Pink Floyd's Rick Wright Dies Aged 65

A statement from a spokesman for Pink Floyd has confirmed that founding member, keyboardist and sometime vocalist Rick Wright has died at the age of 65.

The musician is understood to have been battling against cancer, though his family do not wish to disclose any further details at this time.

Renowned in the band's early days for his psychedelic organ sound prior to the development of his unique, heavily textured style of keyboard synthesis in their latter period, the self-taught pianist is credited for writing such classics as Us and Them and The Great Gig In the Sky for 1973’s seminal Dark Side of the Moon.

Wright formed the earliest incarnation of the band with college friends Nick Mason and Roger Waters before recruiting Waters' school mate Syd Barrett and later, in turn, Barrett's childhood friend David Gilmour in 1968. Although he left Pink Floyd following the completion of touring duties in support of The Wall in 1981, Wright returned to the fold as a session musician under Gilmour’s leadership to record 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason before being fully reinstated in time for their final album The Division Bell in 1994.

Pink Floyd disbanded after extensive touring in 1995, although Wright continued to play with Gilmour's live band in recent years. Wright, Mason, Gilmour and Waters famously reunited to perform at 2005’s Live 8 concert in London. Despite being offered a reported US$250 million to tour, it was the last time the four would perform together on the same stage.

Video: Pink Floyd – The Great Gig in the Sky (Live in Versailles, 1988)