Roger Waters Is 75 Today

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters (born as George Roger Waters in 1943) has turned 75 today.  He has been the band's bassist and songwritter between 1965 and 1985. Waters wrote several prominent songs from the record The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979), and The Final Cut (1983) before leaving in 1985 with what he called a "spent force." 

Roger Waters met Nick Mason (drums) whilst studying architecture at London Polytechnic (now London Metropolitan University). The first precursor to Pink Floyd was called Sigma 6. It consisted of guitarists Roger Waters and Rick Wright (at the time there wasn't much of an opportunity for Wright to play keys), drummer Nick Mason, Clif Metcaife, Keith Noble, and Keith Noble's sister as the vocalist. That band primarily rehearsed in a teahouse in the Polytechnic University basement.

Eventually Rado "Bob" Klose came on as a guitarist which resulted in Waters switching to bass. At this point founders Metcaife and Noble were out as was Noble's sister. The band now became The Tee Set. (some sournces say TEA Set). 

Syd Barrett was the next to come on which resulted in Klose's eventual exit. The band also changed its name to the Pink Floyd Sound. The "Pink Floyd" part being derived from blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Barrett by now had become their frontman and the band played in clubs (mostly RnB of the day). 

In 1966, Peter Jenner became their manager and the word Sound was dropped from Pink Floyd Sound. Their debut album was released in 1967 The Piper at The Gates of Dawn. It featured Barrett-composed records See Emily Play, Bike, and Astrononmy Domine. During late 1967 David Gilmour was added (guitar/vocals) and he played on their 1968 record A Saucerful of Secrets featuring the hit song Set the Controls For The Heart of The Sun.

From the late 60s through the 70s, Pink Floyd became what they are now most remembered for - a band with experimental sound and intriguing (sometimes philosphical) lyrics. The 1970 and 1971 records Atom Heart Mother and Meddle are seen as transition albums with the former featuring the instrumental One of These Days and the latter featuring hits Fearless, and Echoes. Also by 1967, Barrett was let go from the band and the Gilmour-Mason-Waters-Wright lineup is seen by many as the "classsic lineup." 

It was between 1972 and 1980 that a string of commercial albums were released exploring life in general and personality types (that seen on 1977's Animals). Ultimately in 1979 was released Pink Floyd's finest work which showcased Waters control of the band. One of their signature songs Another Brick in The Wall was released from the album and a hit in the late 70s/early 80s.  It was unusual for being a dance record seeing as how most of Pink Floyd's music cannot really be danced to. The movie released several years later and based on the rock opera, was also a success.

Other notable classics from that day include Time, Money, (1973), Shine on You Crazy Diamond (a lengthy number as an homage to Syd Barrett, Have a Cigar (featuring folk singer Roy Harper and the only number not to be sung by any of Pink Floyd's members)

Roger Waters worked on the 1983 record The Final Cut as his last Pink Floyd record. He launched a solo career shortly thereafter but still plays Pink Floyd's songs live in concert (in fact he did a feew renditions of The Wall noteably in 1990 with the falling of the Berlin Wall and then again in 09/2010 for the 30th anniversary). May I say that I regret not going to The Wall tour eight years ago. Next year, I hope he tours for the album's 40th anniversary and if he does, I'll be sure to go!

As for Floyd they reconvened as a threesome in 1986 with Gilmour taking the wheel. For the next ten years from then they released two new albums A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987 featuring Learning to Fly, One Slip, and On The Turning Away), and The Division Bell (1994) featuring Keep Talking, What Do You Want From Me?, and High Hopes. They have disbanded since 1996 but came back in 2014 (surprisingly) to record and issue The Endless River. 

As of 2015, Gilmour has said that Pink Floyd are done. However he and Roger still tour regularly and just like Waters, Gilmour incorporates many Pink Floyd songs into his setlists. The two have even appeared together several times on stage, but Gilmour says (and I quote) that "It just doesn't feel right to do it without Rick Wright." (and would be impossible, may I say, given the complexity of their music). Floyd did rencovene in their classic lineup for the 2005 LIve 8 shows in London. 


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