Rooster_Ties Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 (edited) From the BBC. It's so short, I'm going to quote it in full... Floyd founder Wright dies at 65 Pink Floyd keyboard player Richard Wright has died at the age of 65 after battling cancer, his spokesman has said. The group released their first record in 1967 with Wright appearing alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason. RIP, Rick Wright Edited September 15, 2008 by Rooster_Ties Quote
7/4 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 wow man, that's really sad. rip. . Quote
Robert J Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 RIP One of my keyboard heroes as a teen. Very underated for his organ work. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Posted September 15, 2008 One of my favorite early Floyd tunes was one of Rick's. Check this out... God, I love that song. Quote
Shawn Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 This one hurts... Hope he's got that "Great Gig In The Sky". Quote
Robert J Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 RT - I agree, but this one was my fave. Maybe the first PF tune I transcribed by ear on the piano because it sounded so cool in its simplicity. Remember A Day Quote
Alexander Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Very sad. He was seriously overshadowed by Barrett's insanity, Water's lyrics and ego, and Gilmour's guitar god status, but the fact is that he was a GREAT keyboard player. A few years ago, I rebought a big chunk of the PF catalogue (which I used to own in high school, but had since pawned in the interests of pursuing more "mature" interests) and I was very impressed with Wright when I heard their stuff again. He and Mason were the anchors of that band. RIP Quote
Robert J Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Also liked his work on the underrated "More" soundtrack. Check this short duet with Nick Mason Up the Khyber Quote
7/4 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Very sad. He was seriously overshadowed by Barrett's insanity, Water's lyrics and ego, and Gilmour's guitar god status, but the fact is that he was a GREAT keyboard player. A few years ago, I rebought a big chunk of the PF catalogue (which I used to own in high school, but had since pawned in the interests of pursuing more "mature" interests) and I was very impressed with Wright when I heard their stuff again. He and Mason were the anchors of that band. RIP Last year I bought the early pre-Meddle albums that I didn't own on CD to refresh my memory. This sucks... Quote
Alexander Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Very sad. He was seriously overshadowed by Barrett's insanity, Water's lyrics and ego, and Gilmour's guitar god status, but the fact is that he was a GREAT keyboard player. A few years ago, I rebought a big chunk of the PF catalogue (which I used to own in high school, but had since pawned in the interests of pursuing more "mature" interests) and I was very impressed with Wright when I heard their stuff again. He and Mason were the anchors of that band. RIP Last year I bought the early pre-Meddle albums that I didn't own on CD to refresh my memory. This sucks... I don't know about you, but I don't think I really noticed either Wright or Mason when I was a kid. I think getting into jazz really opened my ears to their contribution... Quote
Big Al Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 He and Mason were the anchors of that band. RIP Couldn't agree more. Got Piper, Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here lined up for the rest of the day. A lasting memory will always be the Live 8 concert and a close-up they got of Rick Wright playing the piano during "Wish You Were Here." Sent chills down my spine. RIP, and thanks for the wonderful music. Quote
7/4 Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 (edited) Very sad. He was seriously overshadowed by Barrett's insanity, Water's lyrics and ego, and Gilmour's guitar god status, but the fact is that he was a GREAT keyboard player. A few years ago, I rebought a big chunk of the PF catalogue (which I used to own in high school, but had since pawned in the interests of pursuing more "mature" interests) and I was very impressed with Wright when I heard their stuff again. He and Mason were the anchors of that band. Last year I bought the early pre-Meddle albums that I didn't own on CD to refresh my memory. This sucks... I don't know about you, but I don't think I really noticed either Wright or Mason when I was a kid. I think getting into jazz really opened my ears to their contribution... It was pretty obvious to me in the '70s that his keyboard sound was essential to their pre-Animals sound. (I haven't heard Animals in a long while). Edited September 15, 2008 by 7/4 Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 15, 2008 Author Report Posted September 15, 2008 Here's Rick and David Gilmour, live in 2006... Arnold Layne (with Richard Wright on lead vocals) Quote
sal Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 RIP Rick Wright. This is very sad Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Bummer. He was very understated but perfect for the band. Kind of like my other 70s keyboard hero, Tony Banks. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 One of the key sounds of my teenage years. Never flash but incredibly atmospheric. Very sad. Quote
Robert J Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Never flash but incredibly atmospheric. Best exemplified for me (early PF) by the live version of Astronomy Domine where he takes his solo after the guitar. His organ lines follows the chorus effect with a fading and rising that creates that other-worldly atmosphere. Also - I was listening to "Young Lust" yesterday and his organ padding is subtle but key to that song, not just Gilmour's solo. Something I missed before. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Never flash but incredibly atmospheric. Best exemplified for me (early PF) by the live version of Astronomy Domine where he takes his solo after the guitar. His organ lines follows the chorus effect with a fading and rising that creates that other-worldly atmosphere. I was on a Messiaen binge last month and I came across something...can't remember what...that took me straight to the organ sound of the live album of 'Umma Gumma'. I always loved the swirling space age pastoralism of 'Cirrus Minor' - an English country meadow transported to Jupiter. I might be wrong, but I get the impression that you had to work harder to generate strange effects on an organ compared with a later synth. Quote
mikeweil Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 (edited) Oh well ... sad news. I thought his attempt at a piano concerto in his part of Umma Gumma was a bit bombastic, but his organ playing was fine. Liked him more than any other rock organist. May he play his organ eternally up there! Edited September 15, 2008 by mikeweil Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 I thought his attempt at a piano concerto in his part of Umma Gumma was a bit bombastic, but his organ playing was fine. There's an interview with Gilmour in a recent Mojo magazine where he comments on how bemused he was at having to do those solo sets. Maybe it was the same with Wright. 10 minutes to fill - out come all the bits and bobs from his training. There's certainly some very 'Romantic' piano...all a bit Rachmaninov (or maybe Addinsell). Quote
Jazzjet Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Very sad. I saw a Pink Floyd documentary recently where Rick Wright was saying that his keyboard work on Breathe ( from Dark Side Of The Moon ) was influenced by Kind of Blue by Miles. Can't recall which track - I think it was All Blues. Quote
AndrewHill Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 I'm stunned. I saw PF in '86 on the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour and Wright along with Nick Mason stole the show. I can't believe he's dead! RIP! Quote
Tom 1960 Posted September 16, 2008 Report Posted September 16, 2008 Damn, sad news. RIP Richard. Quote
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