Pink Floyd (music group)

The music group Pink Floyd is best known for its atmospheric sound and elaborate stage shows. Among the band's many studio albums, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall have been the most successful. The group's notable songs include "Money," "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2," and "Comfortably Numb." With a highly successful career spanning decades, Pink Floyd is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Formation and Early Years

Pink Floyd formed in London, England, in 1965. The original members of the band consisted of lead singer and guitarist Syd Barrett (1946–2006), bassist Roger Waters (1944–), drummer Nick Mason (1945–), and keyboardist Rick Wright (1945–2008). Guitarist David Gilmour (1944–) later joined the band. Pink Floyd's name comes from blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, as the group was rooted in blues. After forming, the band began gigging, often experimenting with extended jams. The group became popular in the underground scene in London and signed with EMI in 1967. That same year, Pink Floyd released its single, "Arnold Layne," which had success on the U.K. charts. Next, the band delivered the single "See Emily Play," finding success in the United Kingdom with that single as well.

Also in 1967, Pink Floyd came out with its debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Largely crafted by Barrett, the experimental, psychedelic album features the songs "Astronomy Domine" and "Interstellar Overdrive" and was a hit in Great Britain. Shortly after the album's release, Barrett began battling mental illness, which affected his on-stage performances. The band decided to bring in Gilmour to strengthen the group during its live performances. Barrett left the band not long afterward.

Despite Barrett's departure, Pink Floyd continued making music. The group released the album A Saucerful of Secrets in 1968. The album, which has a spacey, ethereal sound, features the title track and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun." The album also contains "Jugband Blues," a song written by Barrett that was his final contribution to Pink Floyd.

The band delivered two albums in 1969, More and Ummagumma, both of which continued to push the boundaries of sound. More was the soundtrack to a French film of the same name, while Ummagumma was a double album of both studio and live recordings. Around this time, the band played a number of major music festivals.

In 1970, Pink Floyd put out Atom Heart Mother, which became the group's first album to reach number one on the U.K. charts. With the release of Meddle the following year, the group continued experimenting with its sound. Two notable songs from the album include "One of These Days" and "Echoes." Then in 1972, the band released Obscured by Clouds, the soundtrack to the movie La Vallee.

Continued Success

The first of Pink Floyd's wildly successful albums came in 1973 with Dark Side of the Moon. The album features the band's atmospheric sound and deals with themes such as madness. It was a huge hit, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. The album topped the Billboard charts in the United States and remained on the charts for a staggering 741 weeks. One of the notable songs from the album is "Money." In support of Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd went on tour and began putting on increasingly elaborate shows.

The band released yet another successful album, Wish You Were Here, in 1975. Featuring the title track as well as "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," the album was a tribute to Barrett. It reached number one on the Billboard charts. The band put out the album Animals in 1977, and followed up with a tour that included extensive special effects.

In 1979, Pink Floyd released a double album that would rival the popularity of Dark Side of the Moon. Often referred to as a rock opera, The Wall was largely crafted by Waters and is a semi-autobiographical reflection of his life. The album features themes such as isolation and includes the songs "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2"—the group's only number one single—and "Comfortably Numb." As with Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall reached number one on the Billboard charts and remained on the charts for years. Pink Floyd followed the release of the album with a tour. As was the trend at the time, the band's shows were elaborate spectacles. A feature film based on the album, also titled The Wall, was released in 1982.

The Wall was the last album that Waters, Gilmour, Mason, and Wright recorded together. Wright had been fired but was brought back as a contract player for the album's recording and subsequent tour. He was not, however, involved with the band's next album, The Final Cut. The album, released in 1983, was entirely credited to Waters and, like The Wall, was semi-autobiographical. The Final Cut marked the last time Waters worked with Pink Floyd, as he left the band after the album's release.

Later Years

Although Waters left the group, Pink Floyd carried on, delivering the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 1987. Wright was back with the band for the album. The group then embarked on a world tour, which was captured on the 1988 live double album Delicate Sound of Thunder. In 1994, the band released The Division Bell. The supporting tour resulted in the live double album Pulse in 1995. The group then went on a hiatus.

In 1996, Pink Floyd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Waters, Gilmour, Mason, and Wright reunited in 2005 for a performance at Live 8, a charity concert. Barrett died of cancer in 2006. Two years later, Wright also died of cancer.

In 2014, the band released its first studio album in twenty years. The Endless River was created primarily from outtakes of the recording sessions for The Division Bell. It contains contributions from Wright and new material from Gilmour and Mason.

Bibliography

"Biography." Pink Floyd Official Website. Pink Floyd Official Website. Web. 21 Dec. 2015. http://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/biography.php

Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography." AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Web. 21 Dec. 2015. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pink-floyd-mn0000346336/biography

Greene, Andy. "David Gilmour: 'There's No Room in My Life for Pink Floyd." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Dec. 2015. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/david-gilmour-theres-no-room-in-my-life-for-pink-floyd-20141029

"Pink Floyd Biography." Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Inc. Web. 29 Dec. 2015. https://rockhall.com/inductees/pink-floyd/bio/

"Pink Floyd: Biography." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Web. 29 Dec. 2015. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/pink-floyd/biography