What do you think of when you hear the name Pink Floyd or the words Pink Floyd songs? Is it their experimental sound or profound lyrics? Perhaps it’s their elaborate live shows. No doubt, Pink Floyd is one of the most famous bands in the world. Here we’ll take a journey through the band’s career including the early years, personal struggles, key discography, and how they became progressive rock legends. Let’s get into it!
Formation of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s story begins at London Polytechnic, where members Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright met while studying architecture. They enjoyed a shared interest in blues rock music, forming the band “The Tea Set” alongside guitarist Robert Klose. When Klose quit the band to focus on school, he was replaced by Syd Barrett.
In 1965 the band rebranded itself as Pink Floyd after discovering another band called “The Tea Set”. Sid Barrett came up with the name. He did this by combining the names of two blues musicians he really liked – Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Two years after becoming Pink Floyd, the band signed with EMI Records.
Their popularity continued to grow in 1967 with the release of their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It reached No. 6 on the UK charts, with Barrett writing all but three tracks. “Flaming” was the only single released in the United States.
Personal Struggles
Unfortunately, as the band became more successful, Syd Barrett’s behavior became more erratic. It was clear to everyone within the band that he was dealing with mental health struggles. By the end of 1967, his behavior led to a tipping point for the band, and they added David Gilmour as a second guitarist. This provided the group with some stability and contributed to the evolution of Pink Floyd’s sound. However, the stability proved only temporary when Barrett officially left the band in 1968, leaving the burden of lyrical composition and creative direction to Waters.
In Barrett’s absence, the group released their second studio album, A Saucerful of Secrets. This album actually contains Barrett’s last contribution to the band “Jugband Blues”.
Refining their Sound
The Ummagumma album was released in 1969. Disc one of the album contained live recordings of the band’s music, while the second disc contained individual recordings from each band member. This album documented the band’s journey from psychedelic to more progressive sounds. It peaked at No. 5 on the UK charts.
1970 saw the release of Atom Heart Mother. An album that Gilmour reportedly wasn’t fond of. However, it was Pink Floyd’s first number-one album, and very successful in Britain, spending 18 weeks on the UK chart. Pink Floyd achieved a noteworthy accomplishment in their discography with the release of Meddle in 1971. NME called it “an exceptionally good album”, singling out the song “Echoes” as the “Zenith which the Floyd have been striving for”.
Their next album, Obscured by Clouds, was used as the musical score for a French film called La Vallée. The album’s work contrasted greatly with previous work, encompassing short, country music-inspired tracks. The closing instrumental on the album ends with a recording of the Mapuga tribe chanting, as seen in the film.
The Golden Era
Pink Floyd’s success reached new heights in the mid-1970s with a collection of albums that would shape their lasting impact. The first was the revolutionary concept album The Dark Side of the Moon. Often called one of the greatest albums of all time, the album highlights the band’s struggle with fame and addresses mental health issues of Barrett. Its sound experimentation was also unmatched at the time. Alan Parsons, head engineer, used techniques such as double-tracking vocals and guitars for harmonization. In fact, he was even nominated for a Grammy for his work on the album. It lives on as one of the top albums that shaped music history, as well as one of the best album covers of all time.
In 1975, as a sincere homage to Syd Barrett, the band released Wish You Were Here. The album contained themes of absence, isolation, and the effects of fame. Standout songs on the album include “Wish You Were Here” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
Animals, an album released in 1977, featured politically charged themes. Waters used George Orwell’s Animal Farm as his muse for the album – drawing comparisons between classes in society and farm animals.
In 1979, the band released The Wall, a rock opera that centers around a jaded rocker named Pink. The character draws inspiration from Waters’ own upbringing, most notably his father passing away in World War II. As the story builds, Pink becomes a drug addict, depressed by the music industry. He eventually transforms into a megalomaniac, a development inspired by Barrett’s decline. The album was another smash hit for the band.
Departure and New Beginnings
The Final Cut was a fitting name for the band’s next album, as it signaled the last album Waters would make with Pink Floyd. Then, to add insult to injury, shortly after he left he sued the rest of the band members. This was an effort to prevent them from touring under the name Pink Floyd without him. The battle was ultimately settled out of court but understandably created bad blood among the bandmates making them one of the most prominent feuding bands. Waters later stated to BBC that he regretted his decision to sue the band.
In 1987, A Momentary Lapse of Reason was a Pink Floyd album released after Waters left the group. The album marked a transitional phase for the group, as Gilmour and Mason were charged with carrying the band’s name forward. This album featured a more polished and commercially accessible sound. It blended progressive rock with elements of pop and electronic music.
With the passing of keyboardist Richard Wright, Pink Floyd also released The Endless River in 2014. Unreleased recordings from their 1993 Division Bell sessions were included on the album.
The Impact and Legacy of Pink Floyd
The influence of Pink Floyd on the music industry cannot be minimized. Their creative approach to music production and sheer willingness to push limits makes them one of the greatest bands of all time. Not only did they shape the future of progressive rock, but rock altogether.
Their body of work continues to sell millions of copies, as well as millions of streams. Their influence can be heard in many of today’s greatest artists including David Bowie and Radiohead. They are truly titans of rock music.
