Pink Floyd

Noted for their groundbreaking experimental rock and extravagant stage shows, Pink Floyd's roots were at Cambridge High School, where Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour first met. Barrett and Gilmour busked through Europe together while Waters studied architecture in London and formed an R&B band Sigma 6, with Rick Wright and Nick Mason. Other bands followed until they recruited Barrett and Gilmour to form The Pink Floyd Sound, merging the names of blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Their innovative, psychedelic sound established them at the heart of London's underground counter-culture and, built around Barrett's quirky songs, they signed to EMI and, in 1967, released the hits Arnold Layne and See Emily Play. The unstable Barrett was an early casualty and Waters became the main creative force behind their classic concept albums Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) and The Wall (1979). Waters acrimoniously left in 1985 but was emotionally reunited with Floyd at the 2005 London Live 8 concert.