ROGER WATERS - Mini-Biography and Career

- Roger Waters: The Creative Visionary Behind Pink Floyd

Roger Waters, a creative force behind Pink Floyd, is renowned as a bassist, songwriter, and conceptual mastermind. His thought-provoking lyrics and ambitious compositions shaped the band's iconic albums, delving into themes of alienation, social commentary, and personal struggles. Waters' signature bass lines and powerful vocals provided a driving force behind Pink Floyd's sonic landscape.

Beyond the band, Waters' solo career has been marked by ambitious stage productions and concept albums, further exploring his socio-political concerns and artistic vision. His influence extends far beyond music, inspiring generations with his bold creativity and unwavering commitment to his artistic convictions.

ROGER WATERS

George Roger Waters known by his stage name Roger Waters, was born on 6 September 1943 in Great Bookham, Surrey, England. He grew up in a musical family, with his father Eric Fletcher Waters being a schoolteacher and a talented pianist. Waters developed a passion for music at an early age, learning to play the piano and the clarinet.

In his teenage years, Waters discovered rock and roll music, which ignited his desire to pursue a career in the industry. He formed his first band, The Abdabs, in 1962 while attending Regent Street Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster) in London. The Abdabs later evolved into Sigma 6 and eventually became Pink Floyd in 1965, with Waters on bass guitar and vocals.

As a founding member of Pink Floyd, Waters played a pivotal role in shaping the band's sound and artistic direction. He quickly established himself as the primary lyricist and conceptual leader of the group. Waters' introspective and thought-provoking lyrics became a signature element of Pink Floyd's music, exploring themes of alienation, politics, and human nature.

Throughout his tenure with Pink Floyd, Waters penned many of the band's most iconic songs, including "The Wall", "Wish You Were Here", "Another Brick in the Wall", and "Money". His creative vision and innovative ideas led to the production of several groundbreaking albums, such as "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973), "Wish You Were Here" (1975), and "The Wall" (1979), which are considered timeless classics in the realm of rock music.

Waters' contributions extended beyond his songwriting abilities. He also provided lead vocals on numerous Pink Floyd tracks and was recognized for his exceptional bass guitar skills. His stage presence and charismatic performances captivated audiences around the world during the band's live shows.

However, tensions within Pink Floyd began to escalate in the late 1970s, leading to conflicts over creative control and personal differences between the band members. These tensions culminated in Waters' departure from Pink Floyd in 1985, after which the band continued without him.

Following his departure from Pink Floyd, Waters embarked on a successful solo career. He released his debut solo album, "The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking", in 1984, which was followed by several critically acclaimed albums, including "Radio K.A.O.S" (1987), "Amused to Death" (1992), and "Is This the Life We Really Want?" (2017). Waters' solo work often continued his exploration of sociopolitical issues and personal introspection.

Apart from his musical pursuits, Waters has been actively involved in various political and social causes. He is known for his advocacy of human rights and has used his platform to raise awareness about global conflicts and injustices. His concerts often incorporate political and social messages, promoting peace and social equality.

Roger Waters' contributions to music and his influence on rock as a genre are immeasurable. His introspective songwriting, powerful vocals, and willingness to tackle complex subjects have earned him a dedicated fan base worldwide. Despite the challenges he faced throughout his career, Waters continues to be a prolific artist and an influential figure in the music industry.

Explore the Ultimate Collection of Roger Waters' Vinyl Records: Rare Album Covers and Insider Information

 Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking ( Uncensored )

 Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking ( Uncensored )  12" LP

Harvest 1C 064-2401051 , 1984 , Germany / EEC

This is the uncensored release of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" is a concept album by Roger Waters that explores the themes of relationships, mortality, and the subconscious mind. It features a range of musical styles and was a commercial and critical success, solidifying Waters' reputation as a solo artist.

Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking ( Uncensored ) 12" Vinyl LP

 Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking (Censored)

 Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking  12" LP

CBS C39290, Imported by Sound-Express , 1984 , USA

This is the censored release of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" is a concept album by Roger Waters that explores the themes of relationships, mortality, and the subconscious mind. It features a range of musical styles and was a commercial and critical success, solidifying Waters' reputation as a solo artist.

Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking (Censored) 12" Vinyl LP

 Radio K.A.O.s

 Radio K.A.O.s  12" LP

EMI 2407831 , 1987 , EEC

Radio K.A.O.S is the second solo album by Roger Waters and was released in 1987

Radio K.A.O.s 12" Vinyl LP

 When The Wind Blows

 When The Wind Blows  12" LP

Virgin Records DM 208 042 , 1986 , Germany

This hard to find sound-track with the film sound score written by Roger Waters

When The Wind Blows 12" Vinyl LP
PINK FLOYD Main Index
PINK FLOYD Album Covers & Discography (Main Index)

Below is the Index of albums released by the British Acid/Psych band Pink Floyd. As we have a large collection of Pink Floyd albums this index will have entries pointing for each album to the detailed listings. For example: "Animals" clicking the "Show Index" button will bring up listing of this album with information on the various countries it was released and collector's information on how to identify a particular release.

PINK FLOYD - Animals 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Animals ( Index Page )

1977 

"Animals" is the tenth studio album by Pink Floyd, and was released in January 1977. A concept album, it provides a scathing critique of the social-political conditions of 1970s Britain, and presents a marked change in musical style from their earlier work.

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PINK FLOYD - Atom Heart Mother 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Atom Heart Mother 12" LP

1970 

"Atom Heart Mother" is the fifth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in 1970 by Harvest and EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, and reached number one in the United Kingdom, and number 55] in the United States charts, and went gold in the U.S. in March 1994.

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PINK FLOYD - Collection of Great Dance Songs 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Collection of Great Dance Songs  12" LP

1981 

"A Collection of Great Dance Songs" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released on 23 November 1981 on Harvest/EMI in the UK and Columbia Records in the United States.

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PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon  12" LP

1973  

"The Dark Side of the Moon" is the eighth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. The concept album built on ideas explored by the band in their live shows and earlier recordings, but it lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure in 1968 of founding member, principal composer and lyricist Syd Barrett.

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PINK FLOYD - Delicate Sound of Thunder 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Delicate Sound of Thunder  12" LP

1988

"Delicate Sound of Thunder" is a Pink Floyd live double album from the David Gilmour-led era of the band which was recorded over five nights at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York in August 1988 and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in September 1988.

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PINK FLOYD - Echoes the Best of Pink Floyd 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Echoes the Best of Pink Floyd  12" LP

2001  

"Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd. It was released by EMI Records on 5 November 2001, in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States through Capitol Records.

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PINK FLOYD - Final Cut 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Final Cut  12" LP

1983  

"The Final Cut" is the twelfth studio album by Pink Floyd. A concept album, The Final Cut is the last of the band's releases to include founding member and longtime lyricist Roger Waters.

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PINK FLOYD - Masters of Rock (Vol 1) 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Masters of Rock (Vol 1)  12" LP

1974 

This compilation album of Pink Floyd contains the hard to find tracks

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PINK FLOYD - Meddle 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Meddle  12" LP

1971  

Meddle is the sixth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in October 1971. This album was recorded at Morgan Sound Stusdios, London

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PINK FLOYD - Momentary Lapse of Reason 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Momentary Lapse of Reason  12" LP

1987 

"A Momentary Lapse of Reason" is the thirteenth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in the UK and US in September 1987. In 1985 guitarist David Gilmour began to assemble a group of musicians to work on his third solo album.

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PINK FLOYD - More, the original motion picture soundtrack 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - More, the original motion picture soundtrack 12" LP

1969  

Pink Floyd's More movie soundtrack is a classic album that remains highly influential to this day. The album's unique blend of progressive rock, psychedelic, and experimental elements helped to establish Pink Floyd as one of the most important bands of the 20th century.

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PINK FLOYD - Nice Pair 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Nice Pair  12" LP

1973  

The "Nice Pair" was released in December 1973 by Harvest and Capitol in the United States and the following month in the United Kingdom by Harvest and EMI.

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PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds  12" LP

1972  

"Obscured by Clouds" is the seventh studio album by Pink Floyd, based on their soundtrack for the French film "La Vallée", by Barbet Schroeder.

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PINK FLOYD - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn  12" LP

1967  

"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the firs album by the Pink Floyd, and the only one made under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics about space, scarecrows, gnomes, bicycles and fairy tales, along with psychedelic instrumental songs.

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PINK FLOYD - Relics 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Relics  12" LP

1978 

Relics is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released in 1971. The album was released on 14 May in the UK and 15 July in the United States.

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PINK FLOYD - Saucerful of Secrets 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Saucerful of Secrets  12" LP

1968 

"A Saucerful of Secrets" is the second studio album by Pink Floyd. It was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on various dates from August 1967 to April 1968. It is both the last Pink Floyd album on which Syd Barrett would appear and the only studio album in which all 5 band members contributed.

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PINK FLOYD - Tonite lets all make love in London 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Tonite lets all make love in London  12" LP

1990  

Early Live recordings, complemented with interviews

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PINK FLOYD - Ummagumma 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Ummagumma  12" LP

1969  

Ummagumma is a double album by Pink Floyd, released in 1969 by Harvest and EMI in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. Disc A is a live album of their normal set list of the time, while disc B contains compositions by each member of the band recorded as a studio album.

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PINK FLOYD - Wall, The 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Wall, The  12" LP

1979

The Wall is the eleventh studio album by Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd The Wall.

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PINK FLOYD - Wish You Were Here 12" LP
PINK FLOYD - Wish You Were Here  12" LP

1975

"Wish You Were Here" is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. Inspired by material they composed while performing across Europe, it was recorded over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios.

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PINK FLOYD - 97 Vinyl Collection Audiophile 8LP Box-Set
PINK FLOYD - 97 Vinyl Collection Audiophile 8LP Box-set

EMI , 1997 , United Kingdom

This is a box-set of 7 albums with in total 8LP. Each album is issued in a ( FOC ) Fold Open Coveraka Gatefold cover.

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PINK FLOYD - Collection 12LP Box-Set
PINK FLOYD - Collection 12LP Box-Set

 

This Pink Floyd box-set includes 10 Pink Floyd albums with in total 13LP's as well as a large poster.

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PINK FLOYD - 7" SIngle Records
PINK FLOYD - 7" SIngle Records

 

A Selection of 7" Records by Pink Floyd

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David Gilmour Solo Projects
David Gilmour Solo Projects 12" LP

 

Here you will find several European releases of David Gilmour's debut solo album.

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Roger Waters Solo Projects
Roger Waters Solo Projects 12" LP

 

Here you will find several European releases of Roger Waters solo albums.

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