When Pink Floyd reunited for a performance at Live 8 in 2005, dormant hopes for a more extensive reunion awoke with a vengeance. At various times since, band members have both encouraged and discouraged such hopes. Roger Waters and David Gilmour have expressed more interest in continuing their solo careers than in trying to re-create Floyd's past glory. With the death of keyboardist Rick Wright, reunion hopes are fading again. But if we've learned anything from the band's history, it is to refrain from taking anything for granted.
1979
'The Wall' album cover courtesy Capitol Records
The year of The Wall. The double album rock opera was Roger Waters' autobiography set to music. It was an immediate critical and commercial success, with a film version following in 1982. Tension within the band over Waters' increasing dominance grew during the recording of The Wall and resulted in Waters' banishment of Rick Wright to a minor role in the group for the next few years.
1983
'The Final Cut' album cover courtesy Capitol Records
Conflicts between Waters and Gilmour over the band's stylistic direction continue to grow during the recording of The Final Cut, which will turn out to be the final Pink Floyd album for Waters. So limited is the participation of other band members that Waters suggests releasing it as a solo album, but the idea doesn't fly.
1985
Roger Waters photo by MK Chan/Getty Images
Roger Waters leaves, proclaiming the end of the band. But when Gilmour, Mason and Wright continue to perform as Pink Floyd, Waters goes to court to try and stop them from using the name. In the end, he loses that fight, and Pink Floyd, minus Waters, forges ahead.
1987
'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason' album cover courtesy Sony / Columbia Records
What started as a David Gilmour solo project became Pink Floyd's first post-Waters album, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. Critics weren't kind, but the album quickly went to #3 on the US and UK album charts. A planned 11-week tour in support of the album ultimately lasted almost two years.
1994
'The Division Bell' album cover courtesy Sony / Columbia Records
The band's final studio album, The Division Bell is released. It results in Pink Floyd's one and only GRAMMY award, Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Marooned." A live album recorded during the Division Bell tour, P*U*L*S*E, is released the following year.
1996
l-r: Nick Mason, David Gilmour, Rick Wright, courtesy Electric Artists
Pink Floyd is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All except Waters and Barrett attend the induction ceremony. Mason accepts the award, but doesn't join Gilmour and Wright for their performance of "Wish You Were Here."
2005
l-r: Gilmour, Waters, Mason, Wright at Live 8. Photo by MJ Kim / Getty Images
The last Pink Floyd concert that included both Gilmour and Waters occurred in London in July 2005 at the Live 8 benefit. When reunion fever ensued, band members confided that there were enough of the old tensions apparent during rehearsals to cast doubt on the prospect of anything more than a one-off reunion. That seemed to be borne out in 2007 when Waters performed solo while Gilmour, Mason and Wright performed together at a benefit for their late bandmate, Syd Barrett.
2006
Syd Barrett photo courtesy Capitol Records
Syd Barrett died at the age of 60 of complications from diabetes in July 2006. It was Barrett who wrote most of Pink Floyd's groundbreaking debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, released in 1967. He left the band in 1968 as his increasing mental instability was made worse by heavy drug use. He recorded two solo albums before leaving the music business altogether. He died in Cambridge, England, where he was born and had lived quietly since dropping out of public view.
2008
Rick Wright photo by MJ Kim / Getty Images
Keyboardist Rick Wright died of cancer at the age of 65 in September 2008. Wright was a primary architect (along with Barrett) of the band's early experimental sound. In recent years, Wright had frequently toured and recorded with David Gilmour. On his website, Gilmour wrote, "Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously."
