R.I.P Richard Wright,Pink Floyd's Keyboard Player

bonzolead

Platinum Member
Sad news today Richard Wright Pink Floyd's keyboard player passed away from Cancer at age 65 even though I like Nick Mason drumming Richard Wright's playing is what drew me to Pink Floyd even more so than David Gilmore's guitar playing or Nick's drumming really bummed me out when I found out.I'll listen to "Welcome to the Machine" in rememberance tonight.Pink Floyd will never be the same.My heart goes out to his family.

R.I.P.
Bonzolead
 
Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

I know this isnt drumming related however it deserves mention any where music is appreciated. A truly sad day and a huge loss to the music world. Thank god he was able to leave his mark.. Dont think I will ever be able to listen to Great Gig In the Sky and hear it the same way.. Some of the most beautiful chord changes ever....

Taken from cnn

LONDON, England (AP) -- Richard Wright, a founding member of the rock group Pink Floyd, died Monday. He was 65.
Richard Wright (right) and a reunited Pink Floyd earn cheers at 2005's Live 8.

Richard Wright (right) and a reunited Pink Floyd earn cheers at 2005's Live 8.

Pink Floyd's spokesman Doug Wright, who is not related to the artist, said Wright died after a battle with cancer at his home in Britain. He says the band member's family did not want to give more details about his death.

Wright met Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college and joined their early band, Sigma 6. Along with the late Syd Barrett, the four formed Pink Floyd in 1965.

The group's jazz-infused rock and drug-laced multimedia "happenings" made them darlings of the London psychedelic scene, and their 1967 album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was a hit.

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright, along with Barrett, was seen as the group's dominant musical force. The London-born musician and son of a biochemist wrote songs and sang.

The band released a series of commercially and critically successful albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more than 40 million copies. Wright wrote "The Great Gig In The Sky" and "Us And Them" for that album, and later worked on the group's epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother," "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."

But tensions grew between Waters, Wright and fellow band member David Gilmour. The tensions came to a head during the making of "The Wall" when Waters insisted Wright be fired. As a result, Wright was relegated to the status of session musician on the tour of "The Wall," and did not perform on Pink Floyd's 1983 album "The Final Cut."

Wright formed a new band Zee with Dave Harris, from the band Fashion, and released one album, "Identity," with Atlantic Records.

Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and Wright began recording with Mason and Gilmour again, releasing the albums "The Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" as Pink Floyd. Wright also released the solo albums "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996).

In July 2005, Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour reunited to perform at the "Live 8" charity concert in London -- the first time in 25 years they had been onstage together.

Wright also worked on Gilmour's solo projects, most recently playing on the 2006 album "On An Island" and the accompanying world tour.
 
That is tragic news. I'm surprised and saddened. I wish all the best for his family and friends. Rick's music has touched millions and as such, his body of work can only continue to inspire and encourage new and continuing generations of musicians and artists.
 
I'm so glad I caught the Division Bell show, back in 94. I always liked Richard Wright (and Tony Banks) because they were always such a "part of the song", rather than being "in your face" like the Emerson/Wakeman school of playing.
 
Re: Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

OMG!


What a HUGE loss this is for all music lovers. :-(

RW was an absolute pivotal part of one of the most successful bands of our time.


He was just an awesome keyboardist, writer, and singer. And such a good guy.


RIP Richard Wright.


And thanks for letting us know, LD.
 
Re: Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

Wow, I didn't even know he was sick.

RIP to a great musician who most certainly left his mark.
 
Re: Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

As a longtime Pink Floyd fan, all I can say is...

Everybody dies. I don't think it's a bummer or a loss at all. He accomplished a lot in his lifetime and was well loved for his music. Nobody is promised 65 years or life as a famous rock star. He did well, and it was great that he was among us to share his gifts.

And now, he's gone on to...

The Great Gig in the Sky. This one's for you, Rick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enwnt7-j90k
 
Re: Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

As a longtime Pink Floyd fan, all I can say is...

Everybody dies. I don't think it's a bummer or a loss at all. He accomplished a lot in his lifetime and was well loved for his music. Nobody is promised 65 years or life as a famous rock star. He did well, and it was great that he was among us to share his gifts.

And now, he's gone on to...

The Great Gig in the Sky. This one's for you, Rick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enwnt7-j90k

The more I think about it, the more I think you're right. Rick hasn't looked well for a good few years now, but we can remember the music and we can remember the history and the significant impact he has had on popular culture in the last fifty years. Whilst he may not be as famous as Roger Waters or as well known as David Gilmour; Richard was a significant and vital part of a band whose work has touched millions - it is these memories by which we honour him the most.
 
It is funny that in all the years that Floyd was a part of my life, my discussions with friends, musicians etc. always centered around their music, their genre, lyrics, their visual references,their place in the history of rock etc, but somehow Richard Wright was never discussed.

Roger Water's talent, Gilmour's guitar tone, occasionally even Mason, yes, but Richard Wright? Never.

Even the title of the thread has to spell out " Pink Floyd's keyboard player".

Now its been 2 days, and everyone calling with this tone full of shock & disbelief about the fact that's he's no more. Everyone seems collectively stupefied, suddenly.

The loss seems bigger than we anticipated, eh?

Do we always tend realize value after we lose it?
 
Re: Richard Wright founding member of Pink Floyd dead at 65.

... Whilst he may not be as famous as Roger Waters or as well known as David Gilmour; Richard was a significant and vital part of a band whose work has touched millions - it is these memories by which we honour him the most.

Yeah, he was like George Harrison of the Beatles, who never got the attention that Lennon or McCartney got yet was a critical part of the band's sound. They would not have sounded like the Beatles that we know and love were it not for him. Same with Wright - a lot of people who recognize Pink Floyd on the radio probably don't know his name. Yet he was a critical part of Pink Floyd's sound and wrote some of their most enduring stuff. Who could imagine Pink Floyd without the keyboard and synthesizer work, or with it done differently?

Pink Floyd is regarded by many (including myself) as the best headphone band in history, and I think Wright had a lot to do with that.

"In my view, all the greatest Pink Floyd moments are the ones where he is in full flow. After all, without 'Us and Them' and 'The Great Gig In The Sky', both of which he wrote, what would 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' have been? Without his quiet touch the Album 'Wish You Were Here' would not quite have worked."

- David Gilmour
 
It's funny, in my original version of that last post, I compared him to George Harrison too. The quote is spot on. I couldn't agree more. And actually, when looking at his role within the band, he was 'The Sound' in the psychedelic era. Without his organ parts, it just wouldn't have worked - right up until The Wall this was the case, but particularly up to Meddle. What a legacy to leave.
 
"And I am not frightened of dying. Anytime will do - I don't mind. Why should I be a-frightened of dying? There's no reason for it - you've got to go sometime."

- Gerry O'Driscoll, Abbey Road Studios doorman, 38 seconds into "The Great Gig in the Sky"
 
Man this was such a sudden shock..

I feel this is proof of his intergral part to the Floyd. A tragic loss, but at least his sound lives on forever.
 
"And I am not frightened of dying. Anytime will do - I don't mind. Why should I be a-frightened of dying? There's no reason for it - you've got to go sometime."

- Gerry O'Driscoll, Abbey Road Studios doorman, 38 seconds into "The Great Gig in the Sky"

Nice quote man, Too bad so many people overlooked Rick's contributions...MFB mentioned some good stuff, but IMO, while I absolutely love everything that was "pre-The Wall", the style of his playing in the early material, withholding anything "Barrett" such as "More" or "Obscured" resonates in my head when I hear his name.He was almost the VOICE of Pink Floyd....I always go back to 'Summer '69' or 'Echoes'..... not to mention 'Careful with that Axe' So much to remember...I give up...I m putting on "Meddle" right now in rememberance.

LONG LIVE THE FLOYD!


1 hour later and it still sucks...What a great musician...
 
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