Remembering Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright (1943-2008)

Pink Floyd’s keyboardist, Richard Wright (also known as Rick Wright) has died at the age of 65, reportedly after a battle with cancer. Wright was one of the band’s founding members and his textured work was a very important part of the group’s space-age legacy.  His innovative playing helped shape the band’s futuristic and distinctive sound.  Take a listen again to the truly state of the art work he did on “On the Run” from 1973′s landmark, “Dark Side of the Moon,”  The track obviously embraced a pseudo-techno dynamic before such a practice became fashionable.  You can also re-examine his stately, dramatic piano playing on “The Great Gig in the Sky.” Seen as one of the group’s original sonic architects along with the sadly also now departed Syd Barrett,   Wright made his mark early on with his psychedelic, spooky organ playing on the band’s 1967 debut, “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.” By 1977′s “Animals” he was beginning to fade behind the work of Roger Waters and David Gilmour. By 1983′s “The Final Cut,” Wright wasn’t in the band at all.  His absence was temporary, though, because he would eventually rejoin the band, playing most recently with Floyd’s core lineup during their 2005 “Live 8″ reunion performance.  Like many of the other members of Pink Floyd, Wright also recorded as a solo artist, releasing two albums under his own name.  (“Wet Dream” from 1978 and “Broken China” from 1996.) He may have not been as high profile as Waters or Gilmour, or been heralded as a madcap, misunderstood genius like Barrett, but Richard Wright was an essential part of Pink Floyd.   He was a hero to many keyboardists who came after him and he will be missed.  What did Richard Wright’s contribution to Pink Floyd mean to you?  Feel free to share your Wright-related, Floyd-ian memories.  No doubt this is a sad day for those of us hoping for a full-scale Pink Floyd reunion.  It’s a sad day, indeed.