Pink Floyd history

The cult band did not gain its mega-popularity immediately. Pink Floyd's path to world fame started with scandals and boycott by critics. The band was formed in 1966, and the first album was released only a year later.

At the start

The first members of the team were Roger Waters and Syd Barrett, who had recently graduated from Cambridge College. Barrett at that time had already written several dozen poems, some of which were set to music. Waters sang in nightclubs. A little later, the duo was joined by Nick Mason and Richard Wright, who, while still in their student years, formed their own band. Then came jazz guitarist Bob Close.

It was time to come up with a name and make a statement. The musicians went through several options and eventually settled on "Pink Floyd Sound". The guys didn't bother and just combined the names of popular blues singers of those years. The idea belonged to Barrett.

Soon Close decides to leave. His fanatical commitment to jazz did not allow him to perform the band's informal ripped compositions. Barrett becomes the guitarist and performer, Waters plays bass guitar and also sings, Wright is behind the keyboards, and Mason takes the place of the drummer. In early 1966, Pink Floyd Sound periodically performs at the famous Marquee Club. It was from his stage that the ascent to the musical Olympus of the legendary "Rolling Stones" began. Then the guys move to the institution "UFO" (UFO).

At the same time the guys work on their own project "Games for May". A few months later, Andrew King and Peter Jenner pay attention to the young rock musicians. Thanks to the support of these managers, the band has its first recorded song. The single was called "Arnold Layne" ("Arnold Layne"). National radio refused to air the song. However, it managed to get a slot on a lesser-known radio station. Listeners received the song coolly. Although it entered the charts, it did not reach number 25 on the national charts.

The song claimed to have a deep philosophical meaning. It was about the theft of women's toiletries from a laundry, but the imagery was only a metaphor. This gave the critics, who took the lyrics literally, a reason to label the musicians as shallow lewd men. Because of the scandal caused by the reviews, the band dropped out of the public eye for a while.

Formative period

During the forced break, Syd Barrett became seriously addicted to strong drugs. His inadequate behaviour has repeatedly caused conflicts within the band. After coming out of another narcotic peak, Barrett swears to his colleagues that he is going to quit. And indeed, for some time keeps himself in control. The band successfully launches "Games for May" and once again finds itself in the thick of musical life.

One of the songs featured on this Pink Floyd project, "See Emily Play", immediately enters the Top 10. The band starts to be recognised, they gain a loyal fan base, music critics shower them with compliments, and famous record companies offer promotion.

It is at this time that Pink Floyd develops its own unique style. Later it will be defined as "electronic pulsation", and such music will become extremely popular in discos. In the meantime, the rock musicians go on a concert tour around the country. Everything starts off great. But already after half a month Barrett again gets involved in drugs. It got to the point where the lead singer blacked out during the concert. Persuasion, pleas, threats, nothing. Waters is forced to look for a replacement for his friend in order to continue the tour in a normal mode.

A new vocalist arrives and takes off

David Gilmour was invited to join Pink Floyd. He played guitar very well, and also had a strong voice. The musician also suggested some innovations to his colleagues. Gilmore's ideas were liked by the rest of the band, and he was finally confirmed as the vocalist. Especially as the remaining two months of the tour Barrett became increasingly unhinged and had to leave.

At the end of the tour, in August 1967, the band released their first official album, The piper at the gates of dawn. It includes songs written by Barrett. The disc becomes extremely popular. The entire run is instantly sold out. It was the beginning of a triumph.

A year later, Pink Floyd members took to the stage in a new grandiose project "A saucerful of secrets". One of its musical numbers "Corporal Clegg" ("Corporal Clegg") becomes for a long time a truly popular hit. This song was the beginning of social themes in the band's work: it deals with the return of a soldier from the war, crowned with glory, but left disabled.

After the show, Pink Floyd embarks on an extensive tour of the United States, Australia and Japan. The band members return from this tour as international celebrities and their albums sell millions of copies.