RIP: Richard Wright, Founding Member of Pink Floyd [1943-2008]
September 16th, 2008 by Alex
Today is a sad day indeed…
Richard Wright, a founding member of Pink Floyd (one of the best bands in the history of music), has died.
I’m a huge Pink Floyd fan, so this one really sucks.
My Dad first introduced me to their epic sounds and they’ve been at the top of my playlist ever since. I was lucky enough to see Pink Floyd perform in Giant’s Stadium, New Jersey for their Division Bell tour. It was fucking amazing.
They had this massive stage, the trademark gigantic trampoline overhead with all types of imagery being displayed, and some of the craziest props and light work I’ve ever seen. During a song from Animals, a massive inflatable pig appeared out of the stage and into the crowd. When they were playing a track from The Wall, a life-sized plane came from above the stadium, guided by a steel wire and other safety gear, and shot through the air, exploding in the empty seats behind the semi-circular stage.
Then for the finale… man it was crazy… a gigantic disco ball appeared from the stadium floor, in the center of the crowd, and rose above everyone, then hundreds of lasers focused on it as the music pulsated, bathing the entire stadium in color. It was intense.
So, back to the point, this is a rough one to write. Pink Floyd are one of the most influential bands in the history of music, and this is just another reminder of the un-interrupting flow of time. We’ve lost a small chunk of music innovation forever.
Rest in peace Rick, I’m listening to Animals right now and hoping you enjoy the great gig in the sky.
