Richard Wright has gone to that Great Gig in the Sky

Posted by Josh Rosenau on September 15, 2008
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The keyboardist for Pink Floyd passed away today. He was 65, and had been through a long battle with cancer.

He wrote several of the band’s famous songs, including Great Gig In The Sky and Us And Them, both from Dark Side Of The Moon.

Hopes for a reunion of Pink Floyd were technically shattered several years ago, when Syd Barrett, the original vocalist, died. But he left the group before its greatest successes, and there were always hopes that the estrangement between principal songwriter Roger Waters and the remaining bandmates could be resolved.

Waters performed with guitarist David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright in 2005′s Live 8 concert. Asked whether there was a chance of repeating that performance, Gilmour reportedly replied “Never again.”

“The Great Gig In The Sky” by Pink Floyd from the album Dark Side Of The Moon (1973, 4:44).

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Comments

  1. #1 John K
    September 15, 2008

    Thanks for mentioning Richard Wright. One correction, his battle with cancer was short, not long. What vague details do exist would lead one to believe that is was swift.

  2. #2 Jeb, FCD
    September 15, 2008

    Saw them live in New Orleans supporting The Division Bell. Despite Waters’ comment, I always held out hope that one day I would see Pink Floyd live again…alas.

  3. #3 Jerry
    September 15, 2008

    Rick Wright is immortalized by the very first notes of Echoes. Brilliant simplicity.

  4. #4 JYB
    September 15, 2008

    I’m 28 and grew up on gangster rap. I thought you were talking about the author of Native Son and Black Boy. I was pretty confused since I was sure he died a long time ago.

  5. #5 Reginald
    September 16, 2008

    Pink Floyd is never going to die – Richard Wright is as close to immortality as you can get honestly.