Happy Birthday to Roger Waters, born this day in 1943. Waters is a singer, songwriter, bassist, and co-founder of Pink Floyd (formerly called Tea Set).
He became the band’s principal lyricist after Syd Barrett’s 1968 departure.
Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and released a series of successful solo albums. He has also authored an opera, Ca Ira. The most active of all the Floyd members, he has toured extensively as a solo act since 1999, playing The Dark Side Of The Moon in its entirety and the hugely successful The Wall tour.
Trivia
Nick Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd to appear on every album release.
Roy Harper, a friend of the band Led Zeppelin, sang on Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here.
The inflatable pig on the cover of Floyd’s album Animals was nicknamed Algie by the band.
Roger Waters recorded at home the opening sound effects of coins, a cash register, tearing paper for the start of the track ‘Money’.
It was Roger Waters’ idea to have a pig floating between two chimneys on Battersea Power Station for the cover of Animals.
‘The Lunatic Song’ was one of the working titles for the song ‘Brain Damage’ from The Dark Side Of The Moon. was
They brought in guitarist Snowy White to perform with Pink Floyd for their In The Flesh Tour.
In 1968 Eric Clapton became the first famous outside musician to play on a Beatles’ recording, doing the guitar solo for ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.
Jimi Hendrix made his last live show this day in 1970, appearing at the Isle Of Fehmarn in Germany. The guitarist died 12 days later on 18th September 1970.
Elton John performed live his alternative version of ‘Candle In The Wind’ at Diana Princess of Wales’ funeral in 1997. About 2.5 billion people around the world watched Elton play a special tribute to Princess Diana. The track became the biggest selling single of all-time.
Funny enough in 2001 American band Earth, Wind & Fire announced that Viagra would sponsor their forthcoming 30th-anniversary American tour.
