Death of Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright
Rick Wright Obituary…
Sad news for any self respecting music fan with the passing of Rick Wright of Pink Floyd today. Wright was a founding member of the band and his skill as a keyboard player helped shape the classic Floyd sound. I often used to like the keyboard’s as much as Dave Gilmour’s guitar playing it was that good. Listen to the ‘Wish you were here’ album and his playing is sublime, he really was in a league of his own.
Wright fell out with Roger Water’s at the time of ‘The Wall’ recording and left the band in a full time capacity only to return ‘proper’ when Waters left. Despite their differences they joined up for their spectacular reunion at Live 8 in 2006 and later Wright went on to tour with David Gilmour. His final live appearences will be released on Gilmour’s latest live release, ‘Live in Gdansk’.
Richard Wright 1943-2008
Just revisited his piano playing on ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ from Dark Side of the Moon. An appropriate title and a beautiful piece of music. Press play above…
September 15, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
I always loved the instrumental parts of ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond.’ Sad. Pink Floyd was a staple of my misspent youth. It’s funny how different bands bring back different memories. PF was one of the perfect bands to listen to in an altered state. I might go for a walk tonight with a J and my ipod. Its been a long, long time.
September 15, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
Miles
we must be hitting a generational time band soon and sadly we’ll lose a great number of big names over a relatively short period I suspect.
I don’t see bands and musicians of Pink Floyd’s ability and standing out there waiting to take over either !
Rod
September 16, 2008 @ 6:29 am
Dave,
Have to agree with you on ‘Shine’ the keyboards were excellent and I have great memories about the first time I got into them. Did you get the postcards that were issued with the album?
Miles
September 16, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Rod,
I can’t see anyone taking up where they left off. I don’t think the diversity and originality exists like it once did. That said it must be hard to come up with something completley new.
Miles
September 16, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Miles,
No, no postcards. I think my first purchase of this was as a cassette, the absolute worst way to enjoy music. I do take some solace in having the first generation of cd players. I had duplicated most of my albums by 87. Every now and then I come across one of those early (and outrageously expensive) purchases and enjoy a good laugh.
Rod,
Are there any new “great musicians”? I can’t think of any off the top of my head. I can’t remember the last time a band blew me away. Firewater maybe - that was 97. My wife likes Death Cab for Cutie - I must admit at least they are original, but kind of pretentious. Is rock dead? I was starting to believe this in 1990 and then Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana came along and saved us from hair metal. Where are the new artists? Has it all become such a cynical enterprise? Does this explain the undying love for dinosaurs like the Who, Motorhead, Led Zep, even the Allman Brothers? I miss having an entire album to listen to. Everything is geared towards single releases - I think this makes bands less hungry. Who needs to sell an album when a hit singe can make you rich? Ahhh - this all makes me feel old and crabby. Maybe we really do become our parents.
September 17, 2008 @ 6:10 am
Dave,
With you on the cassettes, bloody awful but then I never had enough money to buy albums until I began working. I blew half my first wage packet on a triple live album by Santana but it was worth it.
Have you listened to the UK based radio station planetrock.com? They play some great stuff and gave great special presenters such as Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Rick Wakeman (very funny) and Phil Manzanera. Guy Pratt the bass player with Floyd/Gilmour has a good show every sunday night. Give it a listen.
Best
Miles
September 17, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
Dave
I try to allow room for the fact that I’m getting older and I suspect every generation thinks ‘new music’ is not what it used to be !
That said, I listen to music both for pleasure and as a guitarist and I have to say there are no bands out there who will shape the future as dramatically as the big names you mention for example.
The last truly great and innovative rock band was Van Halen IMHO - even that was nearly 30 years ago !
There are some great bands out there - just not earth-shattering and it’s hard to see them still being able to fill stadiums when they are of pensionable age !
All the best
Rod
September 18, 2008 @ 7:04 am