Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright died of cancer today at 65, according to Reuters:
“The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer,” his spokesman said in a statement.
“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
My condolences to Richard’s family and friends. For what it’s worth, “Wish You Were Here” is one of my top favorite albums of all time.
Thanks to the surprising amount of Floyd fans who wrote in. Nice to know a decent chunk of you out there listen to good music. Rest in Peace, Rick.
Photo: The Richard Wright Archives
What a bummer! They were and are one of the greatest groups out there. They still rock my IPod. A very sad day indeed.
#91 I am not doubting the deep connection people have with the lyrics, I have many of my own as Floyd was a huge influence in my taste and appreciation for good music, but if anything I think they should along with the music serve to influence people to their own means of expression.
#95 Why such a personal attack? I did not attack individuals, I just think as a whole we should write our own feelings through our words and not borrow others. They are much more than their lyrics, they deserve something more, for instance… #98′s “may you play for the angels now” is much more moving in my opinion than restating a bit of lyrics.
Why can’t we play today? Why can’t we stay that way? Why can’t we reach the sun? The Floyd were at their best in their Barrett/art nouveau/psychedelic/UFO period. They were incomparably glamourous, beautifully dressed(of incidental importance, of course) immensely talented and original. They, along with the Kinks, were very British bright young things. Their first three albums (Piper, Saucerful and the soundtrack from “More”) are glorious artifacts from a time before punks, thugs and material girls ruled the charts. Rick, along with Ray Davies, Mitch Mitchell, The Move, Creation and a few others (Tracey Nelson, anybody?) remains vastly underrated. See Emily Play a true masterpiece), Lucifer Sam, Matilda Mother, Paint Box, Julia Dream, Apples and Oranges: pure joy, golden dim Pre-Raphaelite dreamtime gifts for Christmas on Earth and Easter Everywhere. Wish you (and Syd) were here…
Pink Floyd are now DEAD!
Wright was an ESSENTIAL figure in the music of Floyd and transended his technical limitations, when compared to Wakeman/Emerson, by creating textures that aspired to the ethereal.
He brought the sounds of church to ones ears { Cirrus Minor, Cellestial Voices} and possesed a trademark sound that few, if any, would try and replicate.
As Gilmour said, he was a VITAL component of Pink Floyd and did infact carry the whole band for atleast 2 years after Syd’s departure.
He was a vehicle for the celestial voice inside all of us and an inspiration to anyone who feels limited in themselves or their creations.
RIP Richard Wright, trancender, and teacher of many!
”so…so you think you can tell…heaven from hell…blue skies from pain…can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail, a smile from a veil, do you think you can tell” one of my all time favorite songs…rest in peace
Rick has gone to the Great Gig In the Sky, and the rock world has lost a great member of the community. I am happy he did not suffer long, and sad to see one of the founding members of Pink Floyd pass. Now he and Sid can party on!!
Someone punch #1 in the throat.
Then again… we are on The Superficial.
I’m glad you post up important shit every once in a while…
Son of a fuckin bitch.. First George Carlin.. now this… what the hell fuck.
I can’t wait for the youtube tribute
Rick Right RIP
D:
Damn it, Rick, you left us too soon. RIP.
Rick,
You will be sadly missed by music lovers everywhere.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go, like
waves briefly touching the shore.
Some people stay for a while, and give us a deeper
understanding of what is truly important in this life.
They touch our souls, as we gain strength from the
footprints they have left on our hearts; we are never,
ever, the same”
I know I didn’t know him personally, but Pink Floyd’s music does that, it makes you feel like you do. The lyrics and the instrumentation embeds into your brain and you’re never the same again.
R.I.P. Richard Wright, you will be greatly missed.
Play that Great Gig In The Sky with all your heart.
Syd Barrett was the founding member…..
It was years ago I saw them in what was the king dome . they were like no other music live .
god take him home and sit him down with good old sid and listen to the music of pure bliss.
he is loved and never will be forgotten take good care of our friend …
May you rest in peace Rick… since my father’s early teens to my life now a days you have filled our life’s with you band’s music and your emotions as a human and musician.
You can now rest, and deserve to, after a life well lived.
Cheers for Mr Rick Wright
Comment 46 David Gilmour
You are an ignorant worthless sack. Nursery rhymes? Syd Barret. Listen here, popinjay, you haven’t the slighest clue about songwriting. The essence is in the simplicity. Simplicity is the ultimate challenge. You know why? Because simplicity is honest and ego-less.
As far as your idiotic comment about Roger and American politics. I’m a musician and political science grad. You’re a reactionary embryo. Everyone in the world should opine about American politics. You know why? Because American foreign policy affects the world.
Embryo, you how I got into Floyd? Arabs bro. The same people that are being used for target practice by Americans and Israelis. This is no criticism of the American soldier. It’s a criticism of Cheney, Wolffowitz, Perle and all those cowards who use American soldiers as guinea pigs for their little political experiments.
I suggest you eat a thick slice of humble pie.
I am 40 and thats considered a young Pink Floyd fan and I just want all the young people to know how good they were and are and look up David Gilmour and Roger Waters. They formed all types of different music drom the 60′s until now you should see them when they were young go to you tube and put in See Emily Play, this is when they were young and very good looking, David Gilmour to me everysong he ever did was worth buying every cd he ever made and I will be getting some Dvd’s for christmas, now I need to ffind a way to get Roger and David over to my house and jam! I love them all in the band, rest in peace Mr. Richard Wright. Love Paula from Cincinnati, Ohio