Pink Floyd - The Greatest Band on the Planet
A progressive rock band like no other
The Beginning
Pink Floyd are an English rock band
formed in London in 1965. They began at the forefront of 1960s
psychedelic rock band, and went on to become a seminal, leading band
in the progressive rock genre and one of the greatest bands of all
time, selling over 250 million records over their 55 year
career. Syd Barrett (lead/rhythm guitar and vocals), Roger Waters
(bass and vocals), Richard Wright (keyboard, organ, synths, and
vocals) and Nick Mason (drums and vocals) originally started out as
the Tea Set in the mid-1960s, only changing their name once they
discovered another band with the same name were playing the same
gig. Starting as a straightforward rhythm and blues band, they began
experimenting more with their stage visuals and lengthening their
instrumental work within their songs.
After a two years on the gigging circuit with wildly varying
success, they signed with EMI in 1967, and released their first two
singles,
Arnold Layne
and
See Emily Play .
Their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was released in
August 1967 and peaked at number 6 in the UK album charts. But this
great success was thrown into turmoil by the mental health
difficulties of their founding member, and main songwriter, Syd
Barrett. By the end of 1967, Syd Barrett's erratic behaviour and
subsequent breakdown forced the band to seek psychiatric assistance
for him.
The addition of Gilmour
David Gilmour was brought into the fold by Waters at the end of 1967
as the fifth member of the band. It is claimed he was brought in to
"cover for Barrett's eccentricities" and allow Barrett to be a
nonperforming songwriter for the band. But by March 1968, it was
decided that Barrett would leave the group and Pink Floyd were to
continue as a foursome with Waters taking on main songwriting
duties.
The albums came thick and fast throughout the late 60s and early
70s, with A Saucerful of Secrets, Ummagumma, Atom Heart Mother and
Meddle released in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971 respectively. The
released very few singles in this period, with Point Me To The Sky
from A Saucerful of Secrets being their only release.
The Dark Side of the Moon and subsequent success
Massive success and critical acclaim arrived for Pink Floyd in 1973
with the release of their timeless classic, The Dark Side of the
Moon. Exploring themes such as conflict, greed, mental illness and
death, The Dark Side of Moon features sophisticated sonic
expermination, phase shifting, and use of unconventional sound
techniques that hadn't been heard before. The album spawned one of
the band's biggest hit singles, Money, as well as being one of the
best selling albums of all time across multiple countries around the
world.
The follow up album, Wish You Were Here, was equally lauded by
critics, and consisted of more longer form compositions as seen in
Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a multiple part composition split into
two distinct sections which bookended the album.
Animals was released in 1977 after a conflicted and torturous
recording process, heightening the discontent and frustration
building between Gilmour and Waters.
Things came to head during the recording of the 1979 album The Wall,
where the keyboardist, Richard Wright, was fired from the band due
to his lack of contributions throughout the recording process. And
during the recording for their 1983 album The Final Cut, the
animosity between Waters and Gilmour came to a head with Waters
removing Gilmour's name from the songwriting list citing the lack of
contributions from Gilmour.
Waters departs
After the release of The Final Cut the band were fractured, and after
a dinner discussion about the band's future left the band with
opposing ideas of where the band as going, Waters left the band to
pursue a solo career.
Pink Floyd continued with Gilmour at the helm, releasing two further
albums; A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987 and The Division Bell in
1994. Neither album were able to replicate the success of the previous
material and after the tour to promote The Division Bell in 1994, Pink
Floyd split for good.
Albums
Coded by Laura