User:Dabba A./Pink Floyd Personal

Pink Floyd were an English rock band who earned recognition for their psychedelic music in the late 1960s and, as they evolved in the 1970s, for their progressive rock music. Pink Floyd's work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album cover art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful acts, the group has sold over 200 million albums worldwide, including 74.5 million certified units in the United States.

Pink Floyd were formed in 1965, and originally consisted of university students Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, Syd Barrett, and briefly, Bob Klose. The group were a popular fixture on London's underground music scene, and under Barrett's leadership released two charting singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play", and a commercially and critically successful album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. In 1968, guitarist and singer David Gilmour joined the line-up, and Barrett was removed due to his increasingly erratic behaviour. Following Barrett's departure, bass player and singer Roger Waters became the lyricist and dominant figure in the band, which thereafter achieved worldwide critical and commercial success with the concept albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and rock opera The Wall.

Of all the personal changes Pink Floyd has undergone, only one member has been present since the band's start and that is drummer Nick Mason. Richard Wright was fired in 1979, and returned in 1987 first as a session musician, and by the start of the tour, a full time member once again. Roger Waters remained active until 1985 before citing Pink Floyd as a "spent force." However, the classic lineup of Pink Floyd featuring Gilmour, Waters, Mason, and Richard Wright reunited for the Live 8 performance on 2 July, 2005 for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Members
NOTE Pink Floyd did not officially exist until 1965. Dates given prior to 1965 refer to previous associations.
 * Member: David Gilmour
 * Years Active: 1968-1996
 * Instrument(s): lead guitar, vocals
 * Release Contributions: All Pink Floyd releases starting with A Saucerful of Secrets (1968


 * Member: Roger Waters
 * Years Active: 1964-1985
 * Instrument(s): guitar (1964), bass, vocals (1965-1985)
 * Release Contributions: All Pink Floyd albums through The Final Cut (1983)


 * Member: Nick Mason
 * Years Active: 1964-1996
 * Instrument(s): drums, percussion
 * Release Contributions: All Pink Floyd releases


 * Member: Richard Wright
 * Years Active: 1964-1981, 1987-1996
 * Instrument(s): keyboards, vocals
 * Release Contributions: All Pink Floyd Albums except The Final Cut (1983), appeared as session musician for A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987).


 * Member: Syd Barrett
 * Years Active: 1965-1968
 * Instrument(s): lead guitar, vocals
 * Release Contributions: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn(1967), A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)


 * Member: Bob "Rado" Klose
 * Years Active: 1964
 * Instrument(s): guitar
 * Release Contributions: none

Other Long Standing Members

 * Dick Parry-saxophones
 * Bob Ezrin-producer, occassional keyboards and synthesizers
 * Tim Renwick-guitar, vocals
 * Guy Pratt-bass guitar, vocals
 * Gary Walis-percussion
 * Roy Harper-vocals (sang on Have a Cigar from 1975's Wish You Were Here
 * Sam Brown-backing vocals
 * Claudia Fontaine-backing vocals
 * Claire Tory-vocals, backing vocals (vocals on Great Gig in the Sky)
 * Joe Carnin-keyboards, vocals, programming (appeared on 1987 and 1994 tours performing Roger Waters' parts)
 * Snowy White-acoustic and electric six and twelve string guitars, occassional vocals (for Wish You Were Here and Animals tours)