R.I.P. Richard Wright (1943-2008)

This past Monday (9/15), one of my all-time, all-time favorite musicians passed away, the great Richard Wright of Pink Floyd. Richard played keyboards, and sang some occasional vocals. While Pink Floyd is one the most popular and well-known bands in Rock History, the band members themselves were far from rock celebrities, with only the real fans knowing their names, recognizing their pictures, etc. In the early days of Floyd, original leader Syd Barrett got most of the spotlight. When Pink Floyd fractured in the early 80's, the two opposing forces of Roger Waters and David Gilmour got their share of ink for their very acrimonious feud. Richard Wright never got any special kind of recognition, nor did he seek it. He played a more supporting role, but his contribution musically to the band was huge. In many ways, Wright's textured keyboards were the foundation of Pink Floyd's sound.

Pink Floyd in the early days (Wright on the far right)

Richard Wright was a musician's musician. His style was known for restraint, musicality, atmosphere, and lots and lots of emotion. Although his playing was steeped in jazz, blues, and other musical styles, it is amazing to learn that he was self-taught. But then again, that probably isn't surprising. He played straight from the soul.

I also loved his voice, and the occasional songs he sang or wrote for the Floyd, as well as his two solo albums. In the days after Syd left the band, Wright was the most accomplished songwriter in the group. He helped fill that void until Gilmour and Waters' skills were further honed. Gilmour had the amazing voice in the band, but when Richard and David sang together, like on the monumental classic "Echoes," their blend was even more magical. As Roger Waters took creative control of the band as they evolved in the late 70's, Richard's unique contribution was minimized and squeezed out of their sound. This is why I rejoiced when his first solo album, "Wet Dream," was released in 1978!

When the post-Waters version of the band came together in the late 80's, Wright came back into the fold, and by the time they released their "The Division Bell" album in 1994, Wright was a major contributor again, helping write the music for a number of songs, and even taking lead vocals on another. This creative spark continued with the release of his second and final solo album, "Broken China." This was a very serious work, one thematically based around the serious depression that his wife suffered from. Although it was hardly known to even the more dedicated Pink Floyd fans, it is often considered the *BEST* solo album put out by any of the Floyd members. This diehard fan is one who agrees!!!

I tell you, it is a great joy to see Richard in David Gilmour's band on his live DVD "Night After Night," which came out in 2007. Seeing the two of them sing "Echoes" again is purely awe inspiring. Plus David had the kindness to include a number of other Wright lead vocal spots in some of the extras included on the disc. Check it out!

Performing with David Gilmour's band in 2006

I have always been one to champion the underdog, or the unsung hero. Richard Wright was one of these. God, how much I loved his playing and singing! I even put together my own Richard Wright best of mix-CD, entitled "Richard Wright Is God." I made this about 2 years ago when I was in a major Floyd renaissance. He will definitely be missed by this fan. But how blessed I think I am, and we all are for his great contribution to our musical lives.


Give Me 8 Cents,
Rudo

PROG, PROG, PROG and more PROG!!!

Genesis (back in the day with Peter Gabriel, and when Phil Collins was cool and had hair)

So what’s the f*&king deal with Progressive Rock, or more commonly called “Prog?” Why is this wonderful form of music the “whipping boy” of snooty music critics and fans all over the place? Well, one reason is that the criticism is another form of “anti-intellectualism.” This of course makes the presumption that Prog is intellectual music, or music for intellectuals. This is true to some small degree, but it is also very UNTRUE in many other ways.

Since I have been following Prog for over 34 years (on and off), I can verify that there are Prog fans who are “elitist snotbags,” that think Prog is the only type of music of any worth, and that if people aren’t listening to it, they are idiots. Well…. This form of elitist snotbagism is quite popular in ALL types of music!!! There are zillions of elitist snotbags who only like punk, and put down other types of music, and think that everybody who isn't punk is an idiot. You can say the same for any type of music: jazz, classical, classic rock, hardcore, softcore, Black Metal, White Metal, Armenian bongo music, new wave, old new wave, new old new wave, etc.

I love Prog with all my heart and soul, and think it is one of the most enjoyable forms of music to listen to. However, I don’t take it toooooooo seriously. That would be a big mistake. I think it is a mistake to take any type of music too seriously. Right now in my life, I like challenging music, that does more than just affect my more visceral emotions through simplistic expression. Prog is challenging music that challenges me through aural landscapes, and more subliminal emotion. In good Prog, I find the emotion in the playing, the singing, the epic melodies, and the album covers with space dwarfs on them. While a lot of the lyrics are a bit daff, that is A-OK!!! Right now, I would much rather listen to a 20 minute epic song about squirrels (in five named subsections) than some downtrodden story about a shattered romantic relationship in a trailer park, or some snarky hipster rock 'n' roll about smack and cigarettes (by some sixth generation Velvet Underground/New York Dolls wannabee), or just how bad the Bush Administration really is. If a really cool synth part in an epic Prog track makes the hair on my arms stand up, by then, ALL F*&KING RIGHT!

The bottom line is, I think Prog is very, very 8 CENTS, just like Metal! If you can get that Metal is 8 cents, then I think you should get that Prog is 8 cents, because they aren’t that far apart in the 8 cents department! At the root core, 8 is 8, and if it ain’t 8, it ain’t great!

Anekdoten (a really cool modern Prog band from Sweden)

In the months I have had my blog going, I have been into Metal, Metal, Metal. However, the periodic and predicted change in tide is coming, and I am shifting towards Prog, Prog, Prog. In the last five years or so, it has been Metal and Prog, Prog and Metal, more Metal, more Prog, some cool European folk music (squared), some old time country, a dash of the old classic rock, a brief freak out on Miles Davis, and then back to Prog and Metal, Metal and Prog, etc, etc, etc. BEWARE! THE PROG CONTENT IS COMING to Rudo’s 8 Cent Marvels!!! There has been a lot of great Prog created in recent years, especially from Europe, in particular Scandinavia. I love the old Prog, I love the new Prog. I don’t love Prog that wanks on total excess and musicianship, and is devoid of emotion (yes, there is some of that too). But I love good 8 cent Prog, oh yes I do!

Give me 8 Cents,

Rudo