Richard Wright (musician)
Richard Wright | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Richard William Wright |
Also known as | Rick Wright |
Born | [1] Hatch End, Middlesex, England[1] | 28 July 1943
Died | 15 September 2008 London, England | (aged 65)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1962[2]–2008 |
Labels | |
Formerly of | |
Website | rickwright |
Richard William Wright (28 July 1943 – 15 September 2008) was an English musician who co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He played keyboards and sang, appearing on almost every Pink Floyd album and performing on all their tours.[3] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 as a member of Pink Floyd.
Wright grew up in
Initially contributing more as a singer-songwriter, Wright later acted mainly as an
Wright's
Early life
Wright, whose father was head
At Regent Street Polytechnic, Wright met fellow musicians Roger Waters and Nick Mason, and all three joined a band formed by their classmate Clive Metcalf called Sigma 6.[2] Wright's position was initially tenuous, as he did not choose a definitive instrument, playing piano if a pub had one, otherwise settling on rhythm guitar or trombone.[6][7]
Wright moved with Waters and Mason into a house in Stanhope Gardens, Highgate, and they began serious rehearsals to become a professional group. Although Mason and Waters were competent students, Wright found architecture of little interest and after only a year of study moved to the London College of Music.[2] He took a break from studies and travelled to Greece for a sabbatical. Their landlord, Mike Leonard, purchased a Farfisa electric organ and briefly replaced Wright in the band.[8] However, this organ became Wright's main instrument.[9]
Career
1960s–1970s: Pink Floyd
Through a friend, Wright arranged Pink Floyd's first recording session in a West Hampstead studio, just before Christmas 1964.[10] The guitarist Bob Klose and the guitarist and singer Syd Barrett joined the band, which became Pink Floyd.[11] Wright's first solo song, "You're the Reason Why", appeared in 1964 on Decca as the B-side of a single by Adam, Mike and Tim.[12]
Pink Floyd stabilised with Barrett, Waters, Mason and Wright by mid-1965, and after frequent gigging that year became regulars on the underground circuit in London.
Pink Floyd released their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in 1967. Though not credited, Wright sang lead on the Barrett-written songs "Astronomy Domine" and "Matilda Mother".[17] Examples of his early compositions include "Remember a Day", "See-Saw", "Paint Box" and "It Would Be So Nice".[18][19]
Wright was close friends with Barrett, and at one point the pair shared a flat in
Following Barrett's replacement by David Gilmour, Wright took over some songwriting, but gradually became less involved.[23] His keyboard playing remained an integral part of the band's live set, particularly on "Interstellar Overdrive", "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Careful with That Axe, Eugene".[24] He contributed themes for Pink Floyd's film scores for More, Zabriskie Point and Obscured by Clouds. He made significant arranging contributions to longer compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother", "Echoes" (on which he sang lead vocals with Gilmour) and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". On 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon, he composed the music for "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them".[25] He also contributed to the composition of tracks such as "Time", for which he sang lead, and "Breathe".[26]
Late 1970s–early 1980s: Conflict and departure from Pink Floyd
Wright recorded his first solo album, Wet Dream, in early 1978 in Super Bear Studios, France, which featured the Pink Floyd touring guitarist Snowy White and the former King Crimson saxophonist Mel Collins.[27] Several songs on the album refer to his holiday home in Lindos.[28] The album was released in September to minimal commercial success.[29]
Wright's contributions diminished in the late 1970s as Waters began to dominate the writing process. Animals (1977) was the first Pink Floyd album without songwriting credits for Wright.[30] By the time the group recorded The Wall in 1979, Waters had become frustrated that Wright was not contributing but was claiming an equal share of production royalties. Wright refused to catch up on the recording backlog as his first marriage had deteriorated and he had not seen enough of his children, deciding family was more important.[31] He said later: "Both myself and Dave… had little to offer, through laziness or whatever. Looking back, although I didn't realise it, I was depressed."[32]
Waters considered suing Wright, but decided it would be easier for Wright to leave at the end of the project.[33] Wright spoke with Gilmour, who said he would back him to stay in the band but felt he had contributed little to the album. Wright agreed to leave, but would finish the album and accompanying tour.[34] Waters, Gilmour, producer Bob Ezrin, composer Michael Kamen and session player Fred Mandel also played keyboard parts on The Wall.[33] Wright generally went into the studio late at night when the other band members were not there.[35] He was not credited for his parts on the first pressings on the album, which was later corrected.[36]
Wright's departure from Pink Floyd was not publicly confirmed until years later.
Wright was the only member of Pink Floyd to profit from the Wall tour, since the net loss had to be borne by the band members.
1983–1995: Zee and return to Pink Floyd
During 1983–1984, Wright formed a musical duo, Zee, with Dave Harris of the band Fashion. The pair had been introduced by a mutual friend, the saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft.[27] They signed a record deal with EMI Records and released only one album, Identity, which was a commercial and critical failure.[3][41] Wright later referred to Zee as "an experiment best forgotten".[27]
After Waters' departure in 1985, Wright began to contribute to Pink Floyd again, beginning with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987). However, he remained a salaried musician as his contract forbade him from rejoining as a member.[42][43] On the album credits, Wright was listed among the other session musicians and his photo did not appear on the inner sleeve with Gilmour and Mason.[42][44]
By 1994, Wright had officially rejoined Pink Floyd.
1996–2005: Broken China and reunion with Waters
In 1996, inspired by his successful input into The Division Bell, Wright released his second solo album, Broken China, which had been co-written with Moore, who also helped with production and engineering. The album covers the theme of depression and helped Wright come to terms with seeing his wife and friends affected by it.[48] Contributions came from the bassist Pino Palladino, the drummer Manu Katché and the guitarist Dominic Miller (both known for their work with Sting) and the guitarist Tim Renwick (another Pink Floyd associate). Gilmour contributed a guitar part for "Breakthrough", which was not used for the final mix. Sinéad O'Connor sang lead vocals on "Reaching for the Rail" and "Breakthrough", with Wright singing the remainder.[48] Wright considered taking the album on tour, but concluded it would not be financially viable.[49] In 2006, he co-wrote the Helen Boulding B-side "Hazel Eyes" with Chris Difford.[21]
In 1999, the Pink Floyd touring keyboardist
2005–2008: Work with Gilmour
In 2006, Wright became a regular member of Gilmour's touring band, along with the former Pink Floyd sidemen Jon Carin, Dick Parry and Guy Pratt.[21] He contributed keyboards and background vocals to Gilmour's 2006 solo album On an Island, and performed live in Europe and North America that year.[53] On stage with Gilmour, he played keyboards, including a revival of the Farfisa organ for "Echoes". Wright sang lead on "Arnold Layne", which was released as a live single.[54] He declined an offer to join Waters and Mason on Waters' Dark Side of the Moon Live tour to spend time working on a solo project.[55] That year, Wright joined Gilmour and Mason for a screening of the Pink Floyd Pulse live concert video. Asked about performing again, Wright replied he would be happy on stage anywhere. He explained that his plan was to "meander" along and play live whenever Gilmour required his services.[56]
Wright performed at the Barrett tribute concert "Madcap's Last Laugh" at the Barbican in London on 10 May 2007. It was organised by Joe Boyd in memory of Barrett, who had died the previous July. The first half featured a Waters solo performance, while the second half concluded with Wright, alongside Gilmour and Mason, performing "Arnold Layne".[57] By mid-2007, Wright was living alone in Kensington. He enjoyed playing as part of Gilmour's solo band, calling it "the most fun tour I've ever done in my life".[58]
Death
Wright died from lung cancer at his home in London on 15 September 2008, aged 65.[41][59] At the time of his death, he had been working on a new solo album, thought to comprise a series of instrumental pieces.[60][61]
The surviving members of Pink Floyd paid tribute to Wright: Waters said it was "hard to overstate the importance of his musical voice in the Pink Floyd of the [']60s and [']70s", and he added that he was happy they had reunited for Live 8.[62] Mason said Wright's contributions were underrated, and that his playing "was the sound that knitted it all together", comparing his "quiet one" status in the band to George Harrison of the Beatles.[63] Gilmour called him "my musical partner and my friend",[64] and praised Wright's ability to blend his voice with Gilmour's, such as on "Echoes".[62] Gilmour reiterated that it would be wrong to continue as Pink Floyd without him.[65] In the updated edition of his memoir, Mason wrote that "the distinctive, floating textures and colours [Wright] bought into the mix were absolutely critical to what people recognise as the sound of Pink Floyd ... He once summed up his musical philosophy by saying, 'Technique is so secondary to ideas.' Many fine keyboard players could and did emulate and recreate his parts, but nobody else other than Rick had the ability to create them in the first place."[66]
Eight days after Wright's death, Gilmour performed "Remember a Day", a Wright composition from Pink Floyd's second album, A Saucerful of Secrets, on a live broadcast of Later... with Jools Holland on BBC Two as a tribute to Wright.[67] Gilmour said that Wright had intended to perform with him that day, but had not been well enough.[68] Gilmour and Nick Mason performed the song together at Wright's memorial service, which was held at Notting Hill Theatre.[69] Jeff Beck was among those who attended the memorial service, and performed an unaccompanied guitar solo.[70]
Gilmour dedicated his song "A Boat Lies Waiting" from his 2015 album Rattle That Lock in Wright's memory. It features a sample of Wright's voice. The lyrics define Gilmour's sadness on his demise and revolves around mortality and Wright's love for the sea.[68]
The Endless River (2014)
In 2014, Pink Floyd released The Endless River, comprising mostly instrumental music recorded during the Division Bell sessions along with new music recorded between 2010 and 2014.[65] It contains previously unreleased parts recorded by Wright.[71] Mason described the album as a tribute to Wright.[71] Mason said that unreleased work recorded by Wright for Gilmour's solo projects could appear on Gilmour's future solo albums.[72]
Musical style
Wright's main influence was jazz, particularly Miles Davis and John Coltrane.[73] He did not consider himself a typical songwriter, preferring to create whole albums of music with a theme.[74] He said: "If the words came out like the music, and we didn't have anything else to do, then quite a few would be written."[75] A number of compositions credited to Wright came out of improvisation and randomly trying ideas, some of which were picked up enthusiastically by his bandmates. Wright later said, "I just play and don't really think about what I'm doing[;] I just let it happen".[76] Of all the Pink Floyd members, Wright was the most reserved, sitting down behind the keyboards and concentrating on the music.[77]
In the 1970s, Wright listened to some contemporary
Equipment
In the early days of Pink Floyd, Wright dabbled with
Wright played the piano and
In the 1970s, Wright began using synthesisers such as the
From the 1987 Momentary Lapse of Reason tour onwards, Wright and touring keyboardist
In addition to keyboards, Wright played guitar, flute, cello, trombone, violin, drums, saxophone and bass. Other keyboards that he used in the studio were
Personal life
Wright married his first wife, Juliette Gale, in 1964. She had been a singer in one of the early bands that evolved into Pink Floyd. They had two children and divorced in 1982. Wright's second marriage, to Franka, lasted from 1984 to 1994.
Wright had been fond of the
Discography
Solo albums
- Wet Dream (1978)
- Broken China (1996)
Band albums
With Pink Floyd
- The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
- A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
- More (1969)
- Ummagumma (1969)
- Atom Heart Mother (1970)
- Meddle (1971)
- Obscured by Clouds (1972)
- The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
- Wish You Were Here (1975)
- Animals (1977)
- The Wall (1979)
- The Division Bell (1994)
- The Endless River (2014)
With Zee
Session appearances
With Syd Barrett
With Pink Floyd
- A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
With David Gilmour
- David Gilmour in Concert (DVD) – 2002[103]
- On an Island – 2006
- "On an Island" (Hammond organ) & "The Blue" (backing vocals)[104]
- "
- Remember That Night (DVD/Blu-ray) – 2007[105]
- Live in Gdańsk (CD/DVD) – 2008[106]
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ a b Povey 2007, p. 14.
- ^ a b c Mason 2004, p. 17.
- ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d Mason 2004, p. 16.
- ^ Blake 2008, pp. 38–39.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 18.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 15.
- ^ Povey 2007, pp. 14, 28.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 20.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 26.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 24.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 30.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 33.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 223.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 203.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 62.
- ^ Cavanagh 2003, pp. 45–46.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 115.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 80.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 78.
- ^ a b c d e Povey 2007, p. 341.
- ^ a b c Blake 1996, 3.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 107.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 105.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 170.
- ^ Mabbett 2010, p. 133.
- ^ a b c Povey 2007, p. 340.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 258.
- ^ Carruthers 2011, p. 115.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 242.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 267.
- ^ a b Ewing, Jerry (March 2000). "Wish I was there". Classic Rock #12. p. 4.
- ^ a b Povey 2007, p. 222.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 268.
- ^ Blake 2008, pp. 266, 269.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 269.
- ^ a b Povey 2007, p. 230.
- ^ a b Simmons, Sylvie (December 1999). "Danger! Demolition in progress". Mojo.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 247.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 264.
- ^ a b Selva, Meera (15 September 2008). "Pink Floyd member Richard Wright dies age 65". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ a b Mason 2004, p. 283.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 241.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 349.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 270.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 355.
- ^ Povey 2007, pp. 29, 48, 90, 233, 246, 248, 254, 270.
- ^ a b c d Blake 1996, 1.
- ^ Povey 2007, pp. 340–1.
- ^ Blake 2008, p. 354.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 287.
- ^ Watkinson 2009, p. 231.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 306.
- ^ "Gilmour to release Barrett single". BBC News. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Rick Wright, de Pink Floyd, el quinto mejor teclista mundial". Terra (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Pink Floyd's PULSE DVD – official launch". Brain Damage. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Palacios 2010, p. 441.
- ^ a b Blake 2008, p. 405.
- ^ "Floyd founder Wright dies at 65". BBC News Website. BBC. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ a b Leach, Ben (30 September 2009). "Pink Floyd star leaves nothing in will to his three wives". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ^ Adam Sweeting (15 September 2008). "Obituary: Richard Wright". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Richard Wright – band tributes". Brain Damage. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ a b Franich, Darren (18 September 2008). "Pink Floyd's Nick Mason on former bandmate Richard Wright (R.I.P.)". Popwatch.ew.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ^ Gilmour, David (15 September 2008). "Tribute to Richard Wright". Neptune Pink Floyd. NPF. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Pink Floyd are 'done', says Dave Gilmour". The Guardian. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ^ Mason 2017, p. 351.
- ^ Guesdon & Margotin 2017, p. 113.
- ^ a b Mabbett 2010, p. 61.
- ^ Mason 2017, p. 351-352.
- ^ Mason 2017, p. 352.
- ^ a b Roberts, Randall (22 September 2014). "Pink Floyd offers release date, cover art for album 'The Endless River'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ Everitt, Matt (9 October 2014). "Shaun Keaveny, with a Pink Floyd Exclusive, Pink Floyd Talk to 6 Music's Matt Everitt". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ Simpson, Aislinn (16 September 2008). "Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour pays tribute to band's founder Richard Wright". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ Blake 1996, 2.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 161.
- ^ a b "Rick Wright – Interstellar Overdrive". The Independent. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ a b Chapman 2012, p. 32.
- ^ Perroni 2012, p. 101.
- ^ Mabbett 2010, p. 88.
- ^ Jenkins 2009, p. 218.
- ^ "May 12, 1967: Pink Floyd Astounds with 'Sound in the Round'". Wired. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "Pink Floyd – The Endless River". The Arts Desk. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Everett 2008, pp. 111, 136.
- ^ Povey 2007, p. 128.
- ^ Mason 2004, p. 130.
- ^ Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii (original concert). Universal. 2003. Event occurs at 6:00. 8201310.
- ^ Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii (original concert). Universal. 2003. Event occurs at 28:00. 820130.
- ^ Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii (original concert). Universal. 2003. Event occurs at 57:19. 820130.
- ^ "Classic Tracks : Pink Floyd "Shine on you Crazy Diamond"". Sound on Sound. December 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Reiss & McPherson 2014, p. 109.
- ^ Carruthers 2011, p. 119.
- ^ "Behind Pink Floyd". Sound on Sound. September 1994. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Touzeau 2009, p. 239.
- ^ Palacios 2010, pp. 62, 187, 196–199.239, 375.
- ^ "Richard Wright: Keyboard player with Pink Floyd". The Independent. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ Doskoch, Peter (1 March 1997). "When Pink Turns to Blue". Psychology Today. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "At home with Gala Wright". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Povey 2007, pp. 28.
- ^ Youngs, Ian (15 September 2008). "Entertainment | Obituary: Pink Floyd's Richard Wright". BBC News. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-452-28157-8.
- ^ "Identity – Zee". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Barrett (booklet). Syd Barrett. Harvest, EMI. 2010. p. 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "David Gilmour in Concert". David Gilmour (official website). Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "On an Island – David Gilmour". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Remember That Night – David Gilmour". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Live in Gdansk – David Gilmour". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
Sources
- Blake, Mark (2008). Comfortably Numb—The Inside Story of Pink Floyd. Da Capo. ISBN 978-0-306-81752-6.
- Blake, Mark (1996). "Richard Wright Interview" (Interview). EMI Records / Brain Damage.
- Carruthers, Bob (2011). Pink Floyd- Uncensored on the Record. Coda Books. ISBN 978-1-908538-27-7.
- Cavanagh, John (2003). Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. A&C Black. ISBN 978-0-8264-1497-7.
- Chapman, Rob (2012). Syd Barrett and British Psychedelia: Faber Forty-Fives: 1966–1967. Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-29676-7.
- Everett, Walter (2008). The Foundations of Rock: From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-029497-7.
- Guesdon, Jean-Michel; Margotin, Philippe (2017). Pink Floyd All the Songs – The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. ISBN 978-0-316-43923-7.
- Jenkins, Mark (2009). Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying—From the Legacy of Moog to Software. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-12277-4.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-418-0.
- ISBN 978-0-297-84387-0.
- ISBN 978-1-4521-6610-0.
- Palacios, Julian (2010). Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe. Plexus. ISBN 978-0-85965-431-9.
- Perroni, Steve (2012). The Album. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-37906-2.
- Povey, Glenn (2007). Echoes : The Complete History of Pink Floyd. 3C Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9554624-1-2.
- Reiss, Joshua; McPherson, Andrew (2014). Audio Effects: Theory, Implementation and Application. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4665-6028-4.
- Touzeau, Jeff (2009). Home Studio Essentials. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-59863-920-9.
- Watkinson, Mike (2009). Crazy Diamond – Syd Barrett and the Dawn of Pink Floyd. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-122-6.
External links
- Official website
- The Richard Wright Archives
- Pink Floyd's official site Archived 18 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Archived 18 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Richard Wright's French Riviera Home[permanent dead link]