News
Rick Wright, 1943-2008
5:57 PM GMT 15/09/2008
RICHARD WILLIAM (“RICK”) Wright – the creator of Pink Floyd’s lush and ethereal keyboard lines – has died, aged 65, after a prolonged struggle with cancer.
Typically of the Floyd member who least courted publicity, he had been ill a while but had been keen to prevent news slipping out, preserving his privacy to the last. His passing puts the kibosh on the already unlikely prospect of a full-scale Floyd reunion.
While a statement from the Pink Floyd camp is as yet unforthcoming, it is understood that guitarist David Gilmour is considerably shaken, and is unlikely to attend the launch of his Live In Gdansk CD/DVD set, which is due next week.
At the band’s beginning, Wright had shouldered much of the burden of Pink Floyd’s music, with the original line-up of Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Syd Barrett boasting little instrumental expertise notwithstanding the latter’s emerging songwriting. Their dreamlike jams showcased the quiet one’s jazz and classical chops, while he contributed willowy lead vocals to Astronomy Domine and Matilda Mother on the band’s debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.
Perhaps his most enduring contributions, however, were to the Floyd’s more impressionistic fare, to the tracks Atom Heart Mother, Echoes and the film themes, especially Zabriskie Point and Obscured By Clouds. And his influence on some of the Floyd’s “greatest hits” – namely, Dark Side Of The Moon’s The Great Gig In The Sky and Wish You Were Here’s Shine On You Crazy Diamond – is there in black and white in the writing credits (always laboriously apportioned).
Wright had first met Waters and Mason while studying architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic, though his relations with the former were to sour during sessions for The Wall, when he was forced out of the band – subsequently to be re-hired as a touring session musician, on a salary. And though his status was somewhat rehabilitated on the Waters-less A Momentary Lapse Of Reason, equal footing was not restored until 1994’s The Division Bell, to which he contributed five co-writes and one lead vocal: Wearing the Inside Out.
Outside of Pink Floyd, Wright contributed to Syd Barrett’s solo records Barrett and The Madcap Laughs, joined Fashion’s Dave Farris in a short-lived duo called Zee, and recorded two solo albums: Wet Dream (1978) and Broken China (1996). Recently he played keyboards for David Gilmour’s live shows – reviving a number of Floyd classics – and joined Pink Floyd’s surprise reformation at 2005’s Live 8 concert, though he declined, along with Gilmour, to have any truck with Waters and Mason’s Dark Side Of The Moon Live tour that followed.
He leaves a wife, Millie (his third) and three children.
Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 5:57 PM GMT 15/09/2008
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Rest in peace Richard, you will forever be missed, but your music will forever live on.
Posted by Floydhead at 6:37 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Such a shock, will be missed greatly but the music remains, such a huge and vital contribution to the overall sound of Pink Floyd, far more than ever given credit for. It would not have been the same with Richard.
Posted by Anthony C at 6:55 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Such a shock, will be missed greatly but the music remains, such a huge and vital contribution to the sound of Pink Floyd, far more than ever given credit for. It would not have been the same without Richard.
Posted by Floydfan at 6:56 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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RE: Anthony C
Sorry, I meant would not have been the same withOUT Richard!!
Posted by Anonymous at 6:59 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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What a sad, sad day. Rest in peace, and condolences to family, friends, band mates and road crews.
Without wishing to sound too pedantic, Waters and Mason didn't tour 'DSOTM' together, the latter joined Roger on stage on a couple of occasions. It was a solo Waters tour.
Posted by Alan Latchley at 7:49 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Here in Brazil, we had never lost the hope to see Pink Floyd playing here one day. But, now, it is all over. We will always have the music to dream how great that day would be...Rest in peace, like Syd Barrett...
Posted by Amilcar Henrique at 8:51 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Thank You Very Much Richard.
Posted by Comandante at 9:10 PM GMT 15/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Everyone should listen to Jigsaw, Mudmen, Remember a Day, and Summer '68 - and you will realize what a great songwriter he was as well as contributing the atmospheric soul to Pink Floyd. He wasn't as flashy as Emerson or Wakeman, but he was the best at creating a space-like mood of any keyboardist there ever was.............
Posted by daniel gibson at 12:17 AM GMT 16/09/2008 Report Abuse
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I was lucky enough to be at Earls Court back in '93 & witness a truly magnificent show.You were a truly inspirational musician & that will live on forever,God bless you Richard.Remember a day....
Posted by Stonedruid at 1:40 AM GMT 16/09/2008 Report Abuse
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You hid it well, you bore it well, David's sweeping guitar will have something missing between the soaring melodies.
As we all age we have to face our own mortalities, the golden age will lose more great musicians in the coming years. Your contributions will be marked as you were revered by those in the know and accepted quietly by the rest.
RIP
Posted by Keith Walters at 4:29 AM GMT 16/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Hi, how I can send PM?
Posted by proslaviy at 3:11 PM GMT 16/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Yes, and very much indeed it is a sad day for me today, I shall always and forever cherish the sweetest Hammond, and piano chords that Richard has played.
I shall always look up at his photos with total admiration and full respect.
The brilliant Piano in Uh..what’s the deal, and the fantastic Sonar in Echoes, Us and them And Matchbox will remain deep inside my soul.
I saluted him with the highest respect in February, 1988 at the Sydney entertainment Centre
Today I tell you Goodbye Richard, thank you, and we shall meet again
You’ve definitely shaped my soul to enjoy and have a better life.
Hesham
Sydney, Australia
16.9.2008
Posted by Hesham Attalla at 9:33 PM GMT 16/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Terribly sad to hear of Richard's passing. He was a wonderful musician and core component of Pink Floyd's sounds.
His work on the early Floyd singles is still glorious, as was his playing on David Gilmour's last tour. The preserved performance of Echoes on the Remember that Night dvd - with Richard in excelsius - is a joy to behold.
I've long thought that his rehabilitation as a musician in partnership with Gilmour was one of Rock's most overlooked and heartwarming comebacks. I also found Gilmour's website message in tribute to Wright very touching.
As one of the great keyboard originals of his generation - and as a terrific harmony vocalist - he will be sorely, sorely missed.
The coda of Shine On You Crazy Diamond - the longing lament for Syd that you authored - is now very much yours. May you rest in peace, Richard.
Posted by BrokenChina at 4:18 AM GMT 17/09/2008 Report Abuse
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What a sad day - you will be missed - thanks for all the wonderful music that has added so much pleasure to my life!
Posted by David Mountford at 8:57 AM GMT 17/09/2008 Report Abuse
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For me Rick was the best keyboard-player of all and also my favourite Floyd. He seemed to be such a gentle and really nice man. It's sad that we aren't able to listen to his fantastic musical landscapes any more. I send my deepest regards to Ricks family and friends + David, Nick and Roger.
Maybe, still, this isn't the end of Floyd. I sure hope that this tragic event can lead to the guys uniting to record their tribute to Rick. He deserves it! Rick is gone, but his music will never be forgotten. R.I.P. and have a great gig in the sky!
Posted by Daniel Svensson at 3:55 PM GMT 17/09/2008 Report Abuse
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I heard the news from my wife, she's been in my life for 32 years, Rick and the Floyd have been there for 40. You were so important to me and so many of my friends. Farewell Rick, you live on in the music.
Posted by Mo....Western Australia at 5:19 PM GMT 17/09/2008 Report Abuse
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The 15th of September will be a sad day for years to come, but I would like to remember Rick as an inspiration for a whole generation of keyboard players, including myself.
Posted by Nico C. at 7:14 PM GMT 17/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Richard wright was in my opinion a genius. Highly original, profoundly creative and incredibly talented musician. Richard we will miss you more than you could ever know, the truly wonderful music that you made will be preserved for many generations to come, to listen to and enjoy. Your impact is immeasurable and you will forever be remembered and loved.
Posted by Gavin Jones at 9:15 PM GMT 18/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Richard Wright was in my opinion a genius. Highly original, profoundly creative and incredibly talented musician. Richard we will miss you more than you could ever know, the truly wonderful music that you made will be preserved for many generations to come, to listen to and enjoy. Your impact is immeasurable and you will forever be remembered and loved.
Posted by Gavin Jones at 9:16 PM GMT 18/09/2008 Report Abuse
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Hello to all,just joined the forum and to not be ghost user with no posts will post some USELESS joke :)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Smoking in the Rain"
Two old ladies were waiting for a bus and one of them was smoking a cigarette. It started to rain, so the old lady reached into her purse, took out a condom, cut off the tip and slipped it over her cigarette and continued to smoke.
Her friend saw this and said, "Hey that's a good idea! But, what is that thing you put over your cigarette?"
The other old lady said, "It's a condom."
"A condom? Where do you get those?"
The lady with the cigarette told her friend that you could purchase condoms at the pharmacy. When the two old ladies arrived downtown, the old lady with all the questions went into the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist if he sold condoms. The pharmacist said yes, but looked a little surprised that this old woman was interested in condoms, so he asked her, "What size do you want?"
The old lady thought for a minute and said, "One that will fit a Camel."
poor,poor Camel :) :)
Posted by jelena-nanana at 12:51 AM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:08 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:08 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:08 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:09 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:09 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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A very sad time for those who loved the contribution this man made to Pink Floyd. I wish Mr Wrights' family and friends well.'The Great Gig in the Sky' huh?
Posted by I. Rogers at 4:09 PM GMT 19/09/2008 Report Abuse
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My apologies.... I suggested listening to "Jigsaw" (been listening to lots of Radiohead lately too) when I meant "See-saw" - one of Rick's great tracks on the 2nd LP. I may also add "Any Colour You Like" to the list. What could have turned into a throw-away jam on Dark Side is lifted to higher status by Wright's very cool keyboard riffs. A synth pioneer who I hope left behind some more musical nuggets for us to discover. How 'bout it Dave?
Posted by Daniel Gibson at 3:44 PM GMT 21/09/2008 Report Abuse
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