Planet Rock, The UK's Classic Rock Station

PINK FLOYD'S RICK WRIGHT DIES

15th September 2008

Richard Wright, keyboard player with Pink Floyd has died aged 65.

A statement from his family reads:

"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."

Bandmates David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Nick Mason have all paid tribute to Rick.

Click Here To Read David's Tribute

Click Here To Read Roger & Nick's Tributes

Richard Wright was one of the four founding members of Pink Floyd alongside two of his College friends, Roger Waters and Nick Mason, and eccentric musician Syd Barrett.

Rick’s influence on the band’s early sound is often overlooked in favour of Syd’s wild experimentation, but his early drive and songwriting contributions are just as important to the legacy of Pink Floyd as that of any member in the early days.

The distinctive keyboard sound that gave a stunning backdrop to the band’s most influential albums was entirely invented by Wright, and his ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ and ‘Us and Them’ from 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon remain to this day two of Floyd’s most iconic works.

After falling out with Roger Waters during The Wall sessions, Rick left the group briefly only to return as a session musician for the album and on the subsequent tour. He would not take part in the band’s Final Cut album in 1982.

When Waters left Floyd Rick immediately rejoined the group for two more studio albums, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason and the excellent Division Bell as well as the hugely successful PULSE tour and album.

Away from his Pink Floyd day job Rick released two solo albums during his career – 1978’s Wet Dream and 1996’s Broken China. Both are real gems and are well worth seeking out.

And then in 2006 the unthinkable happened when Wright, Mason and Gilmour buried the hatchet with Roger Waters as Pink Floyd reunited for a widely praised performance at Live 8.

In recent years, Rick has played keyboards in David Gilmour’s studio and touring bands alongside Planet Rock presenters Phil Manzanera and Guy Pratt (who is married to Rick’s daughter Gala).

Rick’s final recorded contribution is on the excellent forthcoming Live In Gdansk album and DVD, where you can hear him playing many of the Pink Floyd classics that he helped to create alongside his good friend and bandmate for over 40 years, David Gilmour.

And on 15 September, Richard Wright passed away after a short struggle with cancer.

He will be hugely missed and our thoughts go out to Rick’s family at this time.

Rick Wright, 1943 - 2008