Even though prog-rock legends Pink Floyd officially broke up, the band’s members have always been able to perform songs from their amazing back catalog, which always draws crowds who want to be transported back in time. Since David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason all played together happily on stage, die-hard fans would naturally want to go back in time. They would want to enjoy that experience once again.
Once Waters left the group, it was always easy for Gilmour, Wright, and Mason to play a fiery set of their best prog-rock songs as a trio playing under the banner of the band. Their most famous songs, like “Comfortably Numb,” “Great Gig in the Sky,” “Wish You Were Here,” or any other well-known song from their past. The band members were happy to play old Floyd songs, even when they were playing alone, which they did a lot.
But there is still one song that David Gilmour can’t even think about playing: “Echoes,” Pink Floyd’s classic. It was on the band’s 1971 record Meddle and shows how they were just starting to figure out how good they were. Many view the record as the first step toward Pink Floyd’s dominance. They turned away from acid rock and toward something more substantial. Many often see it as the start of their golden years.
“Echoes” is one of Pink Floyd’s best songs ever, and Gilmour’s best work on guitar for the band. It is the pinnacle of progressive rock. Song structures are so intricately dense and inspiringly sprawling that they would make some opera writers blush.
Gilmour’s solo on the song may be the clearest glimpse of the group’s future dominance of prog rock. The song was the first real step they took toward that goal. Gilmour’s solo is so good that it should have won the Pulitzer Prize because it is both aggressive and flowing. It’s rare to hear an atmospheric tone like the one Gilmour makes after the lead line from any other band in the world. ‘Echoes’ should be on all of Gilmour’s set lists just because of that.
There are so many times when classic Floyd pieces come together to make the song anthemic. The care with which these sound layers fall on top of each other gives us a real picture of a band in full glory. In general, the song is an honest look at the mystery that is Pink Floyd. Even more strange is the fact that Gilmour doesn’t play this song during his solo shows.
The guitarist should not play this song in his sets, though, because it makes him remember too many sad things. Richard Wright was Pink Floyd’s best songwriter and usually played the keyboards on this track. Since his death, Gilmour has avoided playing this song because it reminds him of Richard Wright.
Along with most teammates, he and Wright had a unique bond. But theirs might have been more important than most. They looked for each other to get away from the fights that seemed to follow Pink Floyd around. They collaborated in a band known for its trouble.
In 2016, Gilmour was getting ready to play at the Amphitheater of Pompeii when the news came out. A copy of Pink Floyd’s famous show, where the band played an amazing version of “Echoes.” It looked like the stage was ready for the song to be brought out for the crowd to hear. Gilmour was clear about why the song wasn’t included: “Yes, it would be lovely to play ‘Echoes’ here.” He said, “But I wouldn’t do that without Rick.”
Gilmour would feel bad if he played the song because it makes him think of the times they played together. The song itself also has a strong connection to Wright. “Rick and I play in a way that is so unique that you can’t teach someone how to do it that way.” It is not about that in music.”
It’s not just to protect his feelings that Gilmour won’t play one of Pink Floyd’s best songs. It’s also a way for him to confirm the bond he had with his friend Richard Wright and the bond we all have with music in general. By not playing the song, Gilmour is making it clear how unique it is. Since Roger Waters and Nick Mason haven’t played this song very often in their solo sets, it will likely stay on record for a long time.
Watch the last time David Gilmour and Richard Wright played “Echoes” by Pink Floyd together below.
