avoiding misogynistic sick-with-envy megalomaniac. In 2023 Variety reported Pink Floyd had been seeking to sell their catalogue for some time but infighting hampered progress. Gilmour wanted to be rid of decision-making arguments involved keeping the catalogue going since three people must say yes while one says no. October 2024 saw agreement to sell their recording catalogue to Sony Music for approximately $400 million. The sale included rights to recordings merchandise and spin-offs excluding songwriting ownership. A 4K restoration of Live at Pompeii screened cinemas starting the 24th of April 2025 with soundtrack album released May 2 becoming their seventh UK number-one album.
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Common questions
When did Pink Floyd form and what was their original name?
Pink Floyd formed in 1965 when four architecture students gathered at the London Polytechnic to play music under the name Sigma 6. The group evolved through names like the Meggadeaths and the Tea Set before rebranding as Pink Floyd Sound by late 1965.
Who joined Pink Floyd after Syd Barrett left and when did this happen?
David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd as a fifth member on the 6th of April 1968 following Syd Barrett's departure announced by Blackhill Enterprises. Gilmour initially joined to cover for Barrett's eccentricities before Barrett officially left the band later that month.
How many copies did The Dark Side of the Moon sell worldwide?
The Dark Side of the Moon sold over 45 million copies worldwide making it the world's third best-selling album. It reached number one in the US and stayed on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart for more than fourteen years during the 1970s and 1980s.
Why was Richard Wright fired from Pink Floyd during The Wall sessions?
Richard Wright was fired from Pink Floyd during The Wall recording sessions because the band grew dissatisfied with his lack of contribution. David Gilmour stated that Wright had not contributed anything of value whatsoever to the album.
When did Roger Waters reunite with Pink Floyd for Live 8?
Roger Waters rejoined David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright for a performance at Live 8 in Hyde Park London on the 2nd of July 2005. This marked their first appearance together in more than twenty-four years following a two-year silence between them.
Who bought Pink Floyd's recording catalogue in October 2024?
Sony Music agreed to buy Pink Floyd's recording catalogue in October 2024 for approximately $400 million. The sale included rights to recordings merchandise and spin-offs excluding songwriting ownership.