Richard Wright

[R.L.@]

Floyd founder Wright dies at 65

Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett and Richard Wright

Wright (right) wrote songs on albums including Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright has died aged 65 from cancer.

Wright appeared on the group's first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.

Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly afterwards.

Gilmour said: "He was such a lovely, gentle, genuine man and will be missed terribly by so many who loved him."

Writing on his website, he added: "And that's a lot of people. Did he not get the loudest, longest round of applause at the end of every show in 2006?"

Wright's spokesman said in a statement: "The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

He did not say what form of cancer the self-taught keyboard player and pianist had.

Live 8

Wright, a founder member of The Pink Floyd Sound - and other previous incarnations including Sigma 6 - met Waters and Mason at architecture school.

Richard Wright

Wright rejoined Pink Floyd for the London Live 8 concert in 2005

Pink Floyd achieved legendary status with albums including 1973's The Dark Side Of The Moon, which stayed in the US album chart for more than a decade.

Wright, known as Rick earlier in his career, wrote The Great Gig In The Sky and Us And Them from the album.

Waters left the band in 1981, performing his last concert at London's Earls Court.

Wright, together with Gilmour and Mason, continued to record and tour as Pink Floyd during the remainder of the 1980s and into the 1990s, releasing their last studio album - The Division Bell - in 1994.

In 2005, the full band reunited - for the first time in 24 years - for the Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park.

Wright also contributed vocals and keyboards to Gilmour's 2006 solo album On An Island, while performing with his touring band in shows in Europe and the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7617363.stm

Today is a very sad day for any music fan.

[where's izzy?]

Dude, I seriously can't believe it.

[Spoon87]

This fuckin' sucks, if I may say so... Rest in peace...

[Zint]

Music seems to help the pain

Seems to cultivate the brain.

Doctor kindly tell your wife that

I'm alive - flowers thrive - realize - realize

Realize.

[Lithium]

That sucks. I'll play some Floyd as my lullaby music in his honor.

RIP

[killer]

Even though I was never a fan

RIP

[misch]

R.I.P. Richard

Shine on

[New Rose]

Very sad to see him go. One of my favorite bands ever.

R.I.P Rick Wright.

[Opax]

Glad I got to see the originals including Richard at Live 8 a few years ago.

[DirtyDeeds]

Oh my God. I can't believe this. He was my second favorite member, behind Waters. I LOVED when he did vocals and his piano work had so much feeling in it. Us and Them is the BEST Pink Floyd song ever, and one of the best songs of modern music, period. This is horrible. I'm so sad I will never see him and the band play. I guess this is it. All hope is gone. Pink Floyd is truly gone. But what a wonderful life it had. The music lives on.

Wish you were here, Richard.

[Me Scandar]

A Great Gig in The Sky for Wright, R.I.P.

[chicagocoma13]

What a sad day. He was a class act. Hope his family is ok and RIP.