Wright on drugs?

[CHEBAS]

Some time ago i was reading the booklet of a tribute disk to Pink Floyd, i don´t remeber the name of the disk, just that the singer was awful. The reading was about band's biography.

When i reached the Wall era part, it said that one of the reasons Waters fired Richard was because this last one was consuming drugs.
That was the only time i've read somthing about that.

Have you heard anything about Rick cunsuming drugs?

[mad yannis]

This has been already covered on these forums. Anyway, they're rumours, you see, nobody really knows. A rather pointless discussion, without facts, I'd say.

[FloydWright]

Well-said. It is an unproven rumor.

[CHEBAS]

Relax, i was only asking!

[stratman]

There was speculation about Rick doing Cocaine at one time, but as noted, it's not been verified. He should be given benefit of the doubt.

[FloydWright]

And furthermore...whether he did or did not, he also has the right to his privacy. Despite what some people think, I do not think that "stars" automatically forfeit all of their rights to privacy and decent treatment simply by virtue of their fame. Being confronted with rumors like this can be very awkward, even hurtful to that individual--and equally so whether the rumor is true or not! It certainly hurts to have an untrue rumor going around...and it can also hurt when something that you do not wish to be a matter of public discussion is going around the rumor mill, as well. I know from personal experience about both.

[Bride of a Bull]

Still, no smoke without fire.

Sure, everyone is entitled to privacy but as a world famous pop musician, Richard has indeed forfeited some degree of his own privacy. Head above parapet time. Anyone that might have seen Richard using drugs and were later asked by some journo whether they had witnessed such usage might naturally say, yes they had seen Richard snorting coke, smoking a joint, popping some pills or getting mashed on booze.

My argument is not so much a call to respect his privacy - as a wholly disinterested party, I would - but to question who the hell really cares? If the rumour of his drug use is found to be true, whether current or in the past, how surprised would anyone be? How worried?

If it adversely colours someone's opinion of Rick, whether they stop or start buying music which includes him, how hurt will he be when next he sees his royalties cheque?

Laughing all the way to the bank, as they say.

I got a silver spoon on a chain,
Got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains...

[FloydWright]

Personally my store of respect for him is such that if I were somehow given ironclad proof that he'd had a problem, it would hardly be diminished. In fact, I must say that you have to be quite strong in order to deal with that kind of problem.

By the way, I don't think that a lyric line can be counted as evidence, in the absence of any true proof.

[Bride of a Bull]

One never said it did.

[mad yannis]

"who gives a f*ck"

[FloydWright]

Originally posted by Bride of a Bull
One never said it did.

I understand you didn't. But there are a lot of people who swear by that line as evidence, unfortunately.

[CHEBAS]

Here's an extract of an interview to Rick dated 1996 i took from www.brain-damage.co.uk:

"Q :What are your views on acid now?

RW: Syd was very influenced by a lot of people around him, who encouraged him to take trips. There are a load of acid casualties out there. He wasn't alone. Back then, we had people like Timothy Leary openly advocating it: trip our and take it every day. Wrong ? Yes. Misguided ? Yes. It was wrong for me. I took two trips in my life. The first was quite enjoyable and that was before I was in the band. Then I took one more and I didn't enjoy it at all, so I never took it again. It certainly destroyed Syd and I think it has destroyed a lot of other people.

Q: But Floyd's music has often been described as "drug-inspired". Do you think that suggestion is wrong?

RW:If you mean Pink Floyd took drugs - you're wrong. There is no way that I could play music and take any kind of drug at the same time."

Got agree with Mad Yannis - who gives a damn whether he did or not? Certainly not me. My parents did plenty of drugs in the 70s, and I turned out pretty normal... I think.

[Melkor]

Originally posted by CHEBAS
Some time ago i was reading the booklet of a tribute disk to Pink Floyd, i don´t remeber the name of the disk, just that the singer was awful. The reading was about band's biography.

When i reached the Wall era part, it said that one of the reasons Waters fired Richard was because this last one was consuming drugs.
That was the only time i've read somthing about that.

Have you heard anything about Rick cunsuming drugs?

Thats complete bolloks! Waters couldn't fire Wright as he's not his boss! They all have an equal share in the band (or did). Wright temporarily (?) left the band in 1983 and rejoined in 1985. But I'm not saying that he didn't do drugs, although it would be stupid, as he saw the result in the 60s in former friend, Syd Barrett.

[Bride of a Bull]

Explain then, please, how Roger Waters managed to shut Richard Wright out of most if not all of The Wall, including Richard's stint as paid musician during The Wall Live concerts?

Not to mention Richard's absence from TFC.