Pink Floyd and the loss of Richard Wright

I was saddened to hear that one of rock's greatest bands, Pink Floyd, has lost another founding member. Richard Wright passed away in London last Monday (September 15th) from a short illness with cancer. The unassuming Rick (as he was known by the band) first met members Roger Waters and Nick Mason while attending architecture school in Britain and together with lead guitarist, Syd Barrett, formed a band in 1964. They underwent four name changes until finalizing the moniker "Pink Floyd" in 1965 (which was a juxtaposition of the names of two blues singers, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council). Syd Barrett left the band in 1968 with David Gilmour replacing him soon thereafter. When Waters exited the band in 1981, Pink Floyd continued a successful career recording and touring together through the 80's and into the 90's until their last studio album, "The Division Bell" was released in 1994. In 2005, all the original members reunited for a Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park, which was the first time together in 24 years. The following year, Syd Barrett lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.

Pink Floyd's classic 1973 "The Dark Side of the Moon" is one of my all-time favorite albums and was well worn on the turntable during my teenage "angst" years. Who could forget the ethereal melodies of "Us and Them"? Rick initially wrote it as a piano piece for a soundtrack to the 1970 U.S. counterculture movement movie, "Zapriskie Point". The song never made it on the soundtrack but was further developed with Waters and later sung by Gilmour for "The Dark Side of the Moon". This legendary album sold over 30 million copies worldwide over a 35-year span and stayed on the US album charts for over a decade.

...."Down and out
It can't be helped but there's a lot of it about.
With, without.
And who'll deny it's what the fighting's all about?
Out of the way, it's a busy day I've got things on my mind.
For the want of the price of tea and a slice
The old man died."
- Waters, Wright (Pink Floyd)