5 man Pink Floyd

Posted on May 25, 2008 
Filed Under News

5 man Pink Floyd, (L-R) Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, Dave Gilmore, Roger Waters, Richard Wright

Pink Floyd are possibly unique amongst bands as having lost it’s central character – not once but twice – and still kept going. This is why I chose the picture of the short-lived 5 man set up (from 1968) when Dave Gilmore was brought in to help with live performances as Syd Barrett’s behaviour and playing became increasingly erratic.

Barrett was the major songwriter and performed on the first album, A Piper at the Gates of Dawn. His eventual replacement by Gilmore saw the creative mantel pass to other members of the band, both together and individually, with Waters eventually emerging as the dominant songwriter.

Their early stuff with Barrett was great psychedelia. And through the 70s they began to re-find their feet with albums like “Atom Heart Mother” (cows and wind instruments) and “Meddle” (”Across the Universe” inspired). Then later on their two mega-selling releases “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”.

Maybe I am alone in enjoying the “Pink Floyd The Wall” film and they still had it going on with that double album. But the last Waters-inspired album “The Final Cut” wasn’t too well-received and Waters announced in December 1985 that he was departing Pink Floyd, describing the band as “a spent force”.

But in 1986 Gilmour and Mason began recording a new Pink Floyd album “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” and then with Wright in 1994 , The Division Bell. A bitter legal dispute ensued in the late-eighties with Waters claiming that the name “Pink Floyd” should have been put to rest.

On 2nd July 2005, the band reunited once again for a one-off performance at the London Live 8 concert. There was something very appealing in seeing four old men playing together live for the first time in two decades and for once, not hiding behind light shows and pyrotechnics as they had in the past.

Comments

14 Responses to “5 man Pink Floyd”

  1. Vehicle Transport on June 5th, 2008 2:03 pm

    Good article : ]

    I really like the image included with the blog post!

  2. Mark Nolan on June 17th, 2008 12:22 am

    I think it is a testimony to the talent of the band members that they could carry on and continue to make such great music. I sure do wish I could have been there when the band reunited once again for a one-off performance at the London Live 8 concert, as you noted. That would have been something to see.

  3. free soccer tips on June 23rd, 2008 10:56 pm

    Pink Floyd are really unique. The pinkish theme really makes them outstand.

  4. Car Carriers on June 24th, 2008 1:44 pm

    I agree — a very unique group of artists!

  5. Laptop on July 8th, 2008 12:44 am

    Nice picture..

  6. Steve on July 29th, 2008 1:56 am

    Thanks for sharing all the information. Perhaps they are next to “James Brown” who are able to impress me.

  7. buyvinlys on August 5th, 2008 4:01 am

    I can not more describe how incredible band Pink Floyd is. They are musical magicians. Every song symbolizes something which cross the human imaginations.

    They are just great band ever.

  8. Mr Article on September 8th, 2008 2:07 pm

    They will live on forever in everyone!

  9. TigerTom on September 19th, 2008 8:05 am

    I find their music depressing. A bunch of rich old middle-class hippies whining. It’s comical when well-off white folks seize on any poor man’s music genre.

    ‘Feel my pain, I’m on 40% income tax’. Har har!

    Didn’t they help ruin people’s lives by glamourising drug use? You never hear about the people who took one trip too many and left a piece of themselves behind when they came back.

  10. TigerTom on September 19th, 2008 8:06 am

    Except, I suppose, Mr. Barrett’s condition might have given a clue to the smarter ones. But, for some, I understand it adds to the ‘mystique’.

  11. Ice Rabia on September 29th, 2008 9:59 pm

    I love Pink Floyd. My dad used to play their songs at our house every day. I practically grew up listening to their songs… I love what you did with their picture…

  12. Hugo Sausagemen on October 17th, 2008 3:56 am

    Love the picture, they are the best band eer formed, EVER

  13. Traveller Compression Socks on October 17th, 2008 7:49 pm

    pink floyd truly are a unique bad, have many fond memories listening to their music. They will always live on through the magic they created.

  14. Emanuel Howe on November 12th, 2008 9:48 pm

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