Roger Waters
Roger Waters
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Full Name and Common Aliases
George Roger Waters is a British musician, singer-songwriter, architect, and composer, best known as the co-founder of the iconic rock band Pink Floyd.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 6, 1943, in Great Bookham, Surrey, England. Still active in his music career today.
Nationality and Profession(s)
British musician, singer-songwriter, architect, composer
Early Life and Background
Roger Waters grew up in a middle-class family with a musical background. His father was an engineer at the Royal Engineers, while his mother played piano and encouraged Roger's early interest in music. He attended Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology before moving to London in 1964 to pursue a career in architecture.
Major Accomplishments
Waters' collaboration with Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and Bob Klose formed the core of Pink Floyd, one of the most influential rock bands of all time. The band's albums, such as The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, and Animals, showcased Waters' unique songwriting style, exploring themes of life, mortality, war, and social critique.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works include:
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973): an album that explores mental health, aging, and the pressures of modern life
The Wall (1979-1980): a rock opera album and accompanying film that addresses themes of isolation, war, and the effects on individuals
Amused to Death (1992): an album featuring Waters' first solo material after leaving Pink Floyd
Waters has also been involved in various architectural projects, including designing the iconic Battersea Power Station redevelopment.
Impact and Legacy
Roger Waters' impact on music is undeniable. His work with Pink Floyd has sold over 250 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands in history. He has been recognized for his contributions to the music industry, receiving numerous awards and accolades.
Waters continues to tour and release new material, inspiring fans across generations.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Roger Waters is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Unapologetic songwriting style, tackling complex social issues
Influence on the music industry through Pink Floyd's innovative albums
Continuing legacy in modern architecture and design
Quotes by Roger Waters
Because a lot of people are hurting economically and being shafted by the very wealthy, it's been possible here in the United States of America to organize them and persuade them that to elect a nincompoop like Donald Trump is actually in their best interest. When clearly it isn't.
Almost everybody thinks that the fight is about ideology. Everybody will tell you, 'Well, the fighting is all about the Middle East.' 'Well, it's about Muslims starting jihad.' 'It's about terrorism.' 'It's about this or that.' And no, it's not. It's about money.
We live in very volatile times. And it is super necessary that all of us resist this move toward the militarization and establishment of a more and more authoritarian regime, not just in the United States but in Europe and elsewhere.
That's why I call the show 'Us & Them,' because I believe there is no 'them.' There's only 'us.'
The United States has such an opportunity to be a leader in the world, and that opportunity has been frittered away.
To some extent, 'The Wall' is asking the question, 'Do you want a voice? And if you do, you better bloody well go out and get it because it's not going to be handed to you on a plate.'
I've only ever written about one thing in my life, which is the fact that we, as human beings, have a responsibility to one another and that it's important that we empathize with others, that we organize society so that we all become happier and we all get the life we really want.
There is no 'us' and 'them'; it's an illusion. We are all human beings, and we all have a responsibility to support one another and to discover ways of wresting the power from the very, very few people who control all the cash and all the property.
War is hugely profitable. It creates so much money because it's so easy to spend money very fast. There are huge fortunes to be made. So there is always an encouragement to promote war and keep it going, to make sure that we identify people who are 'others' whom we can legitimately make war upon.
When you’ve done something, certainly if you create a piece of music, you then hear it with fresh ears when you play it for somebody else.