Shining On: The Life and Times of Pink Floyd

One of the most popular bands in rock and roll history the English band Pink Floyd has produced some of the most memorable and powerful music ever. In addition they also managed to produce an album that has become one of the best-selling rock records of all time. While many casual rock fans have probably heard of Pink Floyd even in passing most probably don't know the very storied and, at times, tragic history of the band and also probably don't realize just how influential the band has been.

The group that would become Pink Floyd originally formed in 1964 with the members being Bob Klose, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Rick Wright. They went by several names including Sigma 6, The Megga Deaths, the Screaming Abdabs, and the Abdabs. The most enduring of those names was The Abdabs. They eventually were joined by guitarist and Waters' friend Syd Barrett and played under the names the Tea Set and The Pink Floyd Sound. At that time the members of the band were heavily influenced by American Rhythm and Blues performers. The name Pink Floyd reportedly comes from two blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.

Eventually the name The Pink Floyd Sound won over and the word "Sound" was dropped. The band toured, recorded and performed as The Pink Floyd for several years early on before dropping the definite article. Bob Klose left the band just before they recorded what would become their first single "Arnold Layne." Syd Barrett became the driving force behind the band's sound by writing songs and music in the early days.

"Arnold Layne" became the band's first hit single in the UK. Controversial at the time due to it's risqué subject matter of a transvestite clothing thief, it also launched the band from a college bar band to leaders of the psychedelic music scene in London at the time. While they were making hits for British radio the band was gaining a reputation in underground music for playing long, rambling, discordant psychedelic music. Many considered this a potential musical revolution. Any influence of American Rhythm and Blues was gone from the band by the time they released their first major hit single "See Emily Play."