I just found out some bad news today. I am sure that some of you rock music fanatics already heard this news as pertains to a major band in rock history.
Original member of Pink Floyd Richard Wright passed away today after a battle with cancer. He was 65 years old.
I am not as big of a fan as I used to be of Pink Floyd. When I was a kid (it’s true, I was young once) I discovered my father’s record collection and soon became a fan of Pink Floyd. It was my first taste of a different more psychedelic rock music and I really enjoyed the fact that people I became friends with liked them as well. It gave me something to relate to others with.
Being a fan of Pink Floyd was cool. In the beginning stages I had no idea the songs were drug laced. I soon found up growing up though that they were.
Throughout the years I became a little burnt out over them because I listened to them so much. My friends listened to them so much. When we hung out in the parks the hippies would take out their guitars and play Pink Floyd and all the inebriated would since along…it became a tad too much. In fact I to this day can not even listen to The Wall or Dark Side Of The Moon as I listened to both albums so much growing up I made myself become sick of them.
If the radio plays “Money” or any other song that might be on both of those albums I have to change the station. I just can’t do it. I’d rather listen to Tesla.
That’s not to say I am not somewhat remotely a fan of Pink Floyd. Deep down inside of me there still is some love for Pink Floyd. Once in a while a Pink Floyd track will grace my iPod and I will listen to it (I deleted the two albums I overexerted off my playlists so that I would not be exposed to the songs I grew tired of).
To hear that a musical icon like Richard Wright passed away of course adds some sadness to my day. His name may not have been as well recognized as David Gilmour, Roger Walters, Nick Mason or even the late Syd Barrett, but he was still a major part of that band.
From the Pink Floyd website:
Richard Wright
15 Sep 2008
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.
Richard Wright
Born 28 July 1943 (65)
For more info about his passing check out articles about it found on Yahoo Music or on the Associated Press.