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Title: 'We were awful': Pink Floyd's Waters on band's early days
Source:
Yahoo
URL Source: https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/we ... ands-early-days-150059179.html
Published: May 28, 2015
Author: Edward Baran
Post Date: 2015-05-29 11:10:04 by Orwellian Nightmare
Keywords: None
Views: 5499
Comments: 34
By Edward Baran LONDON (Reuters) - Pink Floyd founding members Roger Waters and Nick Mason joked while unveiling a memorial plaque on Thursday that they were so bad at first that they wouldn't have passed an audition on a talent show. The pair, together with the late Richard Wright, formed the group while studying architecture at the former Regent Street Polytechnic in central London between 1962 and 1965. The psychedelic and progressive rock band went on to become one of the most commercially successful groups in popular music. Returning to the site of the polytechnic to unveil the plaque, they talked about their time as students and about the early days of Pink Floyd. Asked how good the group was when it started out, drummer Mason said: "Put it like this: if we'd gone up for ‘Britain's Got Talent’, I don't think we would have made it past the audition stage. We weren't terribly good." "We were effing awful," added Waters, Pink Floyd's bassist and the band's main lyricist during their peak years. Pink Floyd, which racked up record sales exceeding 250 million, had an initial line-up that included guitarist and songwriter Syd Barrett, another student, who left in 1968. Lead guitarist David Gilmour became the fifth member in late 1967.
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#1. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
He is the guy that slowly went crazy if I recall. They wrote several hit songs about him (the lunatic is in my head)....
'Wish you were here ' was about Syd Barrett too.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I still like those old Pink Floyd songs but is it was David Gilmour's voice/singing that made most songs notable. Comfortably Numb sounds like crap with Roger Waters singing it.
Dark Side of the Moon is still a classic album.
Pink Floyd in January 1968, from the only known photo-shoot of all five members. Clockwise from bottom: Gilmour, Mason, Barrett, Waters, Wright Barret and wright are both dead so only 3 left now.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
http://www.amazon.com/The-Early-Singles-Pink-Floyd/dp/B000TUJ4GM
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
"were" ??? I never could stand these guys. ditto for the Grateful Dead. Incoherent crap.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
No. It was about his dad.
Wish You Were Here" is the title track on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. Its lyrics encompass Roger Waters' feelings of alienation from other people. Like most of the album, it refers to former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett and his breakdown. David Gilmour and Waters collaborated to write the music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_You_Were_Here_(Pink_Floyd_song)
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I agree on the Dead. I never did get why they were so big. Same with the Doors. Floyd is musically head and shoulders above either of those two bands.
Ya maybe most of the album, but not that one. Wish You Were Here is about his father. Wikipedia notwithstanding.
It's just a theory of mine, to be honest. "The founder of Pink Floyd was just a baby when his father, Lt Eric Waters, died during the bitter, close-quarters fighting that took place after British and American troops landed at Anzio in Jan 1944 in order to outflank the Germans and liberate Rome. His unit, Z Company of the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was all but wiped out in an aggressive German counter-attack on Feb 18, 1944. His remains were never found. The death of his father has haunted the British rock star all his life and inspired many of Pink Floyd's best known songs, including some off the album The Wall." They never knew if he died or was a prisoner of war. He just left for war and didn't come back. "Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?" This refers to him and his mom: "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears." Wish you were here ...
IIRC, the movie delves into that aspect in some detail.
His unit, Z Company of the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was all but wiped out in an aggressive German counter-attack on Feb 18, 1944. His remains were never found. The death of his father has haunted the British rock star all his life and inspired many of Pink Floyd's best known songs, including some off the album The Wall." They never knew if he died or was a prisoner of war. He just left for war and didn't come back. "Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?" This refers to him and his mom: "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears." Wish you were here ... Incoherent crap? Lol, when people say they don't write music like that anymore, these lyrics coupled with that music drive that nail home with a sledgehammer. If I had to pick a favorite band, it would be PF or Steely Dan.
It's not a big issue to me . I have gone through 2 albums ,a cassette tape ,and a cd of the album .I like it better than Dark Side . I think you are correct that Water's father was in his mind when some of the lyrics were written . Anyway ,this is my last link ;since Wiki is automatically dismissed . Wish You Were Here, like the record that precedes it, is a concept album. Revolving around the central theme of absence, Waters’ lyrics illustrate the difference between the group’s early years – when Pink Floyd was a band of brothers, making music for a small but devoted audience – and the present. The guys had become multi-millionaires in the wake of Dark Side’s success, but they’d also become cash cows for a corporate label, and the camaraderie that once existed between them had grown strained. Tying the song cycle together are two compositions about Syd Barrett: the nine-part opus “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and the short, haunting title track. “Wish You Were Here” opens up with a distant chord progression from Gilmour’s 12-string acoustic guitar, processed to sound as though it’s emanating from a car stereo. The sound crackles and pops, and when a second guitar swoops into the mix, the disparity between both parts is thrown into sharp relief. The second guitar is loud and blemish-free; the first is just a ghost, a pale shadow of what it must’ve sounded like when it was originally recorded. By 1975, Syd Barrett had become a pale shadow of his former self, too. When he made a surprise visit to Abbey Road on June 5, stumbling into the studio while engineer Brian Humphries tweaked the final mix of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” he’d put on so much weight that the others didn’t recognize him for several minutes. He’d shaved his head, too, along with his eyebrows. It pained Waters to see his friend so lost, so detached, so disengaged from the world around him. “Wish You Were Here” deals with that mental inability – the refusal, even – to engage with reality, and it served as much as a rallying for Waters as a sad tribute to Barrett’s better days. “All [my] songs are encouraging me; I guess I write them for me,” Waters explains during a new documentary, Pink Floyd: The Story Of Wish You Were Here. “It’s to encourage myself not to accept a lead role in a cage, but to go on demanding of myself that I keep auditioning for the walk-on part in the war, ‘cause that’s where I want to be. I wanna be in the trenches. I don’t want to be at headquarters; I don’t wanna be sitting in a hotel somewhere. I wanna be engaged.” http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/08/behind-the-song-pink-floyds-wish-you- were-here/
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Perhaps 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' is more Biffy's speed. Or 'Itsy-Bitsy Spider'. Quite a bit of the Beatles' last LSD-induced material -- THAT was "incoherent." PF was "incoherent" only to the mentally lazy or those who just are incapable of "getting" it. Sure, most of Floyd's work could be ethereal and "out there" -- as well as melancholy, cynical, and dark -- but wasn't that what they were shooting for? The lyrics of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' still resonate as an all-time musical work and arguably challenges intellect and emotion more than any other album theme ever. The only other artistic challenger in my opinion are the Moody Blues. gets down to personal taste. Lol, when people say they don't write music like that anymore, these lyrics coupled with that music drive that nail home with a sledgehammer. Well put. The lyrics and music on say, 'Dark Side' were uniquely married to each other and relate-able...as well as timeless (no pun intended :-) Man...that ticking intro on 'Time'...and suddenly all the alarms clocks and gongs, fade...then dramatic re-intro. Genius. Again, I thought PF and Moodies achieves the same. Strangely, both 'Dark Side' as well as MB's 'Seventh Sojourn' came out at about the same time. Though for longevity and positivity, no one has ever done it better than the Moodies IMHO. If I had to pick a favorite band, it would be PF or Steely Dan. Steely Dan's first album ('Can't Buy A Thrill') was underrated and excellent. 'Dark Side' was a virtuoso and genre unto itself. Nothing like it before or since.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
You had to think to figure out what the artist meant by his words, which meant you had to know something about his history.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I think it's a good point that part of the lyrics can be about syd and part about his dad. Why not? A song about all different people he wished were still around. I like establishing fan bonafides by how many versions of an album you've worn out! Excellent creditials, sir.
Good post... People couldn't wait for the follow up to Dark Side. This is just me, but I found the lyrics to 'Wishing You Were Here' to be *too* cynical and dark....and introspective -- without any sense of the whimsy or humor of Dark Side. Musically I also thought it fell short...but that happens often of the subsequent album of a band's breakout masterpiece. Almost impossible to re-create a Mona Lisa. Noticed this phenomena with Boston, Bad Company, Foreigner.....and...with....Spinal Tap ;-)
I also think it's a bit futile for us to say we (or anyone, wikipedia) know anything about the whys and wherefores of these songs. I think waters has had so many interviews and questions about it all for the last forty years he doesn't even care if he gives the true answer. I think he, and all these old stars, are bored of it all and just make stuff up they find interesting. Most of them put a lot less effort into this music than it seems. Probably not in PF's case but lots of others. Bowie and zeppelin come to mind.
Well, I guess that's kinda true on 'Wishing You...' Although even if we didn't know the artists' history, on some intellectual/emotional level I think many of us tended to create "bridges" for gaps in meaning (if the lyrics weren't on the album back-cover or sleeve. OR, we just tuned out the lyrics altogther and concentrated more on the music. Dark Side was self explanatory (while musically it resonated (as well as lyrically), PF's next album required more "work" to me. Sometimes, the albums of the early 70s were actually "too much work" and pretentious when all you wanted to do was eat ear-"candy." SOMETIMES I just wanted to hear me some Lobo or Grass Roots :-) Nowadays we should have such problems and choice. Have you all noticed how the music overlords have conspired to concentrate on producing warbly female singing styles, stars and genres? It's part of the political conspiracy to marginalize ALL things white, male, and....GOOD.
I never did get why they were so big. Same with the Doors. Floyd is musically head and shoulders above either of those two bands. "Head and shoulders above" in what sense? I agree with you on the Dead -- They were mediocre and more symbolic hood ornament for a utopian "Get-High/Anything-Goes/Fugetabout-Reality" cult (sorta like Buffet's "Parrotheads".) However, The Doors were ahead of their time musically, instrumentally, compositionally and lyrically (although Morrison and his lyrics were a mixed bag of nuts.) They could do pop as well as riff jazz, and even go into the musical ethereal realm.) Pink Floyd. Meh. One-and-done masterpiece. Then came the pretension.
If you ever did any country rock then here is something that you might like... Remember Hughie Thomasson???
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I didn't listen to the Outlaws whole lot at the time, but liked their sound. Good axe work here -- they could kick it. Never got their due -- probably because they was lumped in with 'Country' and above the Mason-Dixon Line they didn't receive much AM air time as Bowie and glitter was getting it. Loved their version of Ghost Riders in the Sky.
thanks for the link ! playing it now .
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Genius for sure. Speaking of "Dark Side of The Moon", has anyone watched this video of "Wizard of Oz" synchronized with DSOTM? Frankly I don't see the grand "synchronicity" going on. Then again I haven't dropped acid in 40 years so what do I know? Again, I thought PF and Moodies achieves the same. Strangely, both 'Dark Side' as well as MB's 'Seventh Sojourn' came out at about the same time. Though for longevity and positivity, no one has ever done it better than the Moodies IMHO. Yeah, Moody Blues did have somewhat of the same "vibe"as Floyd, but to me, the lyrics always seemed "pretentious", for lack of a better word. Steely Dan's first album ('Can't Buy A Thrill') was underrated and excellent. I never get tired of listening to SD. Every one of their albums is a gem. "Countdown to Ecstasy" and "Can't Buy A Thrill" both rate in my top 25 albums.
Parrotheads...yeah good analogy. Cultish to be sure. Maybe it's the "live" experience that makes them both icons, I don't know. The music itself is nothing to get excited about. However, The Doors were ahead of their time musically, instrumentally, compositionally and lyrically (although Morrison and his lyrics were a mixed bag of nuts.) They could do pop as well as riff jazz, and even go into the musical ethereal realm.) I can go along with that to an extent. A lot of Morrison's lyrics were incoherent babble. I never was impressed by Krieger or Manzarek. I guess technically they were OK but I never thought of Krieger as a great guitar player.
I was referring to their propensity to create 15, 20 or 25 minute long songs that just drone on and on and on and on....
Parrotheads...yeah good analogy. Cultish to be sure. Maybe it's the "live" experience that makes them both icons, I don't know. The music itself is nothing to get excited about. Au contraire, gentlemen. Although I listen to and enjoy every band mentioned above (and own at least a few tracks, if not the whole catalog, of all of them), there was nothing like a Dead show. And yeah, the live show experience was superior to most of the studio work, but their live albums (and taper bootlegs) bring back most of it. And cranko, that's not "droning". And you didn't have to be high to enjoy it either. Hard to describe, but after 50 or 60 Dead shows, I understood. Listen to Grisman/Garcia, Old and In The Way, Jerry Garcia Band, Merle Saunders/Garcia and other side projects if you need convincing the raw talent was definitely there in all incarnations. The styles may not float your boat, but there's nothing like The Good Ol' Grateful Dead. Wish I could make the farewell shows this summer. And here's a fun fact: in the early 80s, my first business was responsible for keeping Robert Hunter's (Dead lyricist) old Osborne computer cooking along as he worked out the later creations. Back then, in floppy days before reliable hard disks, computers needed more care and attention on a fairly-regular basis if heavily used.
I just listened to some of that, Grisman-Garcia bluegrass/jazz and I do agree that Garcia himself did have some chops as a guitar picker. Pretty good actually. And I have never seen the Dead live so perhaps that influences my opinion of their music. And here's a fun fact: in the early 80s, my first business was responsible for keeping Robert Hunter's (Dead lyricist) old Osborne computer cooking along as he worked out the later creations. Back then, in floppy days before reliable hard disks, computers needed more care and attention on a fairly-regular basis if heavily used. This may interest you since Hunter is mentioned in this article.
Thanks for taking the time to explore my suggestions and for that MKULTRA link, which was interesting.
had an initial line-up that included guitarist and songwriter Syd Barrett, another student, who left in 1968.
#2. To: Pericles (#1)
#3. To: Pericles (#1)
#4. To: Pericles (#1)
#5. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
#6. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
#7. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
#8. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
#9. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#0)
#10. To: tomder55 (#2)
#11. To: Biff Tannen (#10)
#12. To: cranko (#8)
I never could stand these guys. ditto for the Grateful Dead. Incoherent crap.
#13. To: tomder55 (#11)
#14. To: tomder55 (#11)
#15. To: Biff Tannen, tomder55 (#14)
The death of his father has haunted the British rock star all his life and inspired many of Pink Floyd's best known songs, including some off the album The Wall."
#16. To: Biff Tannen, cranko (#14)
#17. To: Biff Tannen (#13)
(Edited)
#18. To: Dead Culture Watch, Biff Tannen (#16)
Incoherent crap?
#19. To: tomder55 (#17)
#20. To: Liberator (#18)
PF was "incoherent" only to the mentally lazy or those who just are incapable of "getting" it.
#21. To: tomder55 (#17)
#22. To: tomder55, Dead Culture Watch (#17)
Wish You Were Here, like the record that precedes it, is a concept album. Wish You Were Here, like the record that precedes it ['Dark Side of the Moon'], is a concept album. Revolving around the central theme of absence, Waters’ lyrics illustrate the difference between the group’s early years – when Pink Floyd was a band of brothers, making music for a small but devoted audience – and the present. The guys had become multi-millionaires in the wake of Dark Side’s success, but they’d also become cash cows for a corporate label, and the camaraderie that once existed between them had grown strained.
#23. To: tomder55 (#17)
#24. To: CZ82, Dead Culture Watch, tomder55 (#20)
You had to think to figure out what the artist meant by his words, which meant you had to know something about his history.
#25. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#12)
I agree on the Dead.
#26. To: Liberator (#24)
SOMETIMES I just wanted to hear me some Lobo or Grass Roots :-)
#27. To: CZ82 (#26)
#28. To: CZ82 (#19)
#29. To: Liberator, Dead Culture Watch, Biff Tannen, tomder55, Chuck_Wagon, CZ82 (#18)
Well put. The lyrics and music on say, 'Dark Side' were uniquely married to each other and relate-able...as well as timeless (no pun intended :-) Man...that ticking intro on 'Time'...and suddenly all the alarms clocks and gongs, fade...then dramatic re-intro. Genius.
#30. To: Liberator (#25)
I agree with you on the Dead -- They were mediocre and more symbolic hood ornament for a utopian "Get-High/Anything-Goes/Fugetabout-Reality" cult (sorta like Buffet's "Parrotheads".)
#31. To: Dead Culture Watch (#16)
Incoherent crap?
#32. To: Orwellian Nightmare, Liberator, cranko (#30)
(Edited)
I agree with you on the Dead -- They were mediocre and more symbolic hood ornament for a utopian "Get-High/Anything-Goes/Fugetabout-Reality" cult (sorta like Buffet's "Parrotheads".)
#33. To: Hank Rearden (#32)
Listen to Grisman/Garcia, Old and In The Way, Jerry Garcia Band, Merle Saunders/Garcia and other side projects if you need convincing the raw talent was definitely there in all incarnations. The styles may not float your boat, but there's nothing like The Good Ol' Grateful Dead. Wish I could make the farewell shows this summer.
#34. To: Orwellian Nightmare (#33)
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