Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright Dies at 65 (Photos)
Posted on September 15, 2008
Richard Wright has died at the age of 65 after battling cancer, his spokesman said. Rick Wright is a founding member and keyboard player for Pink Floyd. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd made a statement about Wright’s death. Read more about Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright’s death and see more photos after the bump.
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Richard “Rick” Wright has died, Wright was the keyboard player for Pink Floyd, and wrote for albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.
His spokesman said: “The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness, that Richard died … after a short struggle with cancer. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
Rick Wright was a keyboardist, songwriter, and founding member of Pink Floyd that passed away after what was, according to David Gilmour “a short struggle with cancer.”
In a blog posting, Gilmour writes: “I’m so sorry to break the sad news that Richard has passed away after a battle with cancer.
“I really don’t know what to say other than that he was such a lovely, gentle, genuine man and will be missed terribly by so many who loved him.
“And that’s a lot of people. Did he not get the loudest, longest round of applause at the end of every show in 2006?”
Wright’s spokesman did not specify what type of cancer the star had been suffering from, but it’s sad news at such a young age.
The self-taught keyboardist and pianist met fellow band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason while at architecture school. He was a founder member of The Pink Floyd Sound in 1965, and the group’s previous incarnations, such as Sigma 6.
The early Pink Floyd featured Rick Wright, along with Syd Barrett. The Great Gig In The Sky, and Us And Them, both from 1973’s seminal Dark Side Of The Moon album, were his most well-known compositions. He also made essential contributions to Atom Heart Mother, Echoes and Shine On You Crazy Diamond, the tribute to former band member Barrett.
Richard Wright left Pink Floyd after tension with Roger Waters. Wright was retained as a salaried session musician during live concerts in 1980 and 1981. In 1983, Pink Floyd released the only album in which Wright does not appear - The Final Cut.
Wright played with the surviving members of Pink Floyd in 2005 at Live 8. He also performed at a tribute concert to Barrett last year, but Waters and Gilmour, who had a falling out more than 25 years ago, appeared separately. Wright had performed on every Pink Floyd tour.
Richard Wright re-joined Pink Floyd following the departure of Waters and contributed vocals and keyboards to the 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. In 1994, he co-wrote five songs on The Division Bell album, singing lead vocals on the track Wearing The Inside Out.
Condolences to his friends and family!
See video of Richard Wright with Pink Floyd below:







6 comments

[...] Richard Wright [...]
Bummer dude. I’ve played Dark Side and watched Wizard of Oz a bunch of times.
The Nuttcups loved Pink Floyd: http://tinyurl.com/6nesof
I was so saddened to hear this. RIP Rick. Thanks for everything!
My friend made this playlist in memoriam http://www.redux.com/playlist/pink_floyds_richard_wright_in_memoriam .
A sad day for Floyd fans. I posted a tribute at my blog, at http://isorski.blogspot.com/2008/09/pink-floyds-richard-wright-passes-at-65.html. I have Shine On going right now and it’s tremendous.
SO THERE IS NO REUNION NOW?
what a sad day, my prayers are with his family and close friends.
shine on richard RIP.