Roger Waters has likened the David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd to “Paul and Ringo touring as The Beatles.”
Waters, who left the group in 1985, was critical of the band continuing in his absence. The founding member suggested the nine years Gilmour fronted the group after he left were a “complicated” time for his ex-bandmates and himself. The bassist and songwriter says he feels for Paul McCartney‘s songwriting struggle, saying the Lennon-McCartney credit is a struggle for those who want their work “recognised”. Waters has gone on record in the past claiming to regret the writing credit he gave to Pink Floyd members on The Dark Side of the Moon. Waters likened the struggle to McCartney and Lennon’s, but did say he felt an “affinity” with the Imagine songwriter on the deeper meanings of life.
He told Word Magazine: “Well there’s a section in a song of mine, What God Wants Part 2, that goes, ‘God wants friendship, God wants fame, God wants credit, God wants blame, God wants poverty, God wants wealth, God wants insurance, God wants to cover himself’.
“Sometimes wanting credit can get in the way of friendship. I certainly want my work to be recognised, so I can understand Paul McCartney wanting the same thing. We’ll never know who did what in The Beatles as we weren’t there.
“I confess I always felt an affinity with John Lennon in his troubled search for the meaning of life and love and truth. We all have our favourite Beatle, but whatever they did they did together.”
Keeping on the subject of The Beatles, Waters would suggest Gilmour’s version of Pink Floyd was too “weird” to succeed. The Gilmour-led band would release two albums during their initial run, A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. The Endless River would release decades later.
Waters suggested it was more “complicated” when it came to the relationship, personal and professional, between him and his ex-bandmates. He said: “That we did what we did together? Yeah, it’s true. But it’s a bit more complicated. If Paul and Ringo had toured as The Beatles, it would have been kind of weird.”
Though the band would continue on without Waters, the bassist has made it clear how he feels about his time in the group. On The Dark Side of the Moon, Waters told Uncut Magazine: “said: “This album is my baby. In terms of what the records were about, they were my ideas and I wrote them. Dave, particularly, but Rick as well, had major, important contributions.
“I’ve regretted it rather a lot since, but I’m over that now. I went through many years when I really regretted having given away half the writing credits, particularly [Nick Mason’s solo credit for] Speak To Me. I gave it to him. Nobody else had anything to do with it at all.”
The problem Waters has is that without Gilmour and Wright his output is diminished in musical presence. Wright claimed that he had to teach Waters music because he was lacking in talent. Whilst Gilmour would be amongst most peoples’ list of greatest guitarists and Wright amongst great keyboard players, Waters would never be classed as a great bass player. His lyrics, on the other hand, are without doubt, phenomenal.
I agree 110%, Gilmore and Wright are phenomenal musicians.
Have you been to see Roger Waters concert in person? His production team is great! We all have to remember that his productions are not solely his doing. He’s simply the perform. There’s a production design team and all sorts of other areas. It’s not JUST him that is responsible.
Waters is the artistic foundation of his shows. The architect.
With the Pink Floyd much of the music and albums flowed from his inspiration and pen. But music of every member made the sum of all parts far more amazing than anyone could have imagined!
Great summary. I just wish they would stop dissing on each other.
He is a great lyricist with profound imagery. I just HATE how full of himself he is! Floyd was not at all diminished with his leaving. The vibe was a bit different, but not at all inferior. If his ego wasn’t so big, maybe he’d still be with the band?
They couldn’t wash Tangerine Dreams knickers
From what i understand too is that david played a lot of bass on wish you were here and animals.
Bullocks. He didn’t touch a bass on WYWH
One man doesn’t make a band.
I used to work solo in a rubber factory making millions of bands so I beg to differ.
Eh, well, it does make a One Man Band😁
Roger thought Pink Floyd would just collapse when he left. That didn’t happen as Gilmore, Wright, and Mason did just fine without him.
Oops. I mean Gilmour of course. Felled by auto-correct and lack of attention.
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Gilmour of course. Auto corrected and not noticed.
Waters may be a talented writer, but he has always had an ego problem, thinking he is so much better than he really is. He’s jealous of of Pink Floyd going on and especially of Gilmour.
Absolutely agree
Absolutely agree!
You’re so right and they became even better without wingey waters.I hate the wall.
All anyone needs to do to check Roger’s claim is compare his solo albums with post-Waters Floyd. I genuinely doubt anyone has listened to a Waters album more than once. One day, Waters will finally understand what Floyd fans have always known – that it was Gilmour’s and Wright’s music that allowed his message to even be heard.
But he can do exactly what Gilmour shouldn’t…
The 94′ Pink Floyd tour… before they announced it on the radio,a giant psychedelic blimp that said Pink Floyd passed all day on I-10 .. another beautiful surprise they picked a full moon to play to at the SunBowl that night..the backup singers that had been with them since 73′ were present
Cool
Amused to Death by Waters is better than anything the post-Waters Floyd ever did
Roger Walters is very talented but he is ubdeniably an arsehole.
Who the hell does he think he is,?the Floyd sounds just as good without him.
Did Waters not get massive payout from Pink Floyd Ltd for the lyrics rights?
Gilmore has a better personality that’s way he was able to carry on
I loved Gilmores guitar playing but never cared for the post Waters version of the band as much. It was Pink, but it wasn’t Pink Floyd. By the way, which ones Pink?
Gilmour, Wright, and Mason continued as Floyd brilliantly and without the headache of their former prima-dona, Waters. After all these years that Waters never stops talking about this speaks volumes about his fragile ego.
He is more talented as a creator than the remaining three combined
Bottom Line. Amen to that. They were a phenomenal band, but there was only one genius. Sad all the same
Hey, Roger: don’t you have enough? You’re a rock legrand, your grandkids’ grandkids won’t have to work, and you’re bitching about writing credits and royalties. No one cares. Be happy with your life and your accomplishments. Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar, you’re gonna go far …
You’re gonna fly high, you’re never gonna die, you’re going to make it if you try, they’re good to love you…
Well said..
Roger is, and always has been, a whiny little bitch who tries to drag his old band mates through the mud.
Great songwriter yes, but just a moany bitter old man now.
So very true get over yourself!!!
The Beatles, despite breaking up and members dying, still attracted many fans to Macca (and Ringo) solo shows. Likewise fans still turn out for Pink Floyd whatever the line up. The “regrets” he may of had he clearly isn’t over. Indeed, Waters appears to of become a vengeful, bitter man.
Pink Floyd Mk3 were phenonomal, as were the 2 previous incarnations. Roger was not Pink Floyd, nor was Dave, Richard or Nick. Syd on the other hand ………………. okay the band did okay without him too.
Unfortunately not Roger because after you left they continued to be a great success and even Dave Gilmour would sell out alot more big venues that you ever could 🤷♂️ just saying .
I have heard some of the solo stuff Waters did after he left the band. Honestly, it’s quite political, but I think overall it’s just ok and nothing special.
However, I think the bands work without him is really good. The Division Bell is one of my favourite albums (Oxygene by Jean Michel Jarre and Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield are my all time favourites).
As for him, he seems to have, and always has had, an attitude problem.
Secondly, if you give something to someone, you give it, end of. & Firstly, I’m a MASSIVE Waters fan, solo stuff and of course especially Pink Floyd. Floyd are and especially were such a wonderful part of my life. Pink Floyd are so special, trust humans to try to ‘fk it up’ somewhere along the line. All the squabbling out in the open, in the media, where ever, all it’s doing is taking away from something so wonderful. Like da vinci hacking pieces off the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. OK so it wasn’t plain sailing, I get it, so write a bloody book, and if people want to peek behind the curtain they can. But stop forcing it on all of us. I don’t have £millions, truth is I don’t have a pot to piss in, never been abroad I don’t have fk all but I relax and put Floyd on and everything is harmonious and perfect and no one not even waters and gilmour are allowed to fk that up.
Roger Waters, it’s asinine to compare yourself against the Beatles. You don’t stack up to their level.
Waters really needs to give it a rest. He comes across as so bitter and twisted. I saw pink Floyd twice without him and he wasn’t missed, take gilmour wright or mason out and it wouldn’t be right. Great song writer bang average musician.
Floyd was always the sum of it’s parts.Waters is a bitter megalomaniac
Dave Gilmour is an ignorant pr##k. I asked him for a photo at one of his gigs, and he said “no”! I’ve spent a fortune on Floyd over the years. All he had to do was look at me for a couple of seconds.
I’d heard Dave is more of a dissonant fella when approached for an autograph or photo-op. He’s not unkind. He’s a snob.
Everything Waters put out sound like The Wall
I thought Roger’s vocal contributions on the latter albums he was involved on were just a bit too angry
Roger writes lyrically intelligent music. David average pop songs, his talent a unique guitar sound.
Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking CD cheap! I’ll pay you a buck to take it off my hands.
Just show’s, money can’t by happiness, if Waters was a fruit,what would he be???LEMON, less..
Why does he have to rewrite history, always reminding us he was the talent. He left the band, one of the biggest in rock history, they carried on which they had every right to do, get over yourself Rog.
He carried on playing the.same material he always did!!! So why is he stirring up trouble on the front page about gilmour carrying on? And the same could be said of you rambling on without sid barrett, who ,undoubdebly ,was the core of all that followed!!!
I have been to two of his concerts (2nd under duress after having to sit through the first one not knowing what was coming)
Very political..I went for the music..not for a lesson on his personal political views !
The 2nd time he told people..IF YOU DONT LIKE MY POLITICAL VEIWS F OFF NOW…BEAUTIFUL
Then took the p out of everyone for being followers to powers that be and acting like sheep…guess what ..you know ..within half an hour he had everyone bleating like sheep from the track on animals.
I dont see/hear Mr Gilmour slagging
Waters..you was part of a team..
Floyd were Floyd because of a team…from Barrett to you and EVERYONE else
Give it a rest
His bledding heart tirades were offensive!! This cliwn wasnt even an american yet he was telling us what to do and think in america!! Bob weir is the apitamy.of the democratic mashine, hes played the last three blue inaugrration day festivities, yet ive seen him well over 250shows and not one word spoken about it!! I got stuck at one waters show and before he played one note, he stung me at a core level, i made my voice and opinion of that clownshow very clear. I had premium seats so when he reached the shows pinacle with the uncomfordibly dumb porion of the evrning, that apparently evryone knew waw coming and sat down quoetly in unison quietly as an apparent ritual, i seized the moment to stand on my seat as a soapbox and told roger waters to get the fuck out america!! And he heard it as did evryone else in the orchestra seating at great woods!!! The timing was impecable . Evryone sitting while waters got ready to play his anthem and the scielence was piercing until i pierced his aas. Im not a trouble maker but the entire bowl was glaring at me and my blatant opposition to their hero !and i was proud to be the only american in the joint
People need to understand that this feud between Waters and Gilmour is largely kept alive by a media that loves controversy. While I definitely think Waters is a bitter old man, I sincerely doubt he attacks Gilmour every time he gets in front of a microphone. Does he do it on a regular basis, probably, but no one can be that obsessed for that long and remain sane. Of course, who knows if he is still sane.
Post Waters Floyd was never as good as they were with him. There is no question about that. But the megalomania of Waters started to show on The Wall. It was not nearly as good as at least 4 of the previous albums and maybe even 5. I don’t consider The Final Cut as a “real” Floyd album, but as a Waters solo album and I hate it, but I did like The Pros And Cons of Hitchhiking and Radio Kaos. His solo work since is not inspiring at all.
It is also fair to refer to Momentary Lapse of Reason as a Gilmour solo album, but I think it is better than everything Waters has put out post Floyd except for maybe Pros & Cons. But that is just my opinion.
Amused to Death is way better than AMLoR
I think it is just sad that Roger has to worry about something that happened decades ago and not realize that Pink Floyd is not just him and his writing and songs but something special like the Beatles and Black Sabbath. But he is also lost in his own bad choices of what he says and thinks. For someone who has seen the world time to grow up.
i love Rodger but sometimes he does my head in.David Gilmour has rights just as much as anyone else in band get over it Rodger if not get back in the band !!
I saw post Waters Pink Floyd in the 80s and thought they were excellent. Don’t think a Roger Waters Floyd would work half as much. Gilmore has a great voice and no-one can replicate his guitar skills 👌
Yes, David Gilmour is an exceptional guitarist. Yes, he’s got a fine voice, too. Roger Waters isn’t going down the annals of rock history as a legendary bassist, no. What Roger Waters IS and what David Gilmour isn’t is a good songwriter. Roger Waters was able to write songs David Gilmour could never conjure up in 1,000,000 years.
Walters is an arrogant prick. Talented, but so narcissistically self-absorbed. Floyd had several ok albums, including The Final Cut.
Dark Side, Animals, Wish you were here and The Wall are brilliant. I thought Momentarily Lapse was awesome and Division Bell very good. Saw that tour at Soldier Field and it was epic.
Walter’s post/Floyd music never landed, hence the reason he’s taken The Walk on tour again and again. Saw that show as well. Really strong. Anyway, Grow up, Roger and get over yourself.