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Back to Episodes7312: Rick Wright — The Fired Pink Floyd Keyboardist Who Outearned the Whole Band | pplpod
Episode 7312
Published 4 days, 3 hours ago
Description
Rick Wright was fired from Pink Floyd by Roger Waters during the recording of The Wall, then rehired as a salaried session musician for the subsequent tour. Because he was the only member not sharing in the tour's financial losses, he was the only one who made money. The keyboardist who got fired outearned the band that fired him.
This episode traces Wright from his role as Pink Floyd's founding keyboardist through the atmospheric textures he created on Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, his firing, and his quiet return as the band fractured around him.
- He was fired from Pink Floyd by Roger Waters during the sessions for The Wall in 1979
- As a salaried musician on The Wall tour, he was the only band member who made a profit from the shows
- His keyboard textures and harmonies were essential to the sound of Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here
- He rejoined Pink Floyd as a full member when David Gilmour took over leadership of the band after Waters departed