How good were Pink Floyd?

Ok I agree to a certain extent, the underground music scene in London, the free concert in 1967 etc.

However as Syd became unfit for duty in 1968ish the band brought Gillmore in to play his guitar parts.

As he descended even further into his drugs, the band made a decision not to pick him up on their way to a gig (Southampton). The modern Pink Floyd was born at that moment.

They openly admit they couldn't write 3 minute singles like Syd but could write 30+ minute pieces of music.

If Syd had stayed functional Gillmore wouldn't have joined, and Floyd would never have written Darkside of the Moon, as Waters took over the writing of material after the void left by Syd.

Theres loads of stuff out there on this. I've tried to load a picture of Syd from 1974 but can't.

It really is a crying shame how he turned out, even the band didn't recognise him when he rocked up at Abbey Road studios in 1974 sometime during the Wish You Were Here recording sessions.

I think the second album A Saucerful of Secrets after Syd left was the most influential in Floyds development but thats the Gilmore/Wright influence.

The first time we hear Gillmore/Wright harmonies in the Celiestal Voices part of the track ASFOS.

But hey I like both Syds Pink Floyd and Waters Pink Floyd.

However I haven't supported Gillmore's or Water's solo career I'm not interested it ain't Pink Floyd.
You got a few things wrong. It's spelt Gilmour :)
The modern PF wasn't born at that moment, they spent the next year or two touring and playing Syd material.
Waters didn't take up the void after Syd, they all contributed for years until waters took over. Like on the movie soundtracks, Meddle, Ummagumma, Saucerful Of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother.
 
Spot on that. Waters is the alchemist that Gilmour could never be.
Waters and Gilmour are like Lennon and McCartney- One has the hard edge and one the nicer sound with more actual musical talent. Together immense but separately nowhere near as good.

I do though own all the Gilmour solo stuff and almost none of the Waters which shows where my loyalties lie!
 
I think the 2 post waters albums are total dogshit, Gilmour had a bunch of writers help but couldn't write anything as deep, angst ridden and sardonic (or as lasting) as Waters could. I saw those 2 albums as a last big cash in before retiring the name.
The Final Cut was pretty shit too, Roger solo really. (although I do love The Gunners Dream).

In the end they needed each other to produce classic albums.
That's the word i was searching for to accompany his angst but i couldn't think of the right word. You nailed it Bill, good post pal.
 
You got a few things wrong. It's spelt Gilmour :)
The modern PF wasn't born at that moment, they spent the next year or two touring and playing Syd material.
Waters didn't take up the void after Syd, they all contributed for years until waters took over. Like on the movie soundtracks, Meddle, Ummagumma, Saucerful Of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother.
:-)
 
Waters and Gilmour are like Lennon and McCartney- One has the hard edge and one the nicer sound with more actual musical talent. Together immense but separately nowhere near as good.

I do though own all the Gilmour solo stuff and almost none of the Waters which shows where my loyalties lie!
Yeah but for balance you need to give Waters solo stuff a fair listen before dismissing him pal
 
Yeah but for balance you need to give Waters solo stuff a fair listen before dismissing him pal
I've listened to Waters and Gilmores solo stuff and it doesn't do it for me.

Waters presented the "Wall" or "The Pro's And Cons" to Gilmore, Wright and Mason for the next LP in 1978.

They chose the Wall.

It would have been interesting if they had chosen Pros and Cons as to how that would have turned out.
 
I've listened to Waters and Gilmores solo stuff and it doesn't do it for me.

Waters presented the "Wall" or "The Pro's And Cons" to Gilmore, Wright and Mason for the next LP in 1978.

They chose the Wall.

It would have been interesting if they had chosen Pros and Cons as to how that would have turned out.
Fair enough mate. I'll probably get into Gilmour's solo stuff one day but i may even have to smoke weed to mellow myself enough to appreciate it, not something i want to get into the habit of though.
 
I'm a bit different, for me his best solo was pro's & Cons, agree about KAOS = Dire. Clapton played great guitar on KAOS.
Didn't like Bored Amused To Death
I knew Clapton played on Pros & Cons (which I’ll give another listen to, based on what you’ve said), but had no idea he played on Kaos too - are you 100% about that?

As for Amused, I honestly think you’re being a tad harsh. He brought out a really good live album in 2000 called In The Flesh which included about 4 tracks from Amused, and listening to the whole album, there’s no obvious drop in quality between those songs & the Floyd tracks they are surrounded by.
 
I knew Clapton played on Pros & Cons (which I’ll give another listen to, based on what you’ve said), but had no idea he played on Kaos too - are you 100% about that?

As for Amused, I honestly think you’re being a tad harsh. He brought out a really good live album in 2000 called In The Flesh which included about 4 tracks from Amused, and listening to the whole album, there’s no obvious drop in quality between those songs & the Floyd tracks they are surrounded by.
Jay Stapley played lead guitar on Radio Kaos.
 
I knew Clapton played on Pros & Cons (which I’ll give another listen to, based on what you’ve said), but had no idea he played on Kaos too - are you 100% about that?

As for Amused, I honestly think you’re being a tad harsh. He brought out a really good live album in 2000 called In The Flesh which included about 4 tracks from Amused, and listening to the whole album, there’s no obvious drop in quality between those songs & the Floyd tracks they are surrounded by.
Sorry I meant Clapton played on pros & cons.
Really well..
 
Weaker as a group maybe but a juggernaut sales wise its a no contest, the Pros and Cons probably seen as Waters finest solo work although I prefer Amused to Death sold just under 600,000 where as the division bell did 12,000,000

Even Floyds last little scrape the archives album did 2,500.000 so the question to be asked if Roger was so fucking good in his own mind why didn't he carry those Floyd fans with him?
At risk of stating the obvious, he didn’t carry the band’s name did he?! It wasn’t a case of following/buying/going to see ‘David Gilmour’ or/vs ‘Roger Waters’, it was ‘Pink Floyd’ vs Roger Waters. Didn’t surprise me at all.
Especially as sound wise Gilmours version was far less adventurous than Waters solo, and basically just tried to generate a facsimile of their classic records.
There was also always a proportion of their fans who would follow the Gilmour guitar/soloing sound cone what may.
As such, the question can be asked, but imho, it can also be answered, without demeaning or downplaying Waters achievements in any way.
 
The post Waters Floyd albums are to me Floyd by numbers but they did one or two decent things. Of course Gilmour didn't retire the name cos they wouldn't have sold so many albums and tickets. Waters solo albums are average. He left Floyd cos he knew he'd peaked , which the solo albums prove. A brave and honourable thing to do.


Lol
 
TBF There are some cracking tunes on the Gilmore fronted Pink Floyd Division Bell album. But I rarely listen to the Momentary lapse of reason album. I even had a chance to go to Maine Road to watch them but turned down the ticket as I'd already seen the real deal twice 1977 & 1980. The club I go drinking in one of my mates saw the Syd Barrett fronted Pink Floyd in early 1968 at the Imperial Ballroom Nelson. It comes up in conversation a lot:-)
 

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