Why Rick Wright Was Fired During the Wall Sessions and How He Came Back

During the 1979 sessions for The Wall, Roger Waters decided Rick Wright wasn’t pulling his weight creatively. Wright was dealing with personal issues and cocaine use, and his musical contributions felt thin to Waters. So Waters effectively fired him—but kept him on as a salaried session player for the album and tour, meaning Wright didn’t get writing credits or royalties for the record.

Wright left Pink Floyd quietly after the tour, but the band’s later reunion started with a lawsuit. When David Gilmour and Nick Mason wanted to revive Pink Floyd in 1987 without Waters, they called Wright to join. He came back as a full touring member for the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour and stayed through The Division Bell and subsequent shows. The irony? Wright’s atmospheric keyboard work was often what made Pink Floyd sound like Pink Floyd, and his return brought back a crucial texture.