Home » Jazz Musicians » Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd formed in 1964 from earlier bands whose names included Sigma 6, T-Set, Megadeaths, The Screaming Abdabs, The Architectural Abdabs, and The Abdabs. The band was again renamed The Pink Floyd Sound and then simply The Pink Floyd (after two blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council). The definite article was dropped by the time their debut album was released.

Pink Floyd originally consisted of Bob Klose (lead guitar), Syd Barrett (vocals, rhythm guitar), Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals), Roger Waters (bass, vocals) and Nick Mason (drums). They covered rhythm and blues staples such as 'Louie, Louie'. As Barrett started writing tunes more influenced by American surf music, psychedelic rock, and British whimsy, humour and literature, the heavily jazz-oriented Klose departed and left a rather stable foursome. The band formed Blackhill Enterprises, a six-way business partnership with their managers, Peter Jenner and Andrew King.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Released in 1967, the band's debut "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is considered to be a prime example of English psychedelic music. The album's tracks showcase an eclectic mixture of music, from the avant garde free form piece 'Interstellar Overdrive' to whimsical songs, such as 'Scarecrow', a melancholic song inspired by the Fenlands, the rural region surrounding Barrett's home town of Cambridge.

In 1968, guitarist David Gilmour joined the band to carry out the playing and singing duties of Barrett, whose mental health was deteriorating, but nevertheless was intended to remain as the band's figurehead and songwriter. With Barrett's behaviour becoming less and less predictable, and use of LSD almost constant, he became very unstable, often staring into space while the rest of the band performed. The band's live shows became increasingly ramshackle until, eventually, the other band members simply stopped taking him to the concerts.

Once Barrett's departure was formalised, Jenner and King decided to remain with him, and the six-way Blackhill partnership was dissolved.

Whilst Barrett had written the bulk of the first record, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), he contributed just one song 'Jugband Blues' to the second A Saucerful of Secrets (1968).

After the film soundtrack "More", the next record, the double album "Ummagumma" (part recorded at Mothers Rock Club, Birmingham, and in Manchester in 1969), was a mix of live recordings and unchecked studio experimentation by the band members, with each recording half a side of vinyl as a solo project (Mason's wife makes an uncredited contribution as a flautist).

Read more

Tags

7
Album Review

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon: 50th Anniversary Remaster (CD)

Read "The Dark Side of the Moon: 50th Anniversary Remaster (CD)" reviewed by Doug Collette


Following by roughly seven months the release of a mammoth box set issued in recognition of the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, the standalone (CD, vinyl and Blu-ray) remasters of the iconic group's eighth studio album are testament to the loyalty of the fanbase (not to mention the mercenary nature of staggered releases). And yet hearing the album with the benefit of hindsight, it's difficult to know what to make of ...

38
Extended Analysis

The Later Years: 1987-2019

Read "The Later Years: 1987-2019" reviewed by John Kelman


On January 10, 1994, Pink Floyd announced its upcoming North American tour in support of what would be its second studio album following the 1984 departure of bassist and band co-founder Roger Waters, The Division Bell (Columbia/EMI), a little more than two months before its release on March 28 of the same year. The first of two 196 foot-long, 67-foot high, 7,000 pound (without the helium) painted airships made a record-breaking, three-week trip from North Carolina to Los Angeles, with ...

5
Album Review

Pink Floyd: Obfusc/ation

Read "Obfusc/ation" reviewed by Doug Collette


Lavishly designed and annotated packages on the order of Pink Floyd's The Early Years (Sony-Legacy, 2016) would be meaningless if the enclosures didn't so warrant the concepts. But the fact of the matter is content on the high order of Obfusc/ation 1972 demands treatment comparable to a precious books in an extensive library. The set, one of six now available separately after being originally released as part of a set, stands on its own terms as a piece of history ...

24
Multiple Reviews

Roger Waters: The Wall Live

Read "Roger Waters: The Wall Live" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Roger Waters and Sean Evans Roger Waters the Wall Universal 2014 It is interesting how things from a distant past still resonate deeply with people even decades after they were first made and introduced. Pink Floyd's seminal album The Wall (EMI, 1979) was the pinnacle of this band's career, both artistically and commercially, arriving as a culmination after a decade of meteoric successes with one of the most successful recordings of ...

14
Film Review

Roger Waters: The Wall Documentary

Read "Roger Waters: The Wall Documentary" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Roger Waters and Sean Evans Roger Waters the Wall Rue 21 Productions 2014 It is interesting how things from a distant past still resonate deeply with people even decades after they were first made and introduced. Pink Floyd's seminal album The Wall (EMI, 1979) was the pinnacle of this band's career, both artistically and commercially, arriving as a culmination after a decade of meteoric successes with one of the most successful recordings ...

14
Book Review

Hipgnosis Portraits

Read "Hipgnosis Portraits" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Hipgnosis Portraits Aubrey Powell 288 pages ISBN: 0500517630 Thames & Hudson 2014 When I was a kid I used to regularly search through my uncle's vinyl collection and there was one particular photograph that continuously arrested my attention and imagination -the inner sleeves of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. (Harvest, 1975) The photograph of two people shaking hands while the other one of them was in flames was very fascinating and ...

14
Book Review

Rock Covers

Read "Rock Covers" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Rock Covers Jon Kirby, Robbie Busch 552 pages ISBN: 978-3836545259 Taschen 2014 Most common opinion is that fine art is something that can be found adorning the walls of galleries, studios or museums. But one of the most unusual places where interesting, engaging and groundbreaking art can be found is on various album covers. Many visual artists, throughout the years and regardless of genre, have created visual artworks for various ...

Read more articles
1

Event

Marcus Rezak & PR Productions Assemble An All-Star Lineup Ft. Members Of The Doors, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Motet & More For Friendsgiving Show At Troubadour In West Hollywood

Marcus Rezak & PR Productions Assemble An All-Star Lineup Ft. Members Of The Doors, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Motet & More For Friendsgiving Show At Troubadour In West Hollywood

Source: Michael Ricci

On Friday, November 25th, virtuosic guitarist Marcus Rezak will perform a special Friendsgiving show with an all-star lineup at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Presented by PR Productions, the three-set performance will feature Felix Pastorius (Hipster Assassins), Dave Watts (The Motet), Wally Ingram (Bob Weir/Phil Lesh), Adam MacDougall (Circles Around the Sun), Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (The Main Squeeze) with special appearances by Robby Krieger (The Doors), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa), Scott Page (Pink Floyd), ...

1

Event

Roger Waters Eyes "The Wall" Protest Concert On U.S. - Mexico Border

Roger Waters Eyes "The Wall" Protest Concert On U.S. - Mexico Border

Source: HypeBot

Roger Waters is considering staging a performance of Pink Floyd's 1979 classic “The Wall" on the US-Mexico border as a protest against the immigration policies of US President Donald Trump.  Waters has previously used the album as a protest tool, famously performing the work in Berlin in 1990 to commemorate the end of the Berlin wall in the previous year. Speaking to the Agence France-Presse news agency in London late last week, Pink Floyd co-founder Rogers noted that he felt ...

1

Music Industry

Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Puts Spotlight On Apple's Shortcomings, Looks To Spotify To Raise The Bar

Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Puts Spotlight On Apple's Shortcomings, Looks To Spotify To Raise The Bar

Source: HypeBot

In an interview with GQ, Pink Floyd's Nick Mason talks about Apple's failed release of U2's latest album Songs of Innocence“ and the implications it imposed. He was quick to clarify where he stood on the issue telling GQ, “Let me be completely clear about my position: if Apple had come to me and said, 'Nick, we want to release your album in exchange for £50m', I couldn't have thought of a better idea.' but Mason still believes Apple's execution ...

Recording

Gonzo Multimedia To Release Rare Albums By Sax Legend Gary Windo Featuring Robert Wyatt And Pink Floyd's Nick Mason

Gonzo Multimedia To Release Rare Albums By Sax Legend Gary Windo Featuring Robert Wyatt And Pink Floyd's Nick Mason

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

London, UK: To the great excitement of music fans worldwide, Gonzo Multimedia is releasing three rare albums by sax legend Gary Windo, one of which features Robert Wyatt and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason. Windo was a highly original musician with an instantly recognizable style, and was involved in the Seventies with many icons of the British jazz and rock genres, including the Canterbury scene. Windo was born in Brighton in 1941, into a musical family, and learned to play drums ...

47

Recording

Roger Waters: After Dark Side, Pink Floyd Was Just 'Clinging to the Trademark'

Roger Waters: After Dark Side, Pink Floyd Was Just 'Clinging to the Trademark'

Source: Something Else!

In some ways, time seems to have softened Roger Waters' feelings about his old band, at least based on comments he made Wednesday on the Howard Stern radio program. But he can still be brutally honest about their legacy. Waters, the creative engine behind Pink Floyd's multimedia smash hit The Wall, famously dragged the remaining members into court when they chose to continue recording under the band moniker without him in the 1980s—filing papers that called the group “a spent ...

130

Performance / Tour

Pink Floyd Tribute Show Childhood’s End to Perform at William Paterson University on December 3

Pink Floyd Tribute Show Childhood’s End to Perform at William Paterson University on December 3

Source: Michael Ricci

Childhood's End, a New York-based Pink Floyd tribute band, will perform at William Paterson University's Shea Center for Performing Arts in Wayne, N.J., as part of the Vistas Series on Saturday, December 3. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Tickets are available in advance or on the day of the performance at $25 for gold circle, $20 for orchestra, and $16 for loge. Discounts are available for William Paterson faculty, staff, students, and seniors. Call the box office for ...

80

Interview

A Chat with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason

A Chat with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason

Source: JamBase

By Dennis Cook Pink Floyd's music is WAY beyond mere entertainment or distraction. It's a skeleton key to unlocking things that are hard to put into words, and thus something fans keep close to the breast, cherished for its real world value and depth of understanding of the human condition. To call the band influential sells short the massive cultural ripples they've generated. Unlike many groups that emerged in the late 1960s, even the best ones, Pink Floyd's music doesn't ...

171

Recording

Have a Cigar!: Celebrating Pink Floyd's Massive New Reissue Project

Have a Cigar!: Celebrating Pink Floyd's Massive New Reissue Project

Source: Something Else!

Psych-rockers Pink Floyd and EMI are launching an exhaustive re-release campaign, beginning today. You could say that tickled us ... pink. Released under the banner “Why Pink Floyd?," the band will start by issuing remastered editions of all 14 of its albums, with a staggered schedule to follow of unreleased material from its archives for super-deluxe box sets. The remastered studio albums are available either separately or as a box set. To celebrate, we took a look back at a ...

93

Video / DVD

Pink Floyd: "The Greatest Gig in the Sky" Youtube Stream

Pink Floyd: "The Greatest Gig in the Sky" Youtube Stream

Source: JamBase

STREAM “THE GREATEST GIG IN THE SKY" FULL CONCERT FROM WEMBLEY 1974, WITH REMASTERED AND REMIXED AUDIO DIRECT FROM SOUNDBOARD As part of the “Why Pink Floyd?“ remasters campaign kicking off this week, fans can join Pink Floyd for a once-in-a-lifetime streaming event, “The Greatest Gig In The Sky," powered by YouTube. For the first time, you can hear The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, live at the Empire Pool, Wembley from the legendary gigs of November ...

98

Music Industry

Pink Floyd Week on Fallon: Pearl Jam, Foo, Shins, MGMT, Dierks

Pink Floyd Week on Fallon: Pearl Jam, Foo, Shins, MGMT, Dierks

Source: JamBase

FEATURING APPEARANCES BY ROGER WATERS AND NICK MASON; AND PERFORMANCES FEATURING THE SHINS, FOO FIGHTERS, MGMT, DIERKS BENTLEY AND PEARL JAM In the tradition of honoring great musicians, NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will devote the week of September 26-30 to celebrating the work of one of music's most influential rock bands, Pink Floyd. Each night, featured artists The Shins, Foo Fighters, MGMT, Dierks Bentley and Pearl Jam, will pay tribute to Pink Floyd's rock 'n' roll legacy by ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Dark Side of the...

Pink Floyd Records
2023

buy

The Later Years:...

Legacy Recordings
2019

buy

Obfusc/ation

Sony Music
2017

buy

The Endless River

Parlophone
2014

buy

Pink Floyd: The...

Parlophone
2014

buy

The Division Bell

Capitol Records
1994

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.