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Pink Floyd Founder Rick Wright Dies Aged 65

He had been battling cancer...

  • by Jason Gregory
  • Monday, September 15, 2008
  • Photo by: WENN
  • filed in: Alternative
Pink Floyd Founder Rick Wright Dies Aged 65 Add to My Fav Bands List
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Richard Wright, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, has died at the age of 65.

Wright, who played keyboards in the band, had been battling cancer, a spokesman said.

The keyboardist had a significant influence on the instrumentation of some of Pink Floyd's classic albums, including 'Meddle', 'Dark Side Of The Moon' and 'Wish You Were Here'.

His spokesman said: "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."

Wright's Spokesman did not say what form of cancer he had been suffering from.

Wright, who was known to fans as Rick, was born in Middlesex in July 1943.

He met fellow Pink Floyd band members Roger Waters and Nick Mason during his education at the Regent Street Polytechnic College of Architecture.

In addition to his role in the band, Wright also launched a solo career - but his albums never attracted the band's level of critical acclaim.

Wright's last performance with Pink Floyd came during their 2005 reunion at the Live 8 event in London's Hyde Park.

Pay your respects below or click here to read Gigwise’s tribute story.

Richard Wright - Gigwise Tribute
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  • RIP Rick! You will be sorely missed

    ~ by Floyd head 9/15/2008

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  • Just heard on the 5 o’clock news.. put ’’Great Gig in the Sky’’ on as loud as I could.....

    ~ by Nick Hubbard 9/15/2008

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  • Rick: Your musical presence was amazing. You will be missed.

    ~ by Mattomega 9/15/2008

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  • You put the music into the songs, you wrote the words that said it all. Your name will be remembered like your music, heard for evermore.

    ~ by Pauline Bonney 9/15/2008

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  • RIP you beautiful quiet diamond... There will never be the same without you.... The tower of my love is falling apart slowly... You will always shine on!!! RIP

    ~ by Crazydiamondada 9/15/2008

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  • R.I.P. Rick! i was too young to go to a concert but the music is brilliant just like your life.

    ~ by just another brick in the wall 9/15/2008

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  • The music world has lost another great musician.

    ~ by Mark 9/15/2008

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  • So long Rick some may have doubted you contributions in the Floyd but not me. When you and David were side by side performing "Great Gig" there was never any doubt in my mind that was Pink Floyd, what a thrill! You also sang and played "Arnold Layne" great on Gilmour’’s tour. I think Syd would have been proud! Adios

    ~ by KW in S.C. 9/15/2008

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  • One of music’s true gentlemen has gone to his great gig in the sky" God Bless you Rick and thanks for all the joy you have given.

    ~ by Pete Dann 9/15/2008

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  • What a tragic loss. You were so influential in developing the Pink Floyd sound and will be sadly missed. RIP

    ~ by Pete - Breathefloyd 9/15/2008

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  • I’m so sad....so sad

    ~ by The Pink Floyd Sound 9/15/2008

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  • Thanks for the music, Rick, especially the great gig in the sky, shine on!!!

    ~ by Mick 9/15/2008

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  • Rick, I never knew you, but you having been an integral part of a band I hold so close to my heart, I want to thank you and say farewell my friend......on to that Gig in the Sky!!!!

    ~ by viczula 9/15/2008

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  • devastated

    ~ by josh 9/15/2008

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  • Very sad day. You rocked Rick! Shine on...

    ~ by Dawn 9/15/2008

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  • RIP Rick, Echoes will always be my favourite song by the floydian ship. I will never forget hearing it as the encore on the Dark Side of the Moon tour in the 70’s...RIP

    ~ by Tommaso 9/15/2008

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  • Never forget this man’s early songs as well, such as Remember a Day, Paintbox, See Saw and Summer 68: you can hear a clear influence on the Stone Roses later on. Great keys on Animals, beautiful compositions and vocals on dark Side, Meddle and Wish You Were Here. A musician often underrated, but not by people who really listened. Great, understated, subtle, original. Not many can claim that.

    ~ by christopher rye 9/15/2008

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  • How strange. Just last night I watched for the first time, David Gilmore’s 2007 live at Albert Hall concert DVD with my dad. We were so taken in by the performance. It was AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL! MIND-BLOWING! From my family to Ricks . . . you’’ve inspired us in such profound ways. That is how one truly reaches immortality. Thank you for sharing your gift. love and blessings.

    ~ by Nora 9/15/2008

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  • All that you’ve touched.... Thank you for many hours of pure joy! See you at the Great Gig! We’’ll miss you always, Rick. Xoxo

    ~ by Laurie 9/15/2008

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  • So, so, sorry. Pink Floyd’s Piper at the Gates of Dawn was the very first album my adolescent hands procured and I have harboured a love of them ever since. I am so glad that he played with David Gilmour’’s recent tour and had his best tour ever! A wonderful legacy of music he bequeaths us all! Play on those ghostly ivories Rick - I’’m off to listen to the Great Gig in the Sky!

    ~ by David Wellings 9/15/2008

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  • this is a very sad day!

    ~ by briandctr 9/15/2008

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  • One by one they leave us. Those I spent my entire life listening to. First Syd and now Rick. RIP

    ~ by Persian Floyd-Iran 9/15/2008

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  • Your still Shine on !!

    ~ by Ron Versteeg, The Netherlands 9/15/2008

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  • You will ’Shine On’’ forever Rick... Rest In Peace.

    ~ by Merlin Storm 9/15/2008

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  • You will be missed Rick, Thanks for all the amazing music , spirit and feeling.

    ~ by Misha Pacheco 9/15/2008

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  • just can,t belive the news about rick wright ,so the gods can die rest in peace,you will be missed steve soanes australia

    ~ by steve soanes 9/16/2008

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  • Remember a day before today...a day when you were young...

    ~ by Lenny Helsing The Thanes 9/16/2008

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  • Well played

    ~ by HeathPerry 9/16/2008

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  • I am devastated. I first heard and saw the Floyd in 67 and have loved them ever since. It feels like I’ve lost a brother. The best tribute I’’ve read so far is by Neil McCormick on Daily Telegraph website. It encapsulates everything I feel about Rick and the Floyd. RIP Rick.

    ~ by Paul 9/16/2008

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  • Love your music Rick....shine on always you crazy Diamond.......we’ll see you on the dark side of the moon RIP Rick

    ~ by George Garcia San Diego 9/16/2008

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  • RIP Rick: You will be saddly missed. Your sound is a great part of what made the greatest band in the world The Greatest band in the world.

    ~ by Tyrus Espinoza 9/16/2008

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  • A CASCADING COMPLEX CHORD SPINS FREELY INTO ENERGY AND PENETRATES YET ANOTHER DIMENSION. TIME FOR THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY

    ~ by FLOYDHEAD 9/16/2008

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  • Every time I come home with too much booze on board, I put on a DVD to watch Rick and Dave sing ’echoes’’. Pure bliss. I will now watch sober and remember the life of a great performer in the greatest band. RIP great one.

    ~ by Peter, Australia 9/17/2008

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  • Wish you were still here! Your diamond will always shine on.

    ~ by roger, holland 9/18/2008

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  • us and them will never sound the same again ,it will be even better !!!! go blow the roof off with syd rick, sadly missed never forgotten R.I.P

    ~ by col ryan 9/27/2008

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  • RIP my friend.

    ~ by Brian 5/30/2009

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  • Shine on, you beautiful crazy diamond! I will love you always.

    ~ by Brielle laura 11/2/2009

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