Roger Waters: A Legend's Lingering Resentment?
It's a well-known fact that Roger Waters, the iconic songwriter behind much of Pink Floyd's legendary work, has a reputation for being a challenging personality. Throughout his illustrious career, from his days in Pink Floyd and into his solo endeavors, Waters has left a wake of strained relationships and enduring feuds that continue to be a topic of discussion.
Pink Floyd's journey was far from smooth sailing. In their early, psychedelic 1960s era, the band made the difficult decision to part ways with their original songwriting leader, Syd Barrett, due to his declining mental health. This was undoubtedly exacerbated by his removal from the very band he helped create. In the years that followed, Waters' leadership within Pink Floyd was frequently marked by intense disagreements, simmering resentment, and clashes over creative direction, often referred to as 'musical differences'.
But here's where it gets interesting: Despite these internal struggles, the Waters era is also responsible for some of the band's most profound achievements, with "The Dark Side of the Moon" standing as a monumental testament to their creative output. Yet, even this success couldn't entirely mend the rifts within the group. Ultimately, Waters departed from Pink Floyd in 1985, handing the reins to his perceived rival, David Gilmour. Even during this period, Waters appeared to be quite sensitive regarding his fellow musicians.
Seeking a break from the constant friction, Waters launched a solo tour, enlisting the support of his long-time friend and musician Tim Renwick, alongside the legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. One might assume this less tumultuous setting would bring Waters more comfort, but as it turns out, that assumption would be quite mistaken.
Renwick himself described his initial impressions of Waters to Guitar Player, noting, "He was a bit difficult. He was very determined to rule everything." It's no surprise, then, that Waters' approach to leading the touring band proved to be less than accommodating. Renwick elaborated, "I got along with him very well when we were rehearsing for the Pros and Cons tour. It was just the two of us. But once we actually got involved with the band, he really became a bit too bossy."
And this is the part most people miss... The tour seemed to amplify a growing sense of jealous resentment towards Eric Clapton. Renwick confessed, "It has to be said that Roger was a bit resentful of the fact that whenever Eric Clapton got up and played a solo, the place would erupt. People would get their lighters out, and there would be a tremendous outpouring of applause."
While such an enthusiastic reception might seem like a positive for the tour, and indeed a natural consequence of having one of the world's greatest guitarists perform, it apparently didn't sit well with Waters. Renwick explained, "That annoyed Roger quite a lot because, rightly or wrongly, he felt that the audience weren’t actually listening to the songs. They were just watching out for what Eric was doing. So there was a certain amount of resentment there."
Despite these underlying tensions, the assembled musicians managed to complete the tour, and Waters and Clapton even went on to collaborate further in later years. For Renwick, however, the "Pros and Cons" tour served as a stark illustration of Waters' leadership style, making it understandable why he would later rejoin Pink Floyd under David Gilmour's direction.
This revelation raises a fascinating question: Is it possible for even the most celebrated artists to be blindsided by their own insecurities, leading to a subtle jealousy of those who command the spotlight? What are your thoughts on artists feeling overshadowed by their bandmates or collaborators? Share your agreement or disagreement in the comments below!
