A legendary reunion for progressive rock band Pink Floyd was a chance to “let bygones be bygones” according to Roger Waters.
The founding member would reunite with David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright for a one-off performance at Live 8. Bob Geldof had asked Gilmour to get the band back together, who refused. It wasn’t until a phone call from Waters that the veteran guitarist was convinced of the plan. Since the performance, which is the last of the Waters, Gilmour, Mason, and Wright line-up given Wright’s death in 2008, Waters has spoken fondly of the show. He praised not just Gilmour’s “beautiful” singing but the event itself for being an appropriate way to bury the hatchet between the four. It seemed to last, for a little while anyway, with Gilmour appearing to play a part in Waters’ solo show in 2011. The relationship between the two may now be frosty, but for a time, it seemed relatively polite.
Waters would share the Live 8 performance was a chance for the four to “let bygones be bygones,” and that each member took that chance. He shared with Word Magazine: “It was just… really good. I was very moved to be on stage with Dave, Nick and Rick that night.
“I felt at ease and glad to be given the opportunity to let bygones be bygones and to demonstrate that, although we’ve had our difficulties in the past, we are grown men who understand that rapprochement is possible even in the face of differing points of view.
“It was really good to transcend all the crap and say, ‘Well, fuck it, let’s just get up onstage. It’s been a long while. We can agree to disagree about all the old stuff and stand up here and play these three of four songs and it can be fun, it can be good’.”
The group would be offered a $250million deal to tour as Pink Floyd, which Waters says they rejected. Though he never gave a reason, he did suggest that if the band did get back together, it would have to be for a worthy cause. The performance very nearly never happend, too, with Waters having to call his ex-bandmate to convince him it would be a good idea to play together.
Waters explained: “I tell Bob that if I’m going to make the call to Dave I need to know exactly what Bob wants us to do. Bob has to leave but says he’ll call me back. Two and a half weeks later he does call back.Â
“Apparently, he’s written a long and impassioned plea to Dave to reconsider. He’s run this missive past Nick, before sending it to Dave. Nick’s told him it’s a waste of ink and that the only thing that might impact on Dave is a call from me Bob then tells me exactly what he wants us to do at Live 8. It all sounds cool to me, so I get Dave’s telephone numbers from Bob and make the call.Â
“Dave answers the phone. Notwithstanding his surprise, which is palpable, we have a very cordial conversation. He expresses some reservations, but agrees to reconsider his position. 24 hours later my phone rings, it’s Dave. ‘Ok, he says, ‘Let’s do it’.”
