One of the most popular bands in the history of rock music, England's Pink Floyd transcended its beginnings as a psychedelic R&B cover group to become a highly inventive, technically gifted space rock band that sold out stadiums throughout the '70s and earned its place in the classic rock pantheon with numerous platinum-selling albums. After the departure of lyricist/bassist Roger Waters in the early '80s, the band entered hibernation as Waters and guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour fought over the legal rights to the band's name. After a settlement, Gilmour, along with founding members Richard Wright (keyboards)and Nick Mason (drums) continued on as Pink Floyd, releasing new albums and touring twice in the late '80s and '90s.
Pink Floyd's roots go way back to the early 1960s, when Waters, Wright and Mason were in an R&B band together while at art school in Cambridge. …