Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd – One of Rock’s Greatest Bands

Pink Floyd were an English rock band whose music moved the heart and stirred the soul with their mysterious blend of philosophical lyrics and sonic experimentation. Their music has been described as psychedelic rock or progressive rock, yet much of their music transcends categorisation. They were somewhat of an enigma, because they tended to shun public life and yet their live shows were overtly spectacular and elaborate. However Pink Floyd became one of the most commercially successful and influential^[1] rock music groups of all time.

The Early Years

Founded in 1965, the band originally consisted of university students Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett. Barrett was a singer-songwriter and guitarist, who provided Pink Floyd, with their major musical and stylistic direction in their early work^[2]. Pink Floyd became popular in the London underground music scene and released a successful début album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967.

Waters Led Era

Following the departure of Barrett in 1968, Roger Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter and conceptual leader. Waters began to chart Pink Floyd's artistic direction while exerting progressively more creative control over the band and its music. The band subsequently achieved worldwide success in the 1970s with the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall and ultimately The Final Cut in1983^[3].

Gilmour Led Era

In 1986 Waters left Pink Floyd and David Gilmore assumed full control of the group. Gilmore, Mason and Wright produced A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987. Wright officially rejoined the band after the release of the album for a lengthy world tour and helped create 1994's The Division Bell^.^[4]

Live Shows

Pink Floyd’s live shows were spectacular events as they were among the first bands to use a dedicated travelling light show in conjunction with their performances^[5]. At different concerts they also used props and pyrotechnics to good effect. As lighting techniques became more sophisticated their laser light shows became more elaborate and dramatic. Some of Pink Floyd’s more famous live shows included The Wall 1980-1981 (which was recreated in Berlin in 1990, alongside the ruins of the Berlin Wall), A Momentary Lapse of Reason 1987-1989, and The Division Bell 1994.

Pink Floyd reunited for the 2005 Live 8 concert in London. The classic line up of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason played together on stage for the first time in 24 years.

Legacy

In 1996 Pink Floyd were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins as seen in this YouTube clip.