Roger Waters
Roger Waters | |
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 Waters in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Roger Waters |
| Born | 6 September 1943 Great Bookham, Surrey, England |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1964–present |
| Formerly of |
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| Spouse(s) | List
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| Website | rogerwaters |
Biography
Roger Waters, born George Roger Waters on September 6, 1943, in Great Bookham, Surrey, England, is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as the co-founder and primary lyricist of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters grew up in Cambridge, where he attended school with future bandmate Syd Barrett. His father, Eric Fletcher Waters, was killed in World War II when Roger was just five months old — a loss that would deeply influence his songwriting.
Waters co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 alongside Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. Initially the band's bassist, Waters gradually became the driving creative force after Barrett’s departure in 1968, especially during the 1970s. He wrote most of the lyrics and conceptualized the band's most ambitious works, including The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and the rock opera The Wall (1979). His themes often explored isolation, war, authoritarianism, and personal trauma.
After creative tensions escalated, Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and pursued a solo career. He released concept-driven albums like The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking (1984), Radio K.A.O.S. (1987), and Amused to Death (1992), continuing his exploration of political and philosophical themes.
In recent decades, Waters has been an outspoken political activist, known for his strong views on war, capitalism, and human rights. His tours — particularly The Wall Live (2010–2013) — have combined elaborate stage production with powerful political messaging.
Despite his contentious split from Pink Floyd, Waters remains a towering figure in rock history. His legacy is defined not only by his contributions to one of the most influential bands of all time but also by his continued commitment to challenging audiences through art and activism.
Music (likes)
BBC's Desert Island Discs (2011)
- Helpless - Neil Young
- Endless Flight - Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jaques Morelenbaum & Everton Norton
- Bird on the Wire - Leonard Cohen
- My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
- Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
- E Lucevan Le Stelle (from Tosca) - Franco Corelli
- God Bless the Child - Billie Holiday
- Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor - 4th movement (Adagietto) - Sir Simon Rattle with the Berlin Philharmonic [1]
Literature (likes)
Miscellaneous
- All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy [1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Roger Waters". Desert Island Discs. 29 May 2011. BBC.