[quote]Pink Floyd Keyboardist Richard Wright Passes Away at 65
Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright has died aged 65 from cancer.
Wright appeared on the group’s first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.
Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly afterwards.
Wright penned songs on classic albums including Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.
Wright’s spokesman said: "The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.
“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
Wright is survived by his third wife Millie, to whom he was married since 1996, and their son Ben.[/quote]
Oh my God, this is such sad news. I didn’t even know he had cancer
I can’t believe Rick Wright has passed away, I’m devastated. He was responsible for the signature sound and atmosphere of Pink Floyd. Without him, there is no Pink Floyd. I was fortunate enough to see him perform at the Royal Albert Hall during David Gilmour’s On An Island Tour in 2006, and Wright was absolutely amazing. He especially blew me away with his note-for-note perfection of Great Gig in the Sky and Echoes. He received the longest and loudest standing ovation by far from any of the other Floyd members I have seen over the years, he was definitely the most loved. You have your Gilmour Vs Waters thing, but EVERYONE loved and respected Wright.
I’m listening to what is probably my favourite Rick Wright piece, here’s the link - <LINK_TEXT text=“- YouTube … re=related”>- YouTube</LINK_TEXT> it’s the bit starting at 2:53, I always listen to it when I’m feeling particularly down, well I’m listening to it again now and it’s bringing tears to my eyes. So beautiful.
My thoughts are with Rick’s family, friends and those who knew him at this unfortunate time.
Yep, with the death of Wright, Pink Floyd has died with him. Anything else would be a measly comparison.
I’m still taking this news in, and have listened to his solo on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (part 9) over and over. The particular version I’m listening to is the one they performed at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on 6th July 1977 (which incidentally was the night of the infamous Roger Waters spitting incident). If you want to here it, it’s on this website http://www.floydpodcast.com/. Search for show #50 called “Oink Oink Roof Roof Baa”. Right -click the pod icon and “save as”. The part I’m talking about is from 2h:01m:00s (43mins from the end). It’s actually David Gilmour playing part 9 with his guitar as opposed to Wright on his keyboard as it is in the album version. It’s so poignant and seems fitting as a Gilmour tribute towards Wright, in the same way the album version is a Wright tribute to Syd Barrett (who of course is the other deceased Floyd member). The crowd are particularly respondent towards this version, recognising it’s brilliance. Very emotional.
I was really looking forward to going to the next Gilmour concert, and having Wright there beside him like the 2006 concerts. Wright’s passing will definitely take something away from Gilmour’s sound, but then again it will add more emotionality to it. I mean the way Shine On You Crazy Diamond evolved after Syd’s passing is particularly remarkable and moving. I can imagine the overwhelming emotion if Gilmour (or Waters) chooses to perform a Wright song in the future.
I’ve pre-ordered “David Gilmour: Live in Gdansk”. Seeing Wright on there will no-doubt make us Floyd fans teary-eyed. :-</E>
Pink Floyd songwriter, vocalist and guitarist David Gilmour has paid tribute to the band’s founding member Richard Wright, who died aged 65.
Gilmour said: "No one can replace Richard Wright. He was my musical partner and my friend.
“In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick’s enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound.”
He continued: "I have never played with anyone quite like him. The blend of his and my voices and our musical telepathy reached their first major flowering in 1971 on Echoes.
"In my view all the greatest PF moments are the ones where he is in full flow. After all, without Us And Them and The Great Gig In The Sky, both of which he wrote, what would The Dark Side Of The Moon have been?
"Without his quiet touch the Album Wish You Were Here would not quite have worked.
"In our middle years, for many reasons he lost his way for a while, but in the early 90s, with The Division Bell, his vitality, spark and humour returned to him and then the audience reaction to his appearances on my tour in 2006 was hugely uplifting and it’s a mark of his modesty that those standing ovations came as a huge surprise to him, (though not to the rest of us).
“Like Rick, I don’t find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously.”
:-</E>