lynx
09-15-2008, 05:00 PM
Founding Pink Floyd member Richard Wright has died at the age of 65. The keyboardist’s spokesman told the BBC Wright had been battling cancer for some time.
Wright co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with guitarist Syd Barrett, bassist Roger Waters and drummer Nick Mason. Though Wright sang lead on several early Pink Floyd compositions, his role was mostly supportive, coloring psychedelic epics like "Breathe," "Time, "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” He also wrote or co-wrote a number of key Floyd tracks, including "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them."
Wright found himself butting heads with Waters as the bassist increased his grip over the group and resigned as fulltime member of Pink Floyd while recording The Wall. He continued to tour with the group as a salaried backing musician through 1981, but does not appear on 1983’s The Final Cut. Wright rejoined the group fulltime in time to record 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, the first Pink Floyd record not to feature Waters. Under the leadership of Gilmour, Wright contributed heavily to latter day Floyd records like The Delicate Sound of Thunder and The Division Bell, as well as the live album P*U*L*S*E. In 2005, he reunited with Gilmour, Waters and Mason for a one-off Pink Floyd performance at Live 8.
Wright has released a handful of studio albums outside of Pink Floyd, including 1978’s Wet Dream and 1996’s Broken China, the latter of which features Sinéad O'Connor, among others. He also released a collaborative effort with Dave Fashion’s Harris under the moniker Zee in 1984. In addition, Wright appeared on Gilmour’s 2006 album On an Island and the album’s subsequent tour.
Only last week Gilmour made headlines by saying that “he never again take part in a Pink Floyd reunion.” Founding Pink Floyd visionary Syd Barrett died in 2006.
:source: Source: http://www.relix.com/Features/Daily_News/Richard_Wright:_1943-2008_200809153143.html
Wish he was here.
Wright co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with guitarist Syd Barrett, bassist Roger Waters and drummer Nick Mason. Though Wright sang lead on several early Pink Floyd compositions, his role was mostly supportive, coloring psychedelic epics like "Breathe," "Time, "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” He also wrote or co-wrote a number of key Floyd tracks, including "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them."
Wright found himself butting heads with Waters as the bassist increased his grip over the group and resigned as fulltime member of Pink Floyd while recording The Wall. He continued to tour with the group as a salaried backing musician through 1981, but does not appear on 1983’s The Final Cut. Wright rejoined the group fulltime in time to record 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, the first Pink Floyd record not to feature Waters. Under the leadership of Gilmour, Wright contributed heavily to latter day Floyd records like The Delicate Sound of Thunder and The Division Bell, as well as the live album P*U*L*S*E. In 2005, he reunited with Gilmour, Waters and Mason for a one-off Pink Floyd performance at Live 8.
Wright has released a handful of studio albums outside of Pink Floyd, including 1978’s Wet Dream and 1996’s Broken China, the latter of which features Sinéad O'Connor, among others. He also released a collaborative effort with Dave Fashion’s Harris under the moniker Zee in 1984. In addition, Wright appeared on Gilmour’s 2006 album On an Island and the album’s subsequent tour.
Only last week Gilmour made headlines by saying that “he never again take part in a Pink Floyd reunion.” Founding Pink Floyd visionary Syd Barrett died in 2006.
:source: Source: http://www.relix.com/Features/Daily_News/Richard_Wright:_1943-2008_200809153143.html
Wish he was here.