Pianist - Blog Posts

Richard Wright - A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour, MCMLXXXVII.

“Pink Floyd is like a marriage that's on a permanent trial separation.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Richard Wright, Just Having a Sip, Somewhere mid MCMLXX’s.

“We fought during 'The Wall,' which was an album Waters wrote, based on his family story, we clashed long before that, during the period of the Dark Side and 'Wish You Were Here.' Actually, we never got along.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Dave Harris & Richard Wright, photographed for their project album, ‘Identity’, MCMLXXXIV.

Identity with Zee's David Harris. Really a super experimental album. Rick was not connected with the project and most of the ideas came from David. Actually Richard suffered a kind of blank between 1979 and 1987 when he was reintegrated in Pink Floyd as an official member.

Pink Floyd recording their song 'Scarecrow' at Abbey Road Studios, London on March 22nd, 1967.

"Just listen to Syd's songs, the imagination that he had. If he hadn't had this complete breakdown, he could easily be one of the greatest songwriters today. I think it's one of the saddest stories in rock "n' roll, what happened to Syd. He was brilliant - and such a nice guy.” — Richard Wright.

Rick Wright during recording sessions of the album, ‘Obscured by Clouds' at Strawberry Studios, Château d'Hérouville, France 1972. Photo by Jean-Denis Mahn.

"Paint Box" and "Remember A Day" were done soon after Syd left and we still hadn't established the way the band was going to work. Syd, I am sad to say, was no longer capable of working so it came down to Roger, Dave and myself writing songs and I think it came later that we started writing songs together. For example, "Echoes" was where we discovered the best music we created at the time was when all three us of got together and collaborated rather than individually coming to the studio with a song.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Pink Floyd - Recording sessions at Capitol Studios, Hollywood Los Angeles. May 1970. Courtesy of Capitol Records Photo Archive.

Q: ‘I think Mr. Wright's keyboard work during the early Floyd years was one of the most distinctive elements of the band's sound, and was definitely a key to the band's success. Who were the influences on this keyboard style in the beginning?’

“That is interesting. I would have to say, not necessarily keyboard players actually influenced my sound. For example, I can give you a good example, one of the people I was very influenced by was Miles Davis, the trumpeter and his style of playing the trumpet certainly influenced the way I played the keyboards and also Bill Evans. Simply look at Jazz and that has influenced my way of playing the keyboard.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Richard (Rick) Wright, in studios, Somewhere around MCMLXXII.

"I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all." — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Richard Wright, Interviewed for his album ‘Broken China’ , around 1996.

“It was while we were recording the last Floyd Album, The Division Bell. The idea for this record was inspired, sadly, by my personal experiences with a close friend whi was suffering from depression. I wanted to express my feelings about what I was seeing. It wasn't a healing process, as such, as I wasn't the person suffering, but it made me come to terms with my own feelings about what I was witnessing.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.

Richard Wright with Anya and Sue McCloughlin on the Costa Brava in 1960.

Richard Wrights AAA pass - Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour, MCMLXXXIX.

"There is no pain you are receding. A distant ship, smoke on the horizon. You are only coming through in waves.” — Pink Floyd.

Richard Wright at his French home, somewhere around MCMLXXXVI.

“No one can replace Richard Wright. He was my musical partner and my friend.” — David Gilmour.

Richard Wright playing ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’ in Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII.

“Sometimes I play something, and I haven't recorded it, and I don't know where it came from, why my hands did what they did, what key it was in, anything.” — Richard (Rick) Wright.