Roger Waters facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Roger Waters
Waters performing in 2015
Background information
Birth name	George Roger Waters
Born	(1943-09-06) 6 September 1943 (age 81) Great Bookham, Surrey, England
Genres	Progressive rock psychedelic rock art rock blues rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter composer record producer
Instruments	Vocals bass guitar
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Capitol Columbia Sony Harvest

Members	List

George Roger Waters (born September 6, 1943) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for being a co-founder of the famous rock band Pink Floyd. After the band's first main songwriter, Syd Barrett, left in 1968, Waters became the group's main lyricist and creative leader.

Pink Floyd became world-famous with their concept albums. These included The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979). By the 1980s, they were one of the most popular bands in music history. Waters left the band in 1985 due to creative disagreements.

As a solo artist, Waters has released several albums, including Amused to Death (1992) and Is This the Life We Really Want? (2017). In 1990, he held one of the biggest rock concerts ever, The Wall – Live in Berlin, with about 450,000 people attending.

As a member of Pink Floyd, Waters was welcomed into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2005, he reunited with Pink Floyd for the Live 8 concert. This was their only performance together in over 20 years. He has toured a lot as a solo artist, performing albums like The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall for huge audiences around the world.

Early Life and School
Pink Floyd (1965–1985)
Solo Career (1984–present)
Political Views
Personal Life
Discography
Tours
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and School

Roger Waters was born on September 6, 1943, in Great Bookham, Surrey, England. His father, Eric Fletcher Waters, was a schoolteacher. During World War II, his father joined the army and was killed in battle in Italy when Roger was only five months old. This loss had a big impact on Waters and his music later in life.

After his father's death, his mother, Mary, moved with Roger and his brother to Cambridge. Waters went to school with Syd Barrett, who would later be in Pink Floyd with him. Another future Pink Floyd member, David Gilmour, lived nearby. As a teenager, Waters was a good athlete and enjoyed playing cricket and rugby. However, he did not like the strict rules at his school.

In 1962, he decided to study architecture in London. There, he met his future bandmates Nick Mason and Richard Wright.

Pink Floyd (1965–1985)

Forming the Band

Waters performing with Pink Floyd at Leeds University in 1970

In 1963, Waters, Mason, and Wright started playing music together. They were soon joined by Syd Barrett and guitarist Bob Klose. Waters switched from guitar to bass. The band tried out a few names before settling on "The Pink Floyd Sound," which later became just "Pink Floyd."

In the beginning, Syd Barrett was the band's leader, singer, and main songwriter. He wrote most of the songs on their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). Waters wrote one song on the album, "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk".

By late 1967, Barrett's behavior became unpredictable, and it was hard for him to perform with the band. In early 1968, he agreed to leave Pink Floyd. Guitarist David Gilmour joined to take his place.

Becoming the Creative Leader

A live performance of The Dark Side of the Moon at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, shortly after its release in 1973: (l–r) David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Dick Parry, Roger Waters

After Barrett left, Waters started to guide the band's creative direction. He became the main lyricist and one of the lead singers, along with Gilmour. He wanted to write about more serious topics, like politics and personal feelings.

Waters wrote the lyrics for five of Pink Floyd's most famous albums. These were all concept albums, meaning the songs were all connected by a central theme.

The Dark Side of the Moon (1973): This album explored themes like life, death, and madness. It became one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 40 million copies.
Wish You Were Here (1975): This album was about the music industry and the absence of Syd Barrett.
Animals (1977): This album used animals to represent different types of people in society.
The Wall (1979): Mostly written by Waters, this album tells the story of a rock star who builds a mental "wall" around himself. It is partly based on Waters's own life and sold over 23 million copies in the US.
The Final Cut (1983): This was the last album Waters made with Pink Floyd. He wrote all the music and lyrics. The album was dedicated to his father who died in World War II.

Leaving Pink Floyd

By the mid-1980s, there were creative disagreements between Waters and the other band members, especially Gilmour. Waters felt he was the main creative force and that the band shouldn't continue without him.

In 1985, Waters officially left Pink Floyd. He then started a legal battle over the use of the band's name. They eventually reached an agreement in 1987. Waters was allowed to keep the rights to The Wall concept, while Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd.

Years later, Waters said he regretted the legal fight. He realized that the name "Pink Floyd" was valuable to all the members, not just him.

Solo Career (1984–present)

First Solo Albums

Waters (top) performing The Wall – Live in Berlin on July 21, 1990

In 1984, Waters released his first solo album, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking. It featured famous musicians like guitarist Eric Clapton. In 1987, he released Radio K.A.O.S., another concept album.

In July 1990, after the Berlin Wall fell, Waters staged a massive concert, The Wall – Live in Berlin. It took place in the empty space where the wall once stood. Around 450,000 people attended, and it was broadcast to about one billion viewers worldwide. The concert raised money for charity and featured many guest artists.

His third solo album, Amused to Death (1992), was praised by critics. Waters said it was one of his best works, along with The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

Tours and Pink Floyd Reunion

Waters (far right) performing with Pink Floyd at Live 8, July 2, 2005

After a long break from touring, Waters started the In the Flesh tour in 1999. He performed songs from his solo career and his time with Pink Floyd. The tour was very successful and lasted for three years.

In July 2005, Waters reunited with Gilmour, Mason, and Wright for a special performance at the Live 8 concert in London. It was the first time the four had played together in 24 years. They played a short set of classic Pink Floyd songs. Even though the reunion was a happy one, Waters said a full-time reunion was unlikely.

From 2006 to 2008, Waters toured the world with The Dark Side of the Moon Live, performing the entire album. From 2010 to 2013, he toured with The Wall Live. This tour became the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist at the time.

Recent Work

Waters in Barcelona during The Wall Live in 2011

In 2017, Waters released Is This the Life We Really Want?, his first solo album in 25 years. He then went on the Us + Them Tour from 2017 to 2018.

In 2023, for the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, Waters released a new version called The Dark Side of the Moon Redux. He re-recorded the album with spoken-word parts to reflect his thoughts as an older man.

Political Views

Waters is known for sharing his political opinions. He often includes political themes in his concerts and music.

He is a strong supporter of Palestine in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which encourages a boycott of Israel. Some of his comments and the imagery used in his shows have led to controversy.

Waters has also spoken about other world events. He has criticized the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling it illegal but also saying it was provoked. His views have sometimes caused his concerts to be cancelled in certain cities.

Personal Life

Waters has been married five times. He has a son, Harry Waters, who is also a musician and has toured with his father. He also has a daughter, India, and another son, Jack. Waters is an atheist, which means he does not believe in a god. He lives in Long Island, New York, and Hampshire, England.