Emerging from the 1960's psychedelic movement, Pink Floyd established themselves early with a timelessness that sounds as current today as it did 40 years ago. Deriving their name from two blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, original members Sid Barrett, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright recorded their debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. The band added guitarist David Gilmour to the line-up in 1968 to compensate for the lack of solid contribution by Sid Barrett due to declining mental health, which eventually lead to his complete departure. Three highly experimental albums followed, Saucerful of Secrets, Ummagumma, and Atom Heart Mother before the band finally matured creating the infamous lumbering, spacey Pink Floyd sound that we find so recognizable today. The band realized tremendous commercial and financial success throughout the 1970's with Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. Dark Side of the Moon spent 742 weeks (14 years) on the Billboard 200 album chart, a record breaking feat far surpassing all other acts. This huge success led to quite a bit of feuding over artistic direction, especially between Gilmour and Waters. In 1985, Roger Waters declared Pink Floyd "a spent force" and departed the band to pursue a solo career. Gilmour, Waters and Mason continued to tour as Pink Floyd and recorded twon more albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. Waters rejoined the band in 2005 for one show at London Live 8. Rick Wright died of cancer on September 15th of this year. Richard, you will be sorely missed!
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