Pink Floyd Glory?

Question

As a Pink Floyd fan from day 1 in the 1960's I find it hard to accept all the recent praise heaped upon Dave Gilmour as if he founded the group. It seems that the critics have forgotten that all the Floyd masterpieces, from Dark Side of the Moon to the The Wall, were mainly the brain child of Roger Waters.

I am also mindful that the early music of the group was inspired by the late Syd Barrett. Whilst I regard Gilmour as the the greatest Rock Guitarist of all time I find it hard to swallow that he appears to be the 'Be all and End all' of their history.

I would like to know if anyone else feels this way too and appreciate comments on this question.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, I was alive for only two years when Pink Floyd had their last touring concert. Even then, it was still David Gilmour that got all of the glory.

Syd Barrett was definitely the most influential of all of them. Had he not existed, the group would not have gotten past playing at UFO. I think he gets forgotten because he was the one with the... er... most chemically interesting past.

Roger was right up there with him. I think it's all of the fans that are ticked at him throwing Rick out. Roger's a prick. However, he writes good music, plays the bass well, and sings well... as well as whines well.

All said and done, though, I think Roger deserves more credit than David. His music really isn't that good. He plays guitar well and has a nice voice, but the man can't write. Not to mention, he doesn't have a whiney voice. You can't sing through a The Wall concert with a good, grounded voice like his.

Stop! I wanna go home.
Take off this uniform and leave the show
But I'm waiting in this cell because I have to know
Have I been guilty all this time?

Think that over with Roger's voice, like they're supposed to be. Then think it with David's voice. It just doesn't sound right at all. No whine. It needs to sound like it's coming out of a slowly deflated balloon, which is what Roger makes it sound like.

No whine, no writing skills... Roger has David beat.

(Favorite song off of The Wall right there, by the way.)

Answer 2

You are right. Gilmour is the greatest to me also. To me, there are 3 Pink Floyd's. Barrets, Waters and Gilmour's. Gilmour Did play a significant role in the Wall. Although you are right, the story is all Water's but a whole lot of the music written was Gilmour's. I agree that Gilmour isn't Be all and end All of their history, but I do have to say, I think he is the most talented In the playing AND writing of music. As I'm sure you know, he has a few solo projects. They are also awesome if you ask me. Waters solo projects are nowhere near as good as Gilmours. Especially Gilmour's 1st self titled with the song "Theres No Way Out Of Here". Every song on that recording is equally awesome to me. Also if you haven't seen it, Pulse is a great DVD. I went to the 94 Tour in Pontiac Mich. and was blown away.

Answer 3

The band Blue Floyd does cool blues versions of their songs. Dub Side Of The Moon is an album with all the tracks from Dark Side of the Moon done in a reggae style by another band. There is an Australian Pink Floyd cover band that does songs close to the originals I think. Watch the David Gilmour live DVD, from a few years ago. Also Gregorian Masters of Chant do modern songs with Gregorian church choir sounds, including the song Comfortably Numb. They have a few albums Masters of Chant I, II, etc. but you might be able to download just that song.

Answer 4

To all those not into Floyd:
"I Wish you where here" "In The Flesh" "Amused to Death" "Setting your controls to the Heart of the Sun" From "The Darkside of the Moon" as these are "The Pro's and Cons of Hitchhiking" You could take a "Bike" Ride it if you like! To the "Great Gig in the Sky" You could find in all this "Radio Kaos" "A Saucer full of Secrets" with "Vera Lynn" down on the farm feeding the "Pigs (Three different ones)" Hey! its "what God wants!" or just be "Comfortably Numb" stuck in "Time"......Oh ok, I'm a fan!!!


"pickwicktoptest" Its merely a play on words to make it flow better.
There's always one ***! Go Boil your ed!! P.S. Not only cant you spell. Whats worse is that you cant even spell what you read!...Thats just got to be put in the curriculum of the idiots exam surely...fantastic!!!

Answer 5

i know exactly what you on about..gilmour getting most of the praise and he was just a replacement (genius no doubt about it)but a lot of credit has to go to waters and barrett...floyd are the business and gilmour is one of the finest guitarists on the planet but the true fans know the score

Answer 6

i also feel that way, waters was really behind many of the albums, and it is true that barrett came up with it all in the beginning; im not sure what exactly is being credited to gilmour, though theres no mistaking he was a brilliant guitarist.

Answer 7

I agree totally with what you're saying, however, to me it's immaterial who takes the credit purely because of their combined brilliance.

Floyd's amazing development over the decades.... I'm simply in awe of...they've never ceased to amaze me.

As for Dave Gilmour being the best Rock Guitarist....again I can't disagree with you...but do you know what........His vocal is not short of legendary !!

Answer 8

Syd Barrett is my true hero..perhaps a sole influence on their diffrentiality ...i think it all mellowed out a bit after that, not denying that the wall isn't amazing, but a saucerful of secrets makes me tingle with happiness

Answer 9

Pink Floyd are brilliant i agree 100% with what you have said.I seen them in 69 in Hyde Park they were fab.

Answer 10

ANTMAN- setting your controls for the heart of the sun is not called that.Its'set the controls for the heart of the sun'.