Following Animals Roger Waters began work on what would become The Wall. It proved to be a difficult period for Pink Floyd in general as internal tensions reached crisis point. The working relationship with Waters proved impossible for Wright who despite being a fellow founder member of one of the worlds most successful bands decided he had to leave. From that time on his appearances for live performances of The Wall were only as a salaried musician which, despite increasing the tension, ironically saved him from some of the huge costs involved in staging the shows.
Following Waters’ departure Wright returned to Floyd and helped write material for Momentary Lapse Of Reason and The Division Bell albums but in truth Floyd’s greatest days were finally behind them. His solo career included albums such as Wet Dream in 1978 and Broken China in 1996. He also briefly collaborated with the New Romantics band Fashion on an album called Identity. One of his last major appearances came during the Live8 concert in London which marked the first appearance of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon line up since the acrimonious split. Wright also appeared on David Gilmour’s 2006 solo album On An Island. He was reported to have been working on some instrumental pieces for a possible solo release. His death has finally drawn a line under any possible Floyd reunions called for after the Live8 concert.
Never one to seek the spotlight the incurably modest Wright was an essential element of the Pink Floyd phenomenon. Let’s hope Richard Wright is today enjoying that “Great Gig In The Sky” alongside Syd Barrett and the other greats the world has lost along the way.
As part of the ‘Classic Eurorock’ series a review of Pink Floyd’s 1967 debut The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn will appear shortly as a tribute to both Richard Wright and Syd Barrett.
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Article comments
1 - El Bicho
"Wright returned to Floyd and helped write material for Momentary Lapse Of Reason"
Are you sure? He didn't receive songwriting credit
2 - Mark Saleski
you know, i could have sworn i heard that reported today too.
in any event, he did take part on The Division Bell.
3 - El Bicho
MLR started as a Gilmour solo album. Wright was later hired as a session musician and doesn't play on that many songs.
4 - Glen Boyd
He is on the record, but Bicho is correct in pointing out that it started as a solo Gilmour album. They basically decided later to call it Pink Floyd so they could play the mega-stadiums.
-Glen
5 - Jeff
Thanks to everyone - I hope that the article got people thinking about Richard/Rick and of course his family and friends. I just wanted it to be as a tribute.
Yes sorry you're right - he did only play on a few tracks on MLR and doesn't appear on any credits. I did most of this from my rather hazy memory ! Anyway keep his music alive.
6 - Mike
Cheers to Richard! He'll be missed.