Every great rock band goes through peaks and valleys in their career, and Pink Floyd is no exception.
While their highs produced some of the most iconic albums in rock history, their lows were difficult for the band members, particularly David Gilmour.
Looking back, Gilmour found the era spanning from The Wall to Roger Waters’ departure to be one of the most challenging times in the band’s journey.
While The Wall became a monumental rock opera, Gilmour remembers the process as torturous, with Waters’ increasing control leading to tension.
But before that, even Pink Floyd’s early years were uncertain. After the departure of founding member Syd Barrett, the band struggled to find its identity.
A Saucerful of Secrets hinted at their potential, but it was clear they still had a long way to go.
Their breakthrough came when they used their inner turmoil as creative fuel, leading to masterpieces like Dark Side of the Moon, one of rock’s towering achievements.
However, rather than bringing joy, the success only seemed to deepen Waters’ personal struggles.
The Wall, in many ways, became a reflection of Waters’ internal battles, with songs like “Don’t Leave Me Now” serving as a personal therapy session for him.
As tensions within the band escalated, The Final Cut marked a turning point. For Gilmour, this album symbolized Waters’ increasing dominance.
While Gilmour had iconic moments on tracks like The Wall’s “Comfortably Numb,” his role diminished on The Final Cut.
His guitar work became more muted, and his vocals were pushed to the background.
Although Gilmour still holds some pride in what they created during that period, he admits it was an incredibly dark time.
Reflecting on it, he said, “The whole post-Wall and Final Cut period are such a nightmare in my mind that I’ve blocked it all out.”
The internal struggle eventually led to Waters leaving the band and suing for ownership of the Pink Floyd name.
Gilmour, however, walked away with the rights and a sense of closure regarding that difficult chapter.
Though some fans criticize later albums like The Division Bell, Gilmour felt more at ease during these projects, clearly enjoying the creative process far more than during Waters’ final years with the band.
Ultimately, what Pink Floyd lost when Waters left was a sense of genuine connection to their music.
While their albums always dealt with complex themes, by the time of The Final Cut, the songs felt like they were created out of obligation rather than passion.
Gilmour’s reflections on that time reveal just how strained the band had become, as well as his relief at finally moving past that era.
