One of the founding members of Pink Floyd, Richard Wright (above right), died Monday at his home in Britain after a long battle with cancer.
He was 65.
Doug Wright, Pink Floyd’s spokesman and of no relation to the artist, said that the family wished to release no further details.
Wright met Roger Waters and Nick Mason in college, when Pink Floyd was known as Sigma 6. Pink Floyd materialized in 1965 with fourth member the late Syd Barrett and quickly became a London psychedelic scene favorite with their jazz-infused rock and trippy multimedia happenings.
Wright played an instrumental role in the music’s development, assisting heavily on some of the band’s most epic creations, such as “Shine On Your Crazy Diamond.” After a string of commercially and critically celebrated albums, including but not limited to 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” tensions arose between Waters, Wright, and David Gilmour. During production of “The Wall” that tension resulted in Wright’s gradual departure from the band.
Wright went on to release one album with a new band called Zee, as well as two solo albums. After Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985, Wright joined the remaining members to record two more albums as Pink Floyd. After 25 years apart, the entire band reunited in 2005 to perform at the “Live 8” charity concert in London.
Here’s wishing Wright the best at “The Great Gig in the Sky.”
[Image via AP Images.]