Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

September 6, 1943 in Great Bookham, Surrey, England

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Roger Waters is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and composer who is best known as the co-founder and bassist of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. Born on September 6, 1943, in Surrey, England, Waters grew up in a musical family and was exposed to classical music at an early age. His father, Eric Fletcher Waters, was a schoolteacher and a pianist, while his mother, Mary Waters, was a housewife who loved to sing. Waters attended the Cambridgeshire High School for Boys, where he met his future bandmates, Syd Barrett and David Gilmour. In 1965, Waters and Barrett formed Pink Floyd, which quickly became one of the most influential and successful rock bands of all time. Over the years, Waters played a key role in shaping the band's sound and vision, and his lyrics and compositions became some of the most iconic and enduring in the history of rock music. Waters' early compositions for Pink Floyd were characterized by their psychedelic and experimental nature, as well as their use of innovative sound effects and electronic instruments. Some of his most notable works from this period include "Interstellar Overdrive," "A Saucerful of Secrets," and "Atom Heart Mother." These albums helped establish Pink Floyd as one of the leading bands of the psychedelic era, and paved the way for their later, more ambitious works. In the 1970s, Waters began to take a more prominent role in Pink Floyd's creative direction, and his lyrics and compositions became increasingly political and introspective. This period saw the release of some of Pink Floyd's most iconic albums, including "The Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "Animals." These albums explored themes of alienation, disillusionment, and social critique, and featured some of Waters' most memorable compositions, such as "Money," "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," and "Dogs." In 1979, Waters released his first solo album, "The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking," which was a concept album that explored the themes of love, sex, and mortality. The album featured a number of notable musicians, including Eric Clapton, David Sanborn, and Michael Kamen, and was well-received by critics and fans alike. In the 1980s, Waters became increasingly disillusioned with the direction of Pink Floyd, and tensions between him and the other members of the band began to mount. In 1983, Waters released his second solo album, "The Final Cut," which was a deeply personal and political work that explored his feelings about war, politics, and the state of the world. The album was widely regarded as a de facto Pink Floyd album, and featured contributions from all of the band's members. In 1985, Waters left Pink Floyd, citing creative differences and personal conflicts. He subsequently embarked on a successful solo career, releasing a number of critically acclaimed albums, including "Radio K.A.O.S.," "Amused to Death," and "Is This the Life We Really Want?" These albums continued to explore Waters' political and social concerns, and featured a range of musical styles, from rock and roll to classical and electronic music. Despite his success as a solo artist, Waters remained closely associated with Pink Floyd, and continued to perform and record with the band's former members. In 2005, he reunited with Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright for a performance at the Live 8 charity concert, which was widely regarded as one of the highlights of the event.

More....