Roger Waters

The man behind The Wall, Roger Waters founded Britain's maiden psychedelic band, Pink Floyd, in 1965 with cohorts Syd Barrett, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. Solely a bassist at first, Waters grabbed the songwriting reigns from Barrett in 1968, when the erratic, schizophrenic frontman checked himself into a mental hospital. Passing the torch did not alter Pink Floyd's dark, mystical formula. Waters went on to pen albums like Saucerful of Secrets and Ummagumma, which charted the singer/songwriter's fall into bitter territory.

Pink Floyd ascended from the ranks of British cult band to international sensation in 1973, the year The Dark Side of the Moon debuted on the charts. Waters wrote every lyric and a good chunk of music for that groundbreaking work, which would remain on Billboard's Top 200 album chart longer than any other release in history. The fire burned even brighter on The Wall, the mind-altering 1979 album about the mental tribulations of a successful, suicidal rocker. Waters sang most of the lead vocals on this simultaneous cult, critical and mainstream phenomenon.

Fame bore down on Pink Floyd after The Wall, causing rifts so deep between Wright and Waters that the keyboardist split from the band. Water's bleakest, darkest work would follow with The Final Cut, "a requiem for the postwar dream" that became a final farewell for Pink Floyd as well Waters left the band shortly after completing the album.

In 1984 Waters released his first solo effort, The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. This was followed two years later by a lawsuit against Mason and guitarist David Gilmour, asking the court to dissolve the band's one-time partnership and bar them from using the name Pink Floyd. Waters lost the suit and was forced to watch as Pink Floyd's Momentary Lapse of Reason climbed the charts in 1987. Busy with his next solo project, Radio K.A.O.S, Waters stood by empty handed as his former bandmates grossed $30 million touring in support of that album.

Waters assembled an all-star cast, including Sinead O'Connor, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison, in 1990 to perform a version of The Wall at the site of the Berlin Wall -- a feat that was chronicled in The Wall -- Live in Berlin. In 1992, Waters released his third solo record, Amused to Death. In the meantime, Pink Floyd raked in millions of dollars with its 1994 tour for Division Bell.

Waters' latest album, the double -- live set In The Flesh (which again reprises many of the hits of his Floyd days), was released in 2000.

David Jon Gilmour
United Kingdom

Born March 6, 1946

Has 7 children....Sara, Clare, Alice and Matthew by Ginger, Joe and Gabriel by Polly, and Charlie who is Polly's son by a first marriage.

In contrast to Roger, Dave was reared by permissive and easygoing parents. At 13, he was given a Spanish guitar by a neighbor and so the journey began. Dave's greatest musical asset is his sense of feel and timing, according to one former member of Jokers Wild, and to some present day fans, we would have to say that his talents reach beyond that to include a marriage of heart to guitar and tender concern for humanity.

When Dave was a young teenager, his father's profession drew him overseas, to the U.S., leaving Dave to independently fend for himself....playing U.S. military bases with Jokers Wild, and working odd jobs, including his famous stint as a male model. All of this helped to instill in Dave, his underlying grit and a single-minded determination to succeed on his own terms...that was to resurface during the Floydian 'wars' much later....and it was to carry him through in the future, to the ringing of a Division Bell and beyond.

Dave enjoys flying, among other interests, and his collection consists of vintage aircraft that he has shown, and flown, at various airshows. His first love, however, is still his music.

Nicholas Berkeley Mason
United Kingdom

Born January 27, 1944

Nick has 3 children, Holly, Chloe and Carey with Lynette, and is presently married to Annette.

Nick was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He accompanied his father to Vintage Sports Car Club events at an early age, and later inherited and developed his passion for racing and collecting vintage automobiles. At the Frensham Heights boarding school, it is said Nick is still remembered as a world class mischief maker.

Today, Nick races Ferrari's, Bugatti's, and Maserati's, among others that he also races and owns for his own enjoyment.

Richard William Wright
United Kingdom

Born July 28, 1945

Rick has 3 children, Gala, Jamie, and a young son, by former marriage. He is presently married to Millie.

For Rick as a young man, he was at a loss for a career to pursue at the prep school he attended, until someone suggested architecture. The Regent Street Poly is where he met Nick and Roger. Rick didn't want to be an architect however, he wanted to be a musician... the rest is history. Rick came back to life, so to speak, with TDB... he co-wrote WTIO with Anthony Moore, and co-wrote Cluster One, WDYWFM, Marooned and KT with Dave.

One of Rick's favorite things to do is get away on his 65-foot sailing yacht whenever he has the opportunity.

Syd Barrett
United Kingdom

Born January 6, 1946

Syd had a normal childhood and loving parents. He was a popular and successful student, and his passions ranged from camping and sports to drama and painting. He was once a Boy Scout patrol leader.

Dr. Barrett encouraged Syd's musical interest with the gift of a banjo, and later, a guitar. Dr. Barrett died when Syd was just 14. It's been proposed that this trauma was the first 'catalyst' in Syd's eventual dementia.

Syd and Dave were friends at a very early age, and while attending school, they would hang out together, teaching each other guitar....Dave was the better guitarist, and Syd's talent lay in words and lyrics...they would flow from him easily, according to Dave.

The founding member of the band that so many today admire and respect, today lives in seclusion and in ill health....a once brilliant mind destroyed by drugs. Syd is a legacy and a lesson for all.