How the Personal Rivalry Between Roger Waters and David Gilmour Escalated During 'The Final Cut' and Led to Waters Leaving the Band

The most telling detail about The Final Cut is that it was originally supposed to be a soundtrack for The Wall film, but Waters decided to turn it into a proper album — and Gilmour barely got a word in. By the time recording began in 1982, Waters had already written nearly everything himself, and he made it clear he saw the band as his backing group. Gilmour pushed back hard, refusing to sing on several tracks and even boycotting the album’s cover design meetings. The tension boiled over when Waters insisted the credit read “By Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd,” a move that functionally erased the band’s identity.

The breaking point came in 1983, just after the album’s release. Gilmour was already making his own solo record, and Waters told a journalist that Pink Floyd was “finished,” effectively announcing the band’s death without consulting anyone. That unilateral declaration turned a creative rift into a personal war. Gilmour responded by starting work on A Momentary Lapse of Reason with Nick Mason, and Waters formally left the band in 1985, attempting to dissolve the partnership through legal channels. The rivalry didn’t end there — it just moved from the studio to the courtroom, with each side claiming the right to the Pink Floyd name and legacy.