Richard Wright dies at age 65

[Nessa 23]

Richard Wright, Pink Floyd Founder, Keyboardist, Dies at Age 65

By Laurence Arnold

Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Richard Wright, a founding member of U.K. rock band Pink Floyd whose keyboard lines were an integral part of its psychedelic sound, has died. He was 65.

Wright died today after a short battle with cancer, said his spokesman, Doug Wright, who isn't related.

While Richard Wright gets credit mostly for his work on the keyboard -- which he taught himself -- he also wrote songs and sang on Floyd classics such as ``Time'' and ``Echoes.''

Wright ``has maintained a low profile throughout the band's history,'' Billboard magazine said in an August 2007 feature. Asked for his take on the staying power of the Pink Floyd's cult- like following, he told the magazine:

``Oh, God, I don't understand it. All you writers need to talk about that. I know we've made some great songs and great music, but I can't tell you why we're so popular.''

Wright was one of five founders of the band, which released its first record in 1967. He met fellow band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason while at architecture school. Co-founder Roger Keith ``Syd'' Barrett died in July 2006.

The band achieved worldwide stardom with the highly experimental 1973 album ``The Dark Side of the Moon.''

In 1979, band leader Waters fired Wright and allowed him to play only as a salaried sideman during live concerts for the album ``The Wall,'' according to the Web site allmusic.com. The group reformed without Waters, and with Wright, for the 1987 album ``A Momentary Lapse of Reason.'' He became a full-time member of the band again in 1994.

He released his first solo album, ``Wet Dream,'' in 1978, and his second, ``Broken China,'' in 1996.

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RIP

[Kevin and 10]

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

bleh.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...although I think Roger Waters was the real genius behind Pink Floyd.