Pink Floyd Reaches New Heights On The Charts, Yet Old Arguments Persist

Pink Floyd’s new release has topped the charts. But, the success still can’t salve the old wounds of this venerable musical group.

Pink Floyd’s latest release, The Endless River, easily secured the no. 1 album position on the charts this week. The album was based on previously unreleased material that was created by the band while recording 1994’s The Division Bell, according to the Independent. The parts recorded by keyboardist Richard Wright, who passed away at age 65 due to an undisclosed form of cancer, were reused posthumously for The Endless River.

With 130,000 copies sold this week, it has become the third-fastest selling album of the year, behind Coldplay’s Ghost Stories and Ed Sheeran’s X.

“Pink Floyd is both thrilled and surprised at the level of international interest in this their final album. They want to thank the fans for their support and hope that in some small way, The Endless River has reminded them of the old fashioned joy of listening to an album in its entirety,” an unnamed spokesperson for the band said.

According to the Niagara Gazette, however, the ever-present schism between the pro-Roger Waters and pro-David Gilmour factions has again resurfaced. The premise for each faction is, essentially, if one side of the faction records an album under the Pink Floyd name, it should not be considered a Pink Floyd album but a solo album under the name of whichever side records the album or song. When you see critic’s reactions to The Final Cut (done by Waters), and A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (done by Gilmour), it is either really enjoyed as a Pink Floyd album or lambasted by one faction as a poor solo album done by the other faction.

What the most hardcore of the factions haven’t understood yet is that their opinion of the other side, or their work, most likely won’t have an effect on record buyers; it’s released under the Pink Floyd name, it’s a Pink Floyd album. Whether Waters is there or not now is essentially a moot point. He has withheld his participation from the band for 30 years now, so it’s time for all to move on.

Remember, this album was put together by only two members of the original Floyd (Gilmour and Nick Mason), but still used parts recorded by Wright before his death. One thing most everyone can agree on: Pink Floyd has said this is the last album that the band will record and release, ever. Though it remains to be seen, most fans feel that the last statement, if held true, would be alright if for no other reason than to silence the factions and just listen to the music.

[Image courtesy of David Gilmour/Tumblr]