Mike Portnoy Has Strong Opinions on the New Pink Floyd Album Announcement
The Internet collectively lost its shit on Saturday when David Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson Tweeted that Pink Floyd would be putting out sorta-new music later this year:
Btw Pink Floyd album out in October is called “The Endless River”. Based on 1994 sessions is Rick Wright’s swansong and very beautiful.
— Polly Samson (@PollySamson) July 5, 2014
This is nothing short of a HUGE deal: Pink Floyd influenced thousands upon thousands of musicians, including those in many metal bands you know and love. It’ll be the first new “Floyd” music in twenty years (although Roger Waters has released several albums during that time), it features the work of since-deceased keyboardist Rick Wright, and maybe we’ll get some tour dates out of it too (although the band is denying that for now). More information about the new record is available at Consequence of Sound.
One thing’s for certain: Roger Waters will not be a part of it. This has several Floyd fans up in arms, as well it should, most notably (for our purposes) ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy who’s made his love of all things Floyd very clear throughout his career (not the least of which: DT used to play Dark Side of the Moon live from time to time).
Portnoy took to Twitter over the weekend to express his displeasure about the new “Pink Floyd” album before capitulating that it was neither Waters or Gilmour that made the band, but both together. Here it all is in order:
What’s this about a new “Pink Floyd” album? Last I checked, Waters is no longer in the band and Wright & Barrett are dead…solo album Dave!
— Mike Portnoy (@MikePortnoy) July 6, 2014
…if these are leftovers from TDB, then put em on a Special Edition! It’s disrespectful to Roger & everything he built for all those years!
— Mike Portnoy (@MikePortnoy) July 6, 2014
Lots of bickering over my Floyd comments. OK, I’ill meet the Gilmour fans half-way and say “real” Pink Floyd is BOTH Gilmour/Waters TOGETHER
— Mike Portnoy (@MikePortnoy) July 6, 2014
My final word on it: Piper was a Syd album, The Final Cut was a Waters album, AMLOR/TDB are Gilmour albums…the “magic” was Waters/Gilmour
— Mike Portnoy (@MikePortnoy) July 6, 2014
My thoughts:
- I agree that it’s somewhat disrespectful to Waters to be calling this stuff “Pink Floyd,” but the legal battle has been fought and Gilmour won. Waters is doing just fine on his own right now, it seems, selling out stadiums worldwide.
- Totally agree that it’s a bit disingenuous to release this material as “new” if it’s all just stuff leftover from The Division Bell sessions (even if stuff has been added to it since).
- I think Portnoy is selling short Gilmour’s contributions to Pink Floyd’s biggest and best albums, but he’s ultimately right that the magic was the two men together.
So… who’s at least curious to hear The Endless River? Me me me me me me me.
